Search results

  1. N

    New Repro cards!

    I have a stellamaster as well and I agree with you. All discrete transistor amplifier modules-making my point once again versus opamp designs (but with class AB output stage that can be simply upgraded to class A by adding a 8-10mA current sink pull down (2n5459 Idss 8-10 mA ) on the SOC outputs...
  2. N

    New Repro cards!

    Jonathan: I have not heard the Sony APR 5002/3 series in conditions familiar enough to me that I could make a fair assessment of its sound, or direct comparison on the same source material against different decks; I also have NOT had the opportunity to make any technical measurements of the...
  3. N

    New Repro cards!

    I also agree that on careful review of its published audio schematics for record and repro, I would expect the ATR in stock form to offer the best audio quality of any of the stock professional machines, including the various models from Studer, AEG Telefunken, Nagra, and the others I have...
  4. N

    New Record Cards!

    Actually I am looking at an M15A for purchase tomorrow which I will setup for use with my NextGen outboard record/repro electronics. So I expect to perform the measurements needed to have finalized head loading, wavelength model, and the rest of the complete calibration data needed to duplicate...
  5. N

    New Record Cards!

    Of course you need to grab the repro head outputs directly: typically this is done one of two ways: direct connection to the head outputs in the headblock or at the headblock connector itself; or at the audio card cage repro head connections (often removing the repro cards and using a “bypass”...
  6. N

    New Record Cards!

    1. the only modification required is to bring out the repro head outputs (2 channels) using an appropriate high-quality shielded twisted pair cable per channel; generally this cable should be kept as short as practical to minimize hum pickup; we can assist with specific cable recommendations...
  7. N

    New Record Cards!

    Interfacing low-inductance (I.e. low output) repro heads pose no problem for our outboards, and actually simplifies very much the shielded twisted pair output cabling from the repro head to the outboard electronics as cable capacitive is less of a concern; we have ample preamp head gain...
  8. N

    New Record Cards!

    We have very successfully interfaced our NextGen outboard tape electronics with the Studer A80VU, Ampex ATR-102, and the Nagra T-Audio (including the high inductance 660-880mH repro head) at this time. I myself have always thought very highly of the Telefunken M12 and M15 engineering, and I see...
  9. N

    New Record Cards!

    Redefining Analog Tape Performance: Announcing NextGen Audio Systems Outboard Tape Electronics NextGen Outboard Tape Electronics uses our exceptional NextGen A80R/C Repro and Record Cards, along with our newly-developed and equally-exceptional NextGen Bias/Erase Oscillator Card (seen on top of...
  10. N

    New Repro cards!

    Redefining Analog Tape Performance: Announcing NextGen Audio Systems Outboard Tape Electronics NextGen Outboard Tape Electronics uses our exceptional NextGen A80R/C Repro and Record Cards, along with our newly-developed and equally-exceptional NextGen Bias/Erase Oscillator Card (seen on top...
  11. N

    AK (hot rodded) Ampex ATR-102's w/MR-70 Preamps replaces my Studers.

    Mike: Just to let you know, going from the Ampex ATR-102 432 Khz Bias down to 150Khz bias will increase tape Bias noise by at least 2-3 dB (due to Bias lower sidelobe and anhysteretic magnetic tape oxide behavior) which means at least 2-3 dB reduction in A-wtd SNR. This applies to recording. I...
  12. N

    AK (hot rodded) Ampex ATR-102's w/MR-70 Preamps replaces my Studers.

    I wasn't trying to "plug" our NextGen A80R/C repro cards in this forum; I will gladly leave that to user comments from our customers. My interest is strictly as audiophile and engineer (I have 10 US Patents in Wireless and Ultra-Wideband Data Acquisition), and advancing the State of the Art in...
  13. N

    AK (hot rodded) Ampex ATR-102's w/MR-70 Preamps replaces my Studers.

    You are absolutely right in questioning specs that bear little resemblance to what is heard or can be heard, or come at the expense of other critical characteristics not mentioned; too often specs have been used as a cheep way to hawk equipment to unsuspecting buyers, and today it is especially...
  14. N

    AK (hot rodded) Ampex ATR-102's w/MR-70 Preamps replaces my Studers.

    Mike: Sorry to burst your bubble, but magnitude frequency response - in isolation - that is, without phase- or Group Delay- measurements vs frequency, or better yet full time domain impulse response and coherence function measurements along with the usual THD/IM distortion and SNR - is NOT...
  15. N

    New Record Cards!

    Hello Antonio: (Your English certainly beats my Italian - mostly picked up listening to Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini operas.) Bruce is quite correct: just like the A80R/C machines themselves we supply NextGen repro and record cards in 15/30 ips and 7.5/15 ips configurations. Printed Circuit...
  16. N

    New Repro cards!

    Although we have not yet tried to interface it to this deck, in principle our external tape electronics should work very well with the Ampex ATRs; its on our short list among the first decks to try after the Studer. Regards Your are of course correct: the NextGen outboard tape electronics are...
  17. N

    New Repro cards!

    Yes, we remain today on course for full release midyear of the NextGen standalone external tape electronics (despite suffering some supply disruption delays) which can replace and upgrade all Studer model audio electronics (as well as that of many other professional machines). We are currently...
  18. N

    New Repro cards!

    Chck out the new thread on New Record Cards: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-record-cards.35607/ Includes more detailed technical information and measurements on our NextGen A80R/C Record and Repro card set, including complete record/replay Transfer- and Impulse- Response, Coherence...
  19. N

    New Record Cards!

    More detailed technical information and measurements on our NextGen A80R/C Record and Repro card set., including complete Transfer- and Impulse- Response, Coherence Function, and Group Delay, and what it all signifies for sonic accuracy and performance. A short explanation on how we turned the...
  20. N

    New Record Cards!

    Ken: Left you a voice mail. Your engineering background and experience in high-end audio has some interesting similarities with my own, so I imagine we will have a lot to talk about!
  21. N

    New Record Cards!

    New Record Cards for the Studer A80R/C series! The NextGen A80R/C Record Cards (paired with our NextGen A80R/C repro cards) redefine what what was thought possible in analog magnetic tape recordng: purist design with built-in Group Delay equalizer, 2-stage B-H linearizer, all discrete...
  22. N

    New Repro cards!

    The new precision Bias oscillator card will solve both (1) the Bias oscillator aging and amplitude/frequency drift problem, (2) the practical problem of presetting exactly the bias traps for realizing the full design performance of the NextGen record and repro cards for those users without the...
  23. N

    New Repro cards!

    As of now, our NextGen A8XX Repro/Headblock Preamp and Record cards are planned for mid-to-late 2023; they will use the very same audio design and circuitry as our A80R/C cards, re-packaged, and should sound every bit as good. Concerns remain parts availability/lead times, the quantity that must...
  24. N

    New Repro cards!

    Yes: First three 30/15ips NextGen A80R/C record card sets are complete (apart from 2 front panels, with more front panels on the way ). All three are spoken for (one set has just been sent off to Bruce Brown/Puget Sound studios for evaluation and review, one set committed to Eichenbaum, and my...
  25. N

    New Repro cards!

    Some further15ips CCIR measurements on our exciting NEW NextGen A80R/C Record Card (used with our Nextgen A80R/C Repro Card) following what I hope and expect to be the final design (Wavelength Model and Group delay Equalizer) tweaks; 30 ips AES results (not shown) are very similar, but with...
  26. N

    New Repro cards!

    Some additional info and measurements on our exciting new NextGen A80R/C record card, paired with our NextGen A80R/C repro card: The NextGen pairing features not only exceptional SNR, Dynamic Range, and low distortion (thanks to our unique two-stage B-H linearizer) but flat frequency response...
  27. N

    New Repro cards!

    Some pics of the new NextGen A80R/C Record Card...
  28. N

    New Repro cards!

    Some exciting results on our NEW NextGen A80R/C Record Card, paired with our NextGen A80R/C Repro card: What you see is the Total Harmonic (not just 3rd Harmonic) Distortion off the 1/4" tape at midband (1Khz) recorded at 15ips CCIR for several widely used/common tapes at levels from 350nWb/m...
  29. N

    New Repro cards!

    First pics of our new NextGen A80R/C Record Card - less front panel and mini XLR panel socket for Single-ended input. For now we are doing most testing from the stock Studer XLR record inputs in the machine, with- and without jumper-selectable Bridge bypass. All Class A discrete stages, DC...
  30. N

    New Repro cards!

    Right now, we are finishing up our new NextGen A80 RC record card, which I expect to release by summer end. As you can read about in teh above postings, this card breaks new ground in numerous areas (as does our NextGen A80 RC Repro card) , and I expect will re-define what is possible from...

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

Home Forums Contact us

User Menu

Login
Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing
Top Bottom