couple of strange forays into a local Magnolia before the economic downturn closed it.Take my review.......all of them for that matter with a bag of salt.I will say that these amplifiers have presented me with the biggest sonic leap forward in my system since I bought my speakers McKinney On-Site Truck Repair

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I purchased this deck new over 30 years ago and it has been the finest piece of audio equipment I've ever purchased. In over 30 years of usage, the only repair was to have a belt replaced 4 years ago. Audio quality is outstanding and mechanical operation is flawless. It just goes to show that products made out of metal instead of plastic does indeed make a difference. Enoug said.

No doubt this is the no.1 deck. Everything matches, functional & electrical. Not overdone but just enough to keep the reel to reel fan satisfied. Teac uses a 4mm diecast frontpanel as mainfunction for the rest of the chassis. This seems to be more than enough instead of their former models. Some think the A models are stronger, but they need a lot of muscles to lift it up. The X series are a little bit lighter. I've got one with a wooden case, surely it is one of the accesoiries you need to finish this deck. The dust cover cannot be fixed onto the deck, a minor detail. This model is capable enough to take place between other high end components or inside a sound studio. Definitly because of it's skills and specs. Fully diecast, and lots of accesoiries like a 45 degrees standard or 19" rack mount kit. Although it hasn't XLR weighted in- and out connectors, you simply use Van Der Hulls and the solution is the same. Furthermore this model has two mics inputs, wichh will contribute to a high standard live recording. Spooling function on the 4 track non-reverse models is a delight, for winding up your non-back coated tapes. It's estathic and good for the tapes. The tape cueing handle is very stable, and attenuates directly the output level without immediately exploding the tweeters or headphone while fast winding. The real time counter is precisely, as it doens't show milliseconds. But hey, an average cd player isn't supplied with it too. The use of pitch control during recording is a must too. If there are songs recorded from the source, which doens't suits your tempo it can be turned up or down. Or it can be switched off. Using the program function will let you repeat a certain part of the tape. Punch-in recording while you already play the tape. Muting for a certain time between 3 and 15 seconds. As with the former X series this deck doens't have to be set on large reels or small reels. You can simply use a large and a small size reel together, because of the tensions

To keep this deck running for another 20 years, it's usefull to store spare parts like the capstan belt. I have bought a belt and 2 brand new amourphous heads for about € 150. Hard to find but it was worth the money. It was easy to change the belt, but removing the middle plate with the capstan motor needs some care. Changing the heads needs more than only correcting azimuth. The amp is very sensitive. This deck has more adjustments than it's oponents.

With a bit of luck I had exchanged my Akai GX-77 with a Teac X-2000BL. So this is my 4th Teac tape deck which is already in use for the last 4 years. These decks are one of the finest throughout all the models and brands which were made on this planet. To start with the DC motors, very strong and treating the tapes far more better than overpowered AC motors. Not to mention about the huge capacitors these motors need. But 2 DC motors together with the hall controlled tension arms on both sides of the capstans, this is a perfect combination of precise mechanism. Teac has put enough technique in this state of art model to last it more over decades. Not only the mechanic part but also the electronic part of this deck is from high quality. Real time pause, play and stop without loosing (milli)seconds. Pinch rollers with 2 modes, one for stand-by and one for full stop. My experiences with decks including AC motors for their reel drive can make slip the tape while start playing it. This deck doesn't. No need for oil-damped tension arms, or hydraulic. Just simply two springs who are holding the tape down, that's it. Some have doubt with the dual closed loop capstan, but my opninion about this is to measure it with other decks. Nor the take-up reel or the supply reel need more tension to lead the tape through the heads. This is done by the 2 capstan flywheels who have 2 different diameters each. While one capstan will run slightly slower than the other, the tape between them will be hold firmly enough onto the heads. So there's less tape hiss. I also use 25micron thick tapes, such as the Maxell 25-120. They are left undamaged. With this deck you can play the thinnest tapes available, without worrying about damaged or torn tape edges. As a result of this technique you'll be astonished about the sound it will reproduce. Comparing with digital sources you will need proper equipment to measure the difference. Tapes reproduce more middle frequencies, that's why tape decks are great for vocal recording. Nevertheless, reading the technical document of this deck the frequency below 50hz is boost with +2db. Some now and then the lower frequency will overrule the middle part. It is a matter of taste, anyone who listens long enough won't even notice it. Comparing the 4 track heads with other brands, TEAC has choosed for a smaller trackwidth. Not to small (<1mm), but enough for eliminate the cross talk from the 2 opposite tracks. When the recording level is too high, set on more than +6dB, you will probably hear the opposite track during a pause on playing forward. As I mentioned before, this is simply one of the things why Teac differs from the others. The tape heads from these models are semi-fixed, they need less complex adjusting. Using a compound of cobalt amorphous will result in higher balanced frequency than the ferrite types. There's no cutting off in the higher range. In use with EE tapes you'll get the highest peformance. Although there are some doubts about the low frequency, the BIAS in the pre-amp can be adjusted to use a higher current. Teac has split the BIAS trap for LH and EE tape. If your not using more than 4 different brands of tape, then it's possible to set the recording level for example on the Maxell UD type. XLI is more sensitive, so be aware that switching between source and tape while recording the output level must be turned down. This is why Teac has put an adjustable output level on the deck. This has only effect on the source, not the tape. Instead of using Maxell, recording with Ampex tapes the output level must be turned up. It's not much leveling up, while 75% can be adjusted below calibrating level. I rather preffered a 60/40 proportion. Outside the deck the BIAS can vary +/-5%, which is enough for the latest produced tapes. Although a BASF/Emtec need higher BIAS than a Maxell, the German type is sounding more natural. This type isn't agressive in the lower frequency, but again it is a matter of taste. Yet they are great tapes in combination with this deck. For the lower speed, I use the Maxell because of their great specs overall. Wether your using LH or EE tape, this deck with 3,75ips speed still sounds good. 7,5ips is the best speed, 15ips is an overdrive. Or you must pick the 2-track model. But far from better unlikely is my opinion. With slightly more transient sound, less wow & flutter. But listening with two ears won't even notice the difference. Adding the DBX-I noise suppresion technique, and you have a competetor of digital media. Tests with the high speed 2-track brother against the DAT has already proven the quality of analogue. More over like any other recording media, tapedecks and tapes have to be stored in proper places. In addition no moisture or heat. The sound quality depends on how you treat these things, and how to learn to handle with it. Cleaning the deck periodically will do half of the job. And you will have a lifetime of pleasure to listen to the sound of this deck.

Similar Products Used:

Teac X-20, Philips Pro 35, Philips N4520, Sony TC-888, Akai GX-747DBX, Tascam 35-2

As I own these 3 in mint condition, every peace of sound they produce is so clear. Every kind of tape can be adjustable (fine BIAS level on the X2000 mods) with tape selector. Extended dynamic with the DBX-type I, EE-tape compatible (Type II), Punch in recording, real-time counter with 2 locator zones and repeat function at every location. Diecast 2 direct-drive reel motors and dual capstan drive with PLL correction.

There are, as far as I know, no spare parts deliverable.

As with all the finest things, the open reel tape deck has found it's end. That is for about the last 10 years. I own 3 Teac X1000/2000BL tape decks and as I read these reviews I think I own a piece of gold. Even did a search on the E-bay for these decks I'm wondering how much I can sell these pearls.

Similar Products Used:

Philips N4520/22, Sony TC-765-4/880-2, Technics RS-1800/1700/1506, Revox B77MKII (European model)

Provides hours (depending on tape length)of listening pleasure. Very easy to use. Professional sound quality.

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Thoroughly pleased. Being a person who still has roots in listening to audio(compared to digital)this machine has replaced all of my sources(CD,Video,DAT, etc). I wasn't sure I would be able to purchase it through AAFES but after pulling it out of the box and pumping my jazz (6-hours plus) through it, it has to be one of the best audio investments I've made to date(purchased June '97). The sound quality is very unique depending on type of tape (Quantegy Gold/Maxell XL-II recommended). One can't help but smile at the musical strength and quality heard from this unit.

Durability, With good tape it will equal a CD.
Many features not found on any cassette recorder.

Large, compared to some open reel decks.
other than that--none.

I bought this deck 10 years ago when open reel decks were
about to grow out of popularity. This deck had a provision for EE tape. I used both Maxell, and TDK EE tapes at 33/4
ips. They sound great with crisp highs, and low noise.
I have been searching the web for these with no luck.
I have a Jolida CD player with tubes, and it is a great deck
with soft mellow sound if you have a good CD.
There are so many CD's on the market that I think are compressed. They lose for the most part the great sound of
many of the same recordings from vinyl, or pre-recorded open reel tapes. The true bass is not there on many of these.
This deck is truely a professional machine in the 1/4 inch
class.
I paid 1,300 for mine new. If you can find one in good condition, buy it at the right price. There are many grades of tape available on the internet.
I have a couple of pre-recorded tapes that are 30 years old,
and they have a dynamic range as good as A CD.
These decks were one of the finer things in the audio realm
that lost there space in the audio world. It's a shame.

yeah, yeah... I know... all that hash about antiquated format and such... well, I've owned reel to reels for 30+ years, and currently own two of these beauties.Great for mixing 6 + hours of your favorite music for burning cd's, or just 6 continuous hours of great listening (on 3600' tape) @ 3 3/4 ips w/ 90+ dB S/N ratio and 25 - 20KHz+ frequency response (w/dbx I noise reduction). Most of the used ones have low head wear but need new capstan belts (as do the X1000's); easy to replace and cost ~$15 from TEAC. The great thing is TEAC still stocks repair parts, so I've got mine in MINT condition! Most cd's record with no loss of fidelity @ 7 1/2ips and only a very slight dynamic range compression at 3 3/4 ips.

If you are a tweaker, you can get better than factory specs out of these decks... I set mine up for ampex/quategy 456/499 tape with extended high frequency headroom at 3 3/4 ips to give flat response @ -5dB to 18Khz+.

Highly recommended, and bulletproof construction.

It´s soundquality. It´s exellent! The more in combination with DBX1 NR.

Mechanical!! within 5 years the capstan motor worn out.
Dust from the brusches into bearings!

The deck has all the priciples to be a studio master recorder. That is: electronically! Exellent!!
I bought the deck in the early 90´s for 4600 dgld.
For that price I expected a workhorse. ( Compare Revox)
After 3 years of intensive use ( 7á 8 housr a day) the capstan motor began to skreech. I took it apart; dust of the coolbrusches had gone into the axis bearings on both sides. Black dust throu the whole motor! To get it proper repaird I had to buy the longlife version of the capstan motor for 600 dgld. Moreover: the 2 realmotors were to exchange also due to slow spooling of the reels. It would have cost me 2400 dutchguilders to get it properly fixed!

When fast winding, the fixing of the reeltable axes with 2 screws in Vshape were causing the deck to vibrate quite a lot.It made me fear for my nearby standing Alpine AL90 cass. deck!!

Similar Products Used:

Teac A3300sx, X1000R