I just joined the 15 ips club with a ReVox PR99 Mark 2

[Lee]

So after experimenting with 7.5 ips commercial tapes on a ReVox A77, I purchased a PR99 Mark 2 reconditioned by the legendary Soren Wittrup. I also bought a Tape Project issue of Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane which sounds spectacular. This machine has a switch for direct tape head out and also a switch for IEC/NAB. Transport has been upgraded a bit and many of the electronic internals are brand new.

I am really enjoying the sound so far. Feels very natural and smooth in a good way while not lacking any resolution.

I think it‘s going to be a fun but expensive journey!

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

congrats....a true workhorse machine often used as alternative to Studer A810 in Norwegian broadcasting local branches and smaller radio stations

 

[Lee]

P.S. I added the EVP footers which made a nice difference. Also, I was able to gently use a Magic Eraser to clean up the original take-up reel. The hubs are the now hard to find original ReVox. I also have the wired remote which comes in handy from the listening chair.

We tested the recording capability at the seller’s house and it was very impressive! The back case has been resprayed so this was an extensive recondition effort!

 

[Lee]

congrats....a true workhorse machine often used as alternative to Studer A810 in Norwegian broadcasting local branches and smaller radio stations

Thanks!

I have several more tapes coming in between now and January from Tape Project, Acoustic Sounds, and Yarlung Records.

 

[godofwealth]

So after experimenting with 7.5 ips commercial tapes on a ReVox A77, I purchased a PR99 Mark 2 reconditioned by the legendary Soren Wittrup. I also bought a Tape Project issue of Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane which sounds spectacular. This machine has a switch for direct tape head out and also a switch for IEC/NAB. Transport has been upgraded a bit and many of the electronic internals are brand new.

I am really enjoying the sound so far. Feels very natural and smooth in a good way while not lacking any resolution.

I think it‘s going to be a fun but expensive journey!View attachment 100493

There’s a timeless elegance and beauty in the design of these classic open reel decks. I’ve never owned one, but I can imagine it sounds great. I think Classic Records now sells open reel prerecorded tapes but it’s pricey.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Congratulations, Lee! The machine looks beautiful!

Enjoy this tape journey!

 

[Lee]

Congratulations, Lee! The machine looks beautiful!

Enjoy this tape journey!

Thanks Ron!

 

[Lee]

There’s a timeless elegance and beauty in the design of these classic open reel decks. I’ve never owned one, but I can imagine it sounds great. I think Classic Records now sells open reel prerecorded tapes but it’s pricey.

Thanks! I don’t think Classic does but I could be wrong.

 

[dminches]

Congrats on the new deck. You are going to love it.

Can you post a picture of the back of the machine when you get a chance?

 

[dminches]

Thanks! I don’t think Classic does but I could be wrong.

They don’t. Analogue Productions is the closet thing since Chad bought the LPs, so to speak.

 

[Lee]

Congrats on the new deck. You are going to love it.

Can you post a picture of the back of the machine when you get a chance?

Yes. I will try to do that in the morning when the light is better.

 

[Foxbat]

Congratulations, it is a nice machine!

You might consider trying this little trick to make it sound better - use a DIN cable to take the signal out of the Monitor connector, it produces much better sound than its standard balanced output. You can buy ready made cables on ebay and elsewhere.

Also, there are great wireless remotes available from one person on ebay, I have several of his units and they work absolutely great, I strongly recommend them, I believe he makes one for that machine.

 

[Lee]

 

[Lee]

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

here´s some interesting mods

 

[dminches]

here´s some interesting mods

I have been considering doing this but I would like to flexibility of NAB at 15 ips. I guess this requires more work?

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

I swapped to A810 and A80RCs before I managed to do theese

 

[Lee]

I wanted to have both EQs and the flexibility to do a tape pre down the road.

i just put a Shunyata Sigma power cord on the back and wow what a difference in sound quality. It had the original stock cable.

 

[Lee]

here´s some interesting mods

Thank you. Excellent article. I believe that the mods suggested were done by Soren on my deck but I will find out more details. The friend who sold it to me always gets the maximum treatment done.

 

[adrianywu]

So after experimenting with 7.5 ips commercial tapes on a ReVox A77, I purchased a PR99 Mark 2 reconditioned by the legendary Soren Wittrup. I also bought a Tape Project issue of Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane which sounds spectacular. This machine has a switch for direct tape head out and also a switch for IEC/NAB. Transport has been upgraded a bit and many of the electronic internals are brand new.

I am really enjoying the sound so far. Feels very natural and smooth in a good way while not lacking any resolution.

I think it‘s going to be a fun but expensive journey!View attachment 100493

Hi Lee, how do you find the quality of the commercial 4 track tapes on the A77 when compared to the modern 15ips tapes from Tape Project, Analogue Productions etc ? These 4 track tapes can be bought for very little money in most cases.