You're welcome, George. I haven't looked up valuations for working PL 7000 S2 decks, but I imagine they go for good coin, now. I've had a few inquiries of people wanting to buy mine.
I even had Bob Carver autograph my OM for me:
Nando.
The technician - I use - spent some time on my Phase Linear 7000 Series Two deck, just a lttle over a year ago. He had to disassemble the idler mechanism and the reel motor to clean them. He also had to get the Microscan system working. I can't remember what that entailed.
I was at his place...
I haven't hooked up the TOSlink cable, yet, so I don't know whether it has visible light passing through it. Might check that out, soon.
I use an inexpensive Tascam DR-05 Version 2 for digital recording. Easy to use and no-fuss recordings. I use it a lot for dubbing from many of the group...
The issue I recall being said about the 550 - and other Nakamichi decks using the same transport - is with the motor and motor control circuit not being able to hold a constant and correct speed.
Nando.
@George S.: All good reference material to lean on for anyone else working on the beast. I went back to the beginning of your thread to see your work.
Nando.
@Chris Cables: Plenty to appreciate. The Sony Metal XR was/is such a nice Type IV. At one time they were the best affordable Type IV you could buy as NOS. I bought a number of cartons of them - notably, from our own @Web Police. I think John was selling them for about $2 USD per cassette.
Nando.
Sony Metal-ES
@Chris Cables and I did a mix tape exchange using NOS Sony Metal-ES90 cassettes. It was a very rewarding exchange and that's why I hope to follow up with another tape swap with Chris.
Chris' mix tape:
And the Sony Metal-ES90 tape I used for recording a copy for Chris...
@Chris Cables: I did do a check of the Teac T0-8 using the Spectroid app on my phone. With the spectrum analyzer app on my cell phone, I got 410 Hz, 6281 Hz and 12469 Hz at T0-8 tone outputs of 400 Hz, 6.3 kHz and 12.5 kHz. That seems close enough for me.
Go Team Ferrari!
Nando.
With the Teac C-3X , I needed a few items. First, was a set of factory feet as the deck was rack-mounted and there were no feet when I got it. A TH member gifted me a set.
Second, was a factory Teac tone generator to enable me to correctly calibrate cassettes for recording. I bought both from...
@Chris Cables: The Teac C-3X doesn't have a distinct sound signature - if that's what you meant by SS. In other words - it's true to the recording. I got a bunch of premium Type IV tapes not long ago. The tapes are used and were recorded to once. The seller can't recall which deck he used to...