Telefunken M15 vs Studer A80RC

[christensenleif@msn.com]

finally got about to fire up my Telefunken M15 the discrete older sibling of M15A
am on second day comparing now
M15 is std apart from this version is with outboard audiocards in M10 trolley and the Studer A80 is my faithful MTSL version

 

[DasguteOhr]

finally got about to fire up my Telefunken M15 the discrete older sibling of M15A
am on second day comparing now
M15 is std apart from this version is with outboard audiocards in M10 trolley and the Studer A80 is my faithful MTSL version

View attachment 83214

I envy you wonderful tape recorders, I found the Telefunken's richer tone and bass better, the Studer had better highs and resolution

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

Telefunken is more colored, chocolaty WE300B ish
my MTSL A80RC is at least as good in bass...also the better transport
I guess std vs std the Telefunken would be preferred by many......also system dependant of course
if however, you went external audio boards, the better transport is preferred

 

[DasguteOhr]

I only have one tape recorder, which is packed in the basement and I don't use it enough. Tandberg 20 A
have fun with your machines an nice day

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

mechanical devices should be used regularily

 

[DasguteOhr]

Yes ,you're right

I have something interesting about Telefunken that should come on the market as the M 16, Studer bought the tape division of Telefunken. The Studer 816 is actually a Telefunken machine in a Studer housing. One suspects that Studer was afraid that Telefunken would become number 1.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

the coloring of M15 is very clear on my Betty Davis The Columbia years 68-69 tape
M15 is more rock&roll

 

[DasguteOhr]

the coloring of M15 is very clear on my Betty Davis The Columbia years 68-69 tape
M15 is more rock&roll

make a recording on the same tape with Studer and Telefunken and then listen to it. I know the winner when both machines are well measured.

 

[srs148]

Yes ,you're right

I have something interesting about Telefunken that should come on the market as the M 16, Studer bought the tape division of Telefunken. The Studer 816 is actually a Telefunken machine in a Studer housing. One suspects that Studer was afraid that Telefunken would become number 1.

In fact, the opposite is the case. After Studer acquired Telefunken in the late 80s, the A816 was designed and built by Studer as their own successor to the M15. In fact, Studer commissioned his own research group to gather requirements for the successor and the A816 was developed from the output of that research.

You're correct that the A816 was built to fit into the ARD trolley used by the M15 and the transport buttons designed to mimic the Telefunken to reduce the learning curve. However, it shares the audio cards, Master Processing Unit, and most other cards with the A810, A812, and A820 machines. It is a Studer machine through and through and, as an owner, I'm privileged to own such a rare and superb machine.

 

[andromedaaudio]

I think my best sounding tape combo is the M 15 A with the eternal arts tapestage

https://audioclassica.de/en/node/404.html

 

[DasguteOhr]

In fact, the opposite is the case. After Studer acquired Telefunken in the late 80s, the A816 was designed and built by Studer as their own successor to the M15. In fact, Studer commissioned his own research group to gather requirements for the successor and the A816 was developed from the output of that research.

You're correct that the A816 was built to fit into the ARD trolley used by the M15 and the transport buttons designed to mimic the Telefunken to reduce the learning curve. However, it shares the audio cards, Master Processing Unit, and most other cards with the A810, A812, and A820 machines. It is a Studer machine through and through and, as an owner, I'm privileged to own such a rare and superb machine.

I know the story a little differently. Mechanics and the German tape guide were made by Telefunken, and Studer developed electronics and cards for it. Maybe that's wrong, congratulations on the great machine

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

I think my best sounding tape combo is the M 15 A with the eternal arts tapestage

https://audioclassica.de/en/node/404.html

View attachment 84323

but this is only a buffer?
you cannot connect heads directly to this and get eq etc?
best
Leif

 

[andromedaaudio]

but this is only a buffer?
you cannot connect heads directly to this and get eq etc?
best
Leif

Yes its a buffer with tubes , plus it has nice VU meters for recording .
I dont have a direct heads out , my signal goes from the heads through the stock telefunken cards to the tape stage

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

so basically you just add more coloring....

 

[andromedaaudio]

so basically you just add more coloring....

It sounds like what a good pre amplifier does / should do .
afaik a lot of pre amplfiers dont amplify as well / they are not a gain stage
They sort of rearrange the sound, comparable to what this does.
To my ears it sounds more real / better

 

[andromedaaudio]

One day , i hope to be able to show it at a show studer versus telefunken.
My 2 studer B62 s are portable machines , the M 15 A isnt that heavy either .
I ve got all machines up to date / checked ( Eternal arts Hannover ) now and i have " invested " about 12 K in fine tape recordings in the past 1,5 year.
Ready to smoke some high $$$ digital

 

[Argonaut]

MTSL A80RC for me thank you

 

[andromedaaudio]

Hemiolia has all the tapemachines in the world and for their most expensive pavarotti recordings guess what they use....
Cant be that bad

 

[Audiophile Bill]

MTSL A80RC for me thank you

Have you got the A80RC MTSL? I am doing the MTSL on my Studer 812 right now.

 

[Foxbat]

make a recording on the same tape with Studer and Telefunken and then listen to it. I know the winner when both machines are well measured.

I have done that... I recorded the same material on six different high caliber decks, including these two.

These two finished last in the group. And that was the opinion of several different listeners, on more than one playback system.

Amazingly, people assigned similar sounding characteristics to them.