Studer A721

[scotchtape]

Just bought one on ebane - hope I have done the right thing! *headache* *headache*

Guy (100%) is in Germany. Only thing is display light out.
Have read that is quite normal after several years. *hope*

[Tinman]

Just bought one on ebane - hope I have done the right thing! *headache* *headache*


Uh..... YEAH!!!!!! *bigthumbup**Hi5**worship*

Even IF it needs some work. The EL foil can be had from an ebayer in china. I bought mine from him, no problems.
If you don't think you can handle the replacement, let me know. It's not hard, but great care must be taken. I can probably
talk you through it.

I have 2 of them. Fantastic decks.

Marc

[scotchtape]

Well, many thanks for that, Marc - very kind. *reelspin*

[scotchtape]

Got Studer today by courier.

Bummer! *reelstop*reelstop
Loose things inside. Found one of heavy magnetic flywheels, two copper washers and a spring clip on floor of deck.

Put flywheel back on, but cannot fix spring clip.
FFW and rewind work nicely, but no "play" - deck raises heads but spools of cassettte do not rotate and some kind of auto (?) switch puts "Play" off.

Guy who sent it says all was OK apart from display light. This could be true, I suppose.

Any ideas, guys?

[stuartypoorty]

Got Studer today by courier.

Bummer! *reelstop*reelstop
Loose things inside. Found one of heavy magnetic flywheels, two copper washers and a spring clip on floor of deck.

Put flywheel back on, but cannot fix spring clip.
FFW and rewind work nicely, but no "play" - deck raises heads but spools of cassettte do not rotate and some kind of auto (?) switch puts "Play" off.

Guy who sent it says all was OK apart from display light. This could be true, I suppose.

Any ideas, guys?

scotchtape,

That's very annoying.

Was your deck insured, any visible damaging to the package?
If you paid via Paypal or CC you should have some leverage.

Both of my decks had issues, either through shipping or the seller being economical with stated condition.

Try and get a quote for repairs and present this to the seller/courier.

I'd certainly speak to the courier and seller to see if something can be sorted out, if either refuses to recompense you or ignores your complaint escalate matters.

Hope this is a case of something and nothing with the tapedeck and that it can be rectified easily.

Stuart

[scotchtape]

Great news, stuartypoorty!

The other spring clip for the flywheel which had not come off its axle was lying in bottom, too!

After working on the thing for about an hour (you need arms and hands like a chimp - or an Alfa Romeo mechanic *footmouth*) got both the flywheels attached. "Play" played and out through hifi came MJB on TDK SA loud and clear!

What a relief - Nak 582 deck I got 2 days ago from guy in Yorkshire has been worst buy yet. Filthy, totally seized and delivered wrapped in an old duvet and pillow!

If this Studer keeps going well, I need to get rid of about a dozen decks.
Wife will be pleased.

May buy remote control for 721 on ebay £75 - what do you think?
Also have to look for display bulb/lighting and leads - phono to thingmy pro sockets.

[stuartypoorty]

Great news, stuartypoorty!

The other spring clip for the flywheel which had not come of its axle was lying in bottom, too!

After working on the thing for about an hour (you need arms and hands like a chimp - or an Alfa Romeo mechanic *footmouth*) got both the flywheels attached. "Play" played and out through hifi came MJB on TDK SA loud and clear!

What a relief - Nak 582 deck I got 2 days ago from guy in Yorkshire has been worst buy yet. Filthy, totally seized and delivered wrapped in an old duvet and pillow!

If this Studer keeps going well, I need to get rid of about a dozen decks.
Wife will be pleased.

May buy remote control for 721 on ebay £75 - what do you think?
Also have to look for display bulb/lighting and leads - phono to thingmy pro sockets.

Perseverance eh?

That's good news.

Studer/Revox remotes from Ebay Germany or Switzerland (sometimes costly), failing that see if Brian Reeves can source one for you.

Stuart

[Tinman]

For future reference.... you DO know that the entire mechanism simply unplugs and comes out with 4 screws, right?

I had a studer arrive the same way. Benched the mechanism ANYWAY for clean and lube, re-attached the flywheel and dropped the whole thing back into the deck.

Built like a BRICK. *bigthumbup*

BTW, you'll want this ebay auction item: 130487168811


Marc

[scotchtape]

Oh, right, marc. *bigthumbup*
I did see from the manual I downloaded that the transport module could be removed. So anxious to get some life into the thing I just dealt with everything in situ.

Will use your tip if I have to go in again! - thanks!

I take it I need to get 2 male XLR to phono and 2 female xlr to phono leads for connecting to amp? Or do you prefer adaptor plugs?

[scotchtape]

marc said, "......BTW, you'll want this ebay auction item: 130487168811"

Thanks Marc, that "1 bid" is mine, I hope!

[Tinman]

marc said, "......BTW, you'll want this ebay auction item: 130487168811"

Thanks Marc, that "1 bid" is mine, I hope!

Question 1 - Adapter or cable is fine.
Question 2 - I have bought 2 EL foils for both my Studers from him. No problems.

Marc

[scotchtape]

Marc, (Tinman),
I won the display light as only bidder. *reelspin*
Wonder if you have a link to the replacement technique, or,
perhaps you can - as you kindly hinted at earlier - put up a brief write up for someone who is fairly mechanical, but no great solderer!

Best regards

iain

[scotchtape]

Received remote for this yesterday from guy that sells his own Chinese (?)
versions.
Fits fine and works, but instructions a bit vague - you have to feel your way through things with the remote and setting code.

Can't wait to get display up with new light I won on ebay (not here yet).

Deck is playing and recording fine.
It cost me about £550 ($891) including delivery. What do you guys think?

[stuartypoorty]

Received remote for this yesterday from guy that sells his own Chinese (?)
versions.
Fits fine and works, but instructions a bit vague - you have to feel your way through things with the remote and setting code.

Can't wait to get display up with new light I won on ebay (not here yet).

Deck is playing and recording fine.
It cost me about £550 ($891) including delivery. What do you guys think?

Hello Iain,

I think the price isn't bad - I've seen them go for higher and lower, shame about the glitches, takes the shine off what you paid. However, I still reckon the seller/courier should give you recompense for this.

That said you've got a terrific machine, how do find it compares to your existing/previous decks?

Will you post some images of the 721 when you've got time.

Keep an eye on German Ebay for a dedicated remote.

Stuart

[scotchtape]

Stuart,
Yes, delighted with purchase. I think this deck sounds great with a strong sound, but cannot tell whether it is better than B&W serviced Nakamichi, etc, I have. I was told Studer has not had professional use, but was owned by private individual who gave it to his son who said "what's a cassette?" more or less. The vendor, with whom I have communicated quite a bit, seems a genuine, honest type.

As for glitches, not making an issue with vendor or courier. I was told by vendor in the listing that the display light needed renewed. As for transport - clearly with hindsight it would appear the flywheels need to be tied down, or removed for journey. Not really courier's fault and vendor only guilty of the ignorance any of us may have had regarding the likelihood of the flywheels forcing off their retainig clips.
All in all, very happy so far - and not looking/bidding for any more decks at the moment (he said). *devil*

[stuartypoorty]

Stuart,
Yes, delighted with purchase. I think this deck sounds great with a strong sound, but cannot tell whether it is better than B&W serviced Nakamichi, etc, I have.

Iain,

I have done virtually all of my recording with a Nakamichi CR-7A (B&W serviced), a great deal of playback is via a Revox B 215-S.
I like the differences between the decks and accept the nuances of each, I think that once you reach a certain level the sound is the telling factor.

Do I wish to pursue negligible, miniscule improvements in sound: frankly no, I'd rather be listening to music and acquiring more recordings.

Stuart

[Tinman]

Hi Iain,

The foil can be VERY quickly damaged by soldering. It takes a good iron and some experience to do the job without melting or pulling out one of the wires from the foil. If you aren't too good at soldering, maybe you shouldn't try this.

I'd recommend you have someone with skill do that part, or if you don't know anyone else, I'll be happy to do it for you at no charge whatsoever. But you'd have to mail the display here.

The foil does come with basic instructions, but they are not accurate depending on the revision of your display. It's not rocket science, but it VERY fragile to work on. I find that you MUST de-solder a (in my case white) capacitor from the display before the foil can be slid out.

The biggest problem with soldering around on Studer/Revox gear is overheating a solder connection and lifting the foil.
So be very careful.

The display itself just snaps in place behind the front panel. It has to be pried out VERY gently so as not to break the plastic tabs that retain it. Then it can be pulled free with it's wiring harness. The entire front panel just comes off with a few screws, the pots come with it, so you don't need to remove the knobs. But you have to un-do the wires to get enough room to flip it down for access to the LCD display.

If you look at it a while, it's usually pretty obvious how it all goes together.

Marc



Marc, (Tinman),
I won the display light as only bidder. *reelspin*
Wonder if you have a link to the replacement technique, or,
perhaps you can - as you kindly hinted at earlier - put up a brief write up for someone who is fairly mechanical, but no great solderer!

Best regards

iain

[scotchtape]

Thanks very much for that, Marc.
I will consider it all carefully. I have found a hi fi repair man more local than many of those in the UK and I may pass it to him with your very helpful advice.
Thanks again. *bigthumbup*

[scotchtape]

Managed to fit replacement display illumination. *reelspin*

Thanks for advice, Marc (Tinman) - your emphasis on taking care was useful - I proceeded very cautiously.

See what you mean about the white capacitor being in the way. I have messed up desoldering and resoldering on pcb before so decided to slip old and then new foil over it, rather than remove it. For anyone else, you can actually do this quite safely as the foils can flex quite smoothly over the capacitor.

The Studer really is a solid piece of engineering, quite a change to work on from other stuff - more like a car - or that proverbial tank!

In fact, now that I have had the top and front off, I would love to tangle with another one! This strange addiction, I suppose. A bit of success and understanding gives you more confidence.
Good luck to the TH site with its helpful folks willing to share their technical knowledge to help others.

[Tinman]

Managed to fit replacement display illumination. *reelspin*

Thanks for advice, Marc (Tinman) - your emphasis on taking care was useful - I proceeded very cautiously.

See what you mean about the white capacitor being in the way. I have messed up desoldering and resoldering on pcb before so decided to slip old and then new foil over it, rather than remove it. For anyone else, you can actually do this quite safely as the foils can flex quite smoothly over the capacitor.

The Studer really is a solid piece of engineering, quite a change to work on from other stuff - more like a car - or that proverbial tank!

In fact, now that I have had the top and front off, I would love to tangle with another one! This strange addiction, I suppose. A bit of success and understanding gives you more confidence.
Good luck to the TH site with its helpful folks willing to share their technical knowledge to help others.


Excellent! Now how about an updated picture with it all lit up?

Marc

[scotchtape]

Not perfectly aligned - need to get in again and straighten it - not yet awhile, though.

xlr to phono works great for output, but is weak for record/input.
Awaiting xlr - xlr for all connections. Have got ART levelling interface box.

Been playing radio jazz I recorded on DAT then put onto TDK-AD in '93.
What a pleasant experience! - Well you guys know what I'm talking about. *reelspin*
Everything from the lightly tinkling cymbal to the booming string bass or synth. Flawless - and warm.

[Tinman]

I have not looked in here in a bit....

The deck looks great! *bigthumbup*

The reason I remove the white capacitor on the display board, btw, is that the OLD foil can be quite stiff and difficult to pull out. Yes, the new foil is thinner and can be slid over the cap.

But in my case, I have a professional desoldering gun, so it's 5 seconds to pull it for safety.

In any case, if you read this again, is your foil green or blue?

Marc

[perry]

So besides the LED in place of the LCDs, and the XLR connections, and a few button exchanges, what are the differences between the A721 and the B215 from a practical standpoint? Was the A721 newer?

Hey, Marc, I just picked up a B780, totally DOA, fairly good cosmetics. Hoping it's just Frakos and fuses, and not the $$$ transformer. Your's still humming right along? Any advice besides the obvious we've talked about ad nauseum for all Revox?

[scotchtape]

I have not looked in here in a bit....

The deck looks great! *bigthumbup*

The reason I remove the white capacitor on the display board, btw, is that the OLD foil can be quite stiff and difficult to pull out. Yes, the new foil is thinner and can be slid over the cap.

But in my case, I have a professional desoldering gun, so it's 5 seconds to pull it for safety.

In any case, if you read this again, is your foil green or blue?

Marc

Yes, Marc, the display is in green, as in the photo. Quite pleasant, really.
Mostly, I use this deck for recording onto cassette, now, despite having Dragon and CR7, too.

How I have spoilt myself. Never mind - had to wait until I reached 65 before I got to this happy stage.

[Tinman]

OK, I keep looking in the TAPE forum.... :)

Anyway, 25 days later.... My decks and receivers are running just fine.

A dead 780 is usually a shorted frako on the power supply board. After you get it running, replace EVERY cap in it.
Totally worth it. ALSO the Tantalums!

Marc

[scotchtape]

Sold CR-7 (sn 148xx) to a guy in Sweden -
it was just what he was needin' (Cab Calloway)


Down to Dragon (late sn)
and Studer A721 (late sn).

3 Studer A721 for sale in Germany on eBain. Weeks go by with none appearing.
One has replacement display........by Studer.