There were a couple of Technics decks (I believe they were 1500s) in 
the EAR room at CES. Not running while I was there (listened to vinyl 
and acetates instead).  So I'm sure he has something cooking. If it is 
as good as his mag-lev turntable...

Bruce
On Jan 23, 2008, at 5:14 PM, phillip holmes wrote:

> I think Tim de Paravicini has some special electronics coming out for 
> the 1500 series.  If so, that would be the cat's meow (and the bee's 
> knees too).  Tim is a first class engineer, not some copier of archaic 
> Western Electric circuits (or the Radiotron Designer's Handbook).  I 
> would bet that the 1500, with Tim's electronics and custom heads, 
> would blow the doors off of most stock professional machines.
> Phillip
>
> carlstephen koto wrote:
>> On Jan 22, 2008, at 2:16 PM, phillip holmes wrote:
>>
>>> The Technics (the one Tom mentions) is the way to go.  For better 
>>> sound, keep the Technics and use nicer/better electronics and maybe 
>>> custom heads.  That Technics transport is super gentle and it's got 
>>> good looks.  Also, the Technics turntables are still 
>>> state-of-the-art when combined with a good plinth and tonearm.  
>>> Matsushita put way more money/time/engineering into those products 
>>> than any high-end audio garage outfit will be able to do (or Ampex 
>>> for that matter).  I'm not saying there aren't other great tape 
>>> decks and turntables (or that Ampex engineers sucked).  What I am 
>>> saying is that if you want a great machine for your home, the 
>>> Technics is the way to go.
>>
>> I've had a Technics RS1500US for a number of years. It's one of 
>> several decks that I own and while I have very limited experience 
>> with ATR 100s, MR70s, Studer A80-812-820s, it still doesn't prevent 
>> me from lusting after one. That said, there's very little that I 
>> haven't modified on my 1500. The major one has been wiring the heads 
>> directly to output and using a custom, tube playback amp..I have Greg 
>> Orton from Fux Magnetics, building a pair of custom heads( 1/2 track 
>> 15ips and 1/4 track 7.5ips)  that he'll be installing in my headblock 
>> in a couple of weeks.  Personally, I'd love to get an A80 and give it 
>> this same sort of treatment. But until I feel satisfied that I've 
>> wrung every last bit of performance out of the Technics, I'll wait. 
>> The only way that I can "know" that every adjustment or modification 
>> is "spot on" is if I do it myself (it certainly helps that I enjoy 
>> this kind of self torture).  The combination of my deck and the Tape 
>> Projects master dubs would be pretty hard to beat. I have a couple of 
>> friends that have what would currently be considered among the best 
>> sounding digital playback front-ends (EMM Labs transports/Dac) and 
>> they are shocked how much better my tapes sound than their SACDs. 
>> These comparisons are done with their systems.
>> BTW Bruce, I was glad to see your name here. I still miss your 
>> newsletter.
>>
>