Roberts 770X reel-to-reel: need info.
Gerald Stevens
First, let me apologise for posting this here - I don't really think
that the Roberts 770X is 'high-end', but I figured there might be some
wise old audiophiles who remember the unit lurking about here.
I picked up one of these units at a garage sale for $10, along with a
huge box of great jazz reels, and it is almost functional - but not
quite. Quesion I have is, what is the Stereo Field 'X' knob, with 1-2
and 3-4 positions on it for? It seems to shift the recording/playback
head from side to side. Does it have multiple heads, and if so, WHY?
I'm having problems with one of the two tube-amped channels, and I
suspect that it is a problem with the head - (tubes are all fine) -
anyone know where I can get parts for it?
Thanks in advance,
jste...@lamar.colostate.edu
-gerald
Ray M. Bay
I once owned a Roberts 770X... still have a Roberts X professional
portable... It came out about 1965... and was around until the very
laate 60's or early 70's...
The X stands for crossfield heads... and turning the knob shifted it
from two track to four track as I recall..
These were very expensive at the time and very rugged... you may have
some bad rubber in there...
> that the Roberts 770X is 'high-end', but I figured there might be some
> wise old audiophiles who remember the unit lurking about here.
It was built by a Japanese company which continued the model later
undr its own name, but I can't remember what it was... may have been
Otari... but any good repair shop with old timers in it will
remember... and I'll bet some of them have manuals... but bet few have
parts...
> and 3-4 positions on it for? It seems to shift the recording/playback
> head from side to side. Does it have multiple heads, and if so, WHY?
>
> I'm having problems with one of the two tube-amped channels, and I
> suspect that it is a problem with the head - (tubes are all fine) -
> anyone know where I can get parts for it?
Unless you can actually see grooves on the heads from tape wear, they
are probably fine... could be out of alignment and it will take a shop
to re-align them at a cost of at least $80...
Everything else can be fixed by trouble shooting...
but it sure aint worth it... as you can get new reel to reel for
practically nothing... it is an absolutely dead technology... go to
www.broadcast.net and see hou many professional equipment suppliers
are trying to unload once famous $8000 units for $1200 new... and
lesser models for under $500...
Dead technology for the history buffs only
Donald P. Bilger
Ray M. Bay wrote:
>
> I once owned a Roberts 770X...
[Snip]
> It was built by a Japanese company which continued the model later
> under its own name, but I can't remember what it was.
Akai built the Roberts tape decks. They began importing equipment
under their own brand name around 1971 and left the U.S. consumer
electronics market around 1990. They still sell pro audio gear in the
States, but I wouldn't expect much manufacturer parts or service
support on a deck as old as the 770X. An independent shop that
specializes in open-reel equipment is probably your best bet for
service.
--
Regards,
Don Bilger
Gene Lyle
In article <6bjp6t$e6t$1...@agate.berkeley.edu>, kg...@cia-g.com says...
> It was built by a Japanese company which continued the model later
> Otari... but any good repair shop with old timers in it will
> remember... and I'll bet some of them have manuals... but bet few have
> parts...
>
name of Aiwa.
Gene Lyle, Secretary
Audio Society of Minnesota
The Audio Society of Minnesota is at www.wavefront.com/~asm
Curtis Leeds
Gerald Stevens wrote:
> I picked up one of these units at a garage sale for $10, along with a
> huge box of great jazz reels, and it is almost functional - but not
> quite. Quesion I have is, what is the Stereo Field 'X' knob, with 1-2
> and 3-4 positions on it for? It seems to shift the recording/playback
> head from side to side. Does it have multiple heads, and if so, WHY?
It raises and lowers the heads for playback of monophonic,
quarter track tapes. 1-2 is for tracks one and two, 3-4 is
for three and four. (You flip the reels to get to the other
track in each position.) The middle position is for stereo.
>
> I'm having problems with one of the two tube-amped channels, and I
> suspect that it is a problem with the head - (tubes are all fine) -
> anyone know where I can get parts for it?
Parts for these things are just not available. Roberts
eventually became Akai, and they stopped supporting this
model even before they dissapeared. Probably your only hope
is to find another unit to cannibalize. Probably it's not
worth the effort, though.
The 770X was a good machine in its day. Cross-Field heads
and a very stable mechanism on a wood chassis. Neat. Mine is
in the downstairs closet. I can't bear to throw it out.
--
***************************************************
cle...@idt.net "I stood unwound beneath the skies
And clouds unbound by laws.
The cryin' rain like a trumpet sang
And asked for no applause." (Bob Dylan)
***************************************************
toad
>It was built by a Japanese company which continued the model later
>undr its own name,
>but it sure aint worth it... as you can get new reel to reel for
>practically nothing... it is an absolutely dead technology... go to
>www.broadcast.net and see hou many professional equipment suppliers
>are trying to unload once famous $8000 units for $1200 new... and
>lesser models for under $500...
The prices are a little off. Unless you want Tascam junk like the 32 model,
you must buy Revox or Otari toget a decent 1/2 track. The cheapest Otari I
have seen is about $4000 msrp. Of course most broadcast houses offer them
for a discount. I would never buy anything reel to reel from Tascam even if
they are cheaper. I never liked anything TEAC made anyway. Nothing but bad
luck from their stuff.
Scott
Richard D Pierce
In article <6c1u48$h...@eyrie.graphics.cornell.edu>,
Gene Lyle <lyle...@tc.umn.edu> wrote:
>In article <6bjp6t$e6t$1...@agate.berkeley.edu>, kg...@cia-g.com says...
>> Otari
And it doesn't!
>Roberts was actually a brand name of Aiwa.
Close, but no cigar. Roberts stuff was built by Akai.
--
+---- Dick Pierce ---------------------------------------------+
| Professional Audio Product Development |
| Transducer Design and Measurement |
+---- (781) 826-4953 (Voice and FAX) DPi...@world.std.com -----+