Tascam 122 series.

[ford93]

Are there any reviews on these?

I'm just curious because I own a Tascam 122B which has Dolby HX Pro. I would like to know if this tape deck perfoms better than the MK series.

[vinyldavid]

Got one that needs alignment, and another that I have not tested.

how do you like yours?

[ford93]

Got one that needs alignment, and another that I have not tested.

how do you like yours?

I'm very much satisfied with the 122B and its performance also the HX Pro is a plus. I did notice that one channel is slightly lower than the other, mind you that both left & right input knobs are set equally what can be done to correct it. I know I can just raise one channel and equalize it that way but to me thats not the way to solve this.

I use TDK MA-XG's & Maxell XLII's and the recording comes out great especially when using the Maxell's you can mess a little more with the highs and still get a well recorded tape.

I haven't had a chance to record with the Sony Metal Master yet but I bet they will sound sweet too!

I'm just curious with the 122B and the 122 Mk series I would like to get others opinon on this. Not that I'm not happy with mine but just to get know a little more of the 122B.

[jazzgene]

I'm very much satisfied with the 122B and its performance also the HX Pro is a plus. I did notice that one channel is slightly lower than the other, mind you that both left & right input knobs are set equally what can be done to correct it. I know I can just raise one channel and equalize it that way but to me thats not the way to solve this.

I use TDK MA-XG's & Maxell XLII's and the recording comes out great especially when using the Maxell's you can mess a little more with the highs and still get a well recorded tape.

I haven't had a chance to record with the Sony Metal Master yet but I bet they will sound sweet too!

I'm just curious with the 122B and the 122 Mk series I would like to get others opinon on this. Not that I'm not happy with mine but just to get know a little more of the 122B.

I've found the newest models to be inferior. I've heard good things of 122MKII but not the III.

[westgate]

I've found the newest models to be inferior. I've heard good things of 122MKII but not the III.
after having had IIs and IIIs for several months now, i'm also beginning to think the IIs sound better for playback than the IIIs, specially with dolby b engaged.

haven't recorded much with either yet, tho.

unfortunately, IIs seem to have more speed issues than the IIIs. 2 of my 3 IIs run slow and i may have to send them out for repair.

[jazzgene]

after having had IIs and IIIs for several months now, i'm also beginning to think the IIs sound better for playback than the IIIs, specially with dolby b engaged.

haven't recorded much with either yet, tho.

unfortunately, IIs seem to have more speed issues than the IIIs. 2 of my 3 IIs run slow and i may have to send them out for repair.

Please let us know what you find about the quality of recording. My 112 MKII was horrible regarding type II and IV. I wonder if this is a isolated case or a family trait.

Is the speed problem beyond what the speed trimmer can fix? How does the speed tune knob work for your 122s?

I am curious because I see one 122MKII for sale here in NYC and I might get it and still have a bundle left over from selling the 112MKII!

[westgate]

Please let us know what you find about the quality of recording. My 112 MKII was horrible regarding type II and IV. I wonder if this is a isolated case or a family trait.

Is the speed problem beyond what the speed trimmer can fix? How does the speed tune knob work for your 122s?

I am curious because I see one 122MKII for sale here in NYC and I might get it and still have a bundle left over from selling the 112MKII!


i'll try to do some recording on the good II, soon. in the next couple of days maybe.

re other IIs speed issue-both run slow even with pitch control at max. not sure what you mean by 'trimmer', i'm not a tech at all.

on the good running mkII and all the IIIs, pitch control works as it's supposed to.

yeah! if you can get a II in good condition for a good price, it should be well worth it, imo.

[jazzgene]

i'll try to do some recording on the good II, soon. in the next couple of days maybe.

re other IIs speed issue-both run slow even with pitch control at max. not sure what you mean by 'trimmer', i'm not a tech at all.

on the good running mkII and all the IIIs, pitch control works as it's supposed to.

yeah! if you can get a II in good condition for a good price, it should be well worth it, imo.

There is an internal speed trimmer. It should have 2 trimmers. One for without speed tune and other for speed tune on.

You set it to 3000hz using a reference 3000hz tape. To set the speed for the speed tune, you put the external knob in the middle and then set the inside trimmer so the speed is 3000hz.

On the 112 MKII, you don't even have to take the cover off. It is on the side behind the rack ears.

This is a simple adjustment. You don't need a tech.

[westgate]

There is an internal speed trimmer. It should have 2 trimmers. One for without speed tune and other for speed tune on.

You set it to 3000hz using a reference 3000hz tape. To set the speed for the speed tune, you put the external knob in the middle and then set the inside trimmer so the speed is 3000hz.

On the 112 MKII, you don't even have to take the cover off. It is on the side behind the rack ears.

This is a simple adjustment. You don't need a tech.
cool!
i have a service manual (on hd) to look at also. maybe i can fix the speed issues. i'll try it soon. it would be so nice to hear them the way they're supposed to sound.

oops, don't have a reference 3k hz tape tho.

can i do it by ear with a music tape i know well, trial and error til i get it right?

[jazzgene]

cool!
i have a service manual (on hd) to look at also. maybe i can fix the speed issues. i'll try it soon. it would be so nice to hear them the way they're supposed to sound.

oops, don't have a reference 3k hz tape tho.

Not a big deal. How's your musical ear? I have absolute pitch and before all this deck tech stuff, I just tuned it to 2960hz which is F#(7). Scientific notation and is the highest F# on a 88 key grand piano. My ear can hear right away 3hz difference at 3000hz.

If you don't have absolute pitch, then get a decent prerecorded music tape and tune the deck to pitch.

I just might pick this 122 MKII up.

[westgate]

Not a big deal. How's your musical ear? I have absolute pitch and before all this deck tech stuff, I just tuned it to 2960hz which is F#(7). Scientific notation and is the highest F# on a 88 key grand piano. My ear can hear right away 3hz difference at 3000hz.

If you don't have absolute pitch, then get a decent prerecorded music tape and tune the deck to pitch.

I just might pick this 122 MKII up.
i don't quite have absolute but i can usually tell when something is off.
i can have one of my naks set up with a known tape and use it for a reference speed. might not be 100% accurate but i should be able to get it real close.

found speed trimmer 502 in serv. man. it says to use a screwdriver with the head insulated from the handle. is this absolutey necessary?

edit/side note-been messing with mr-1 #4 that has a slowdown/stop issue. put a drop of bag-balm on the flywheel shaft end; so far deck is running like a champ!

[jazzgene]

i don't quite have absolute but i can usually tell when something is off.
i can have one of my naks set up with a known tape and use it for a reference speed. might not be 100% accurate but i should be able to get it real close.

found speed trimmer 502 in serv. man. it says to use a screwdriver with the head insulated from the handle. is this absolutey necessary?

The important thing for me is to have a reference so ALL my decks are exact in speed so I don't get sick from pitch motion sickness. This is quite hard to do. My Dragon is dead on and have not fluctuated at all since I got it back from ESL. The ZX-9 has about a 0.3% speed difference from the beginning to the end of a 45 min side.

I see that the 122 MKII has a accepted deviation of 30hz in the service manual. I can't live with that so I won't get it. Plus the w/f is very high.

I use a ceramic trimmer adjuster just to be safe. Steel ones get magnetic and doesn't sound such a good idea to poke inside a deck with it.

[jazzgene]

My ZX-9 had the same issue with your MR-1 #4. It was the lube for the flywheel shafts.

The old lube had to be completely cleaned and new ones added.

[westgate]

The important thing for me is to have a reference so ALL my decks are exact in speed so I don't get sick from pitch motion sickness. This is quite hard to do. My Dragon is dead on and have not fluctuated at all since I got it back from ESL. The ZX-9 has about a 0.3% speed difference from the beginning to the end of a 45 min side.

I see that the 122 MKII has a accepted deviation of 30hz in the service manual. I can't live with that so I won't get it. Plus the w/f is very high.

I use a ceramic trimmer adjuster just to be safe. Steel ones get magnetic and doesn't sound such a good idea to poke inside a deck with it.
re not getting mkII-sorry to hear it.

next time i go to town i'll look for such a trimmer.

thanks for your help! i'm feeling much more hopeful re the mkIIs.

[westgate]

My ZX-9 had the same issue with your MR-1 #4. It was the lube for the flywheel shafts.

The old lube had to be completely cleaned and new ones added.
at some point i'll get up enough nerve to try changing the capstan belt, clean everything including the flywheel shaft, and relube.
for right now, tho, it's nice to hear this deck play music.

[jazzgene]

at some point i'll get up enough nerve to try changing the capstan belt, clean everything including the flywheel shaft, and relube.
for right now, tho, it's nice to hear this deck play music.

MR-1s are a fun deck. I am impressed you have 4!

The speed drift is 0.1% over a 45 minute 3khz tape. Very impressive. Great w/f numbers. The sound is a "hard" sound compared to my other Naks. But in a great musical way.

The only down side is the fact that bias and rec level is internal and there is no way to adjust azimuth for every tape. (unless you are nuts and feed in test tones and adjust the rec head azimuth for every tape manually using the internal rec head azimuth adjusters and oscilloscope prior to recording... hehehe I am guilty.)

Although mine is set to TDK D, Maxell XLIIs, and TDK MA, we all know the current tapes are all over the place. Bias requirements change from tape to tape and even from side to side... As does rec level. I've had some bad batches of both Maxell and TDKs.

The balanced TRS input in the front is VERY convenient in my studio. I also love the balanced in/out on the back.

Anyway, I hope you get all your MR-1s to factory spec. That is one MR-1 heaven.

[westgate]

as of yesterday, scott, my tech guy, returned my two newly recapped/restored 38 year old pioneer qa800a quadraphonic amps and took back with him, the 2 non-working 122 mkII decks. he'll have'em fixed up in short order.

meanwhile, i hooked up one of the newly repaired amps. NICE! no more hiss.

i'll hook up and test the other one eventually.