A cool little-known story about TEAC: One of their first major projects was a commissioned prototype flight data recorder for the new at the time US Space Shuttle Program. One of the biggest challenges the US government specified was that the unit had to survive a 9g impact and not completely disintegrate, so the data could be recovered. The TEAC engineers went to task, but misunderstood the instructions due to the language barrier. On demonstration day, NASA and other competitors were dumbfounded after the impact test. Not only could the TEAC recorder withstand the immense impact, it also kept functioning perfectly. "See, still works!" The Japanese engineers said proudly, while everyone's mouths were agape. "It survive 9g impact." Needless to say, TEAC won the Space Shuttle contract. Cheers! EDIT : 9g not 5g

@RaccoonHenry

Жыл бұрын

japanese engineering in a nutshell.

@izumispa2993

Жыл бұрын

Cool name!

@cameronbrown8288

Жыл бұрын

Is there any way to see the recorder? Or maybe an article about this happening

@machupikachu1085

Жыл бұрын

@@cameronbrown8288 I learned this cool part of their history when I was offered a job at TEAC in Los Angeles. I'm pretty sure KZread won't let people post hyperlinks, but here's a quote from the TEAC website: "The transport on the DA-88 is the same as the one used on NASA space shuttles. NASA was shocked by the fact that it could survive a 9g impact, exclaiming “My God we only needed to be able to salvage the data from it, we didn’t expect it to still work!.” - Source: TASCAM 30 years of recording evolution, Randy Alberts; Hal Leonard Corp, (2003).

@ratdude747

Жыл бұрын

... and years later, when Columbia burnt up, it was one of these "prototype" flight recorders (the so-called OEX unit) that hadn't ever been removed or deactivated that was recovered and in good enough condition they could pull data from it... which is how they figured exactly which part of the leading edge was breached and allowed for the test that proved what actually caused the disaster to happen.

Your initial Reel to Reel video years ago got me to go down the reel to reel journey. I bought a Teac X1000R Black. I replaced all the caps and totally restored it. It is absolutely beautiful spinning those black reels. Thanks for influencing me. When I got it it was ~500. Now you cant touch one for less than $2000 in the condition of mine. Also I ran the tape the wrong way on mine as well. I shared a pic of it running on a Teac forum and was summarily executed for being a noob.

I had to use a reel to reel as late as 2008 in the military. It was used for data storage, the weapon system it was integrated with was a big frankenstein mash up of old and new hardware, new and old computers, even a modern desktop computer. Every time I used one of these things, I felt like I was in a 1950s sci fi movie. just needed to light up a pipe and wear a lab coat.

@rosiehawtrey

Жыл бұрын

Try a BBC B home computer running a MRI scanner in 2005 😳😳😂😂🤦‍♀️

@firewalker1372

Жыл бұрын

🤣 Pretty cool story. That’s no surprise there. From what I understand, punch tape is still used for certain “things”. It was definitely used in those titan II missile systems. There is a really great video here on KZread explaining how it was used. Of course you probably already know this being in the military.

@frydemwingz

Жыл бұрын

@@firewalker1372 yeah man it's insane how this old stuff still works, but then when you think about it, theres no reason for it not to.

@frydemwingz

Жыл бұрын

@Dixie Paste sometimes lol. miles of toggle switches that are very satisfying to use and a big fire switch with a red spring loaded safety cover over it. love the battle flag pic, btw.

Never would have guessed you'd be able to pick up new units in the 90's, fair play to Teac for keeping it going so long

@SydneyDrums

2 жыл бұрын

Musicians still loved recording to reel to reel in the 90s.. it’s never really stopped

@ianz9916

Жыл бұрын

The Revox B77 Mk II was only discontinued in 1997. I have one and it is beautiful.

@steveunderwood3683

Жыл бұрын

What else was someone going to use for serious recording in the early 90s? That's too early for digital recording. The only other choice was cassettes, which work fine for listening, but were never great for people focussed on production.

@henrikherranen2610

Жыл бұрын

@@steveunderwood3683 At the time I used a HiFi S-VHS deck which had manual recording level controls. Recording music on VHS tapes was a perfectly usable solution for home recording until digital alternatives become widely available. Then, in the early noughties, I transferred the tapes to digital form. (VHS was of course not a good option for production, but for home recording it was generally a bit better for me than my Technics cassette recorder with metal tapes and DBX noise reduction.)

@piccolo1976

Жыл бұрын

@@steveunderwood3683 There were many digital PCM recording devices, Tech Moan covers one such VHS device, there was a PCM add on for some betamax recorders and the 8mm Video format also had a few machines which were sold for this very purpose, advertised to music professionals. Not knocking reel to reel at all but there were digital recording alternatives available at the time.

In 1979 I convinced my high school music teacher to pop for a 4-track TEAC reel to reel machine and an ARP-2600 synthesiser. I made a few experimental recordings with that, but never forgot the beauty of a R2R machine.

@mgscheue

Жыл бұрын

Smart kid! And now there are several re-issues of the ARP 2600. A real classic.

Hi there, just wanted to say out of all the channels I watch on KZread yours is easily the best out of everything, your content is like a TV documentary! it's amazing! I suffer with mental health issues and your videos have helped me tremendously!I literally watch them over and over...please don't ever stop making videos lol

Never would have guessed I would be watching a Techmoan video about a piece of tech that I own! I have been the proud user of an X 300 R for half of my life!

Tape reverse finger man - what a great superpower to have!

@maighstir3003

Жыл бұрын

Weird name for a super hero though... I wonder what the sidekick would be called, not to mention the villain.

@ppeterso22

Жыл бұрын

Prob villain would be iPod Man always unraveling tape and carrying on! Sidekick: dbx man

I have a TEAC X-10 and I LOVE it. It was purchased from a guy who had it on a shelf for 20+ years and never used it so the heads are very nicely intact. Albums just sound better when recorded on tape even at the slower speed. My original stereo system was based around a Pioneer SX1050, a TEAC double deck cassette machine and JBL 65's picked up while stationed on Okinawa in the later 1970's and then I added a Bang and Olufsen Beogram 2400 turntable. I recently replaced the SX1050 with a Yamaha AS 3200 integrated amp and a CD/DAC also from Yamaha. Amazingly the Beogram with the original needle still works very nicely, though I sometimes wonder if it should be upgraded. I enjoy your videos very much. Nicely Done!

Teac made some very good machines, as did Tascam, I am sure you will be happy with the performance of the X3, but have to agree that the Pioneer is a very nice machine, hope the repair brings it back to it's former glory.

@hotelmario510

Жыл бұрын

Teac and Tascam are actually the same company!

@RWBHere

Жыл бұрын

@@hotelmario510 He says that in the video.

I inherited a 60's era Teac player from my father about ten years ago - still works flawlessly

I have never gotten into reel to reel but I still have and use Minidisc - a lot. My Tascam MD350 does a great job, and so does my Sony portable MD player. New and used MD discs are still plentiful available.

@richardbrobeck2384

Жыл бұрын

yes mini Discs I have a nice Sony ES series home deck .

Thank you, we have lost so much styling as the years progress and I look at your component setup and say s "you are gong to have a great time playing and listening right here" A wonderful joy to see and hear

Thank you for the nostalgic trip! Enjoyable as always.

That wooden case was an option. You just need to remove the wooden case and plastic feet with the screws. Then you will be left with the factory installed plastic case. Take the screws and you should be able to install the plastic feet on the bottom of the plastic case. ( you may need to find suitable shorter screws for the sides of the case, as the pre existing screws may be too long) The wooden has been like this on all X series decks. 😊 I've worked on them all...And I've never seen a metal cover for them. Always plastic. (And always installed, with either the wooden case or not)

@Craigrobbo2k7

Жыл бұрын

The wood, wooden be my choice either.

@tommothetop

Жыл бұрын

@@Craigrobbo2k7 Really Chopped down his comment.

@themac6356

Жыл бұрын

@@tommothetop Ah *leaf* him alone!

@ppeterso22

Жыл бұрын

On the X-3 series was there a case under the wooden case option like the X-7/700/1000 and 2000? My x-300R has the metal U like case (top and sides)-I bought it new around 1992 (it was severely discounted and they threw in the deal with another deck I bought) at that time the wooden case for the X-3 had vanished as an option but the large deck x-2000R still had it.

I have a late 70's era X10. Fabulous machine. Had the odd service and a new playback head over the years but still going strong.

@jackeldridge1319

Жыл бұрын

Not surprised at all, every TEAC component I have ever owned has never died, it has only required the most basic maintainance. People will always point to higher end examples of products from Pioneer or Sony that rarely work and 90% of the time are just plastic fantastic and tell you they are superior based on a nonsense feature set. Just like people recommending Direct Drive Walkmans with those god awful metal-on-plastic gears, purely because they sound better for the two weeks they work. TEAC always uses compenents that are easily serviceable, cheap, reliable and good value for money. I own a TEAC CRT and 6 head Hi-Fi VCR, and I am adament that I could throw them out the window now and they'd not only work, but work better. The only work I've ever had to do on my VCR was a pinch-roller replacement, the video quality is exceptional and I fully expect that it will outlive every other electronic device I own, aside from maybe my Game Boys and my Nokia 3310

Always good to get a thorough review from you. I've had my eye on the Akai 400DS for a while. After watching your video I bought a battered pair of Uher Reports mkll. Not the gorgeous new old stock but some from the early 70's. They have the same mechanism, as far as I can tell, but only one playback head. They work just fine for sound design and looping and the extra high top speed gives great fidelity and allows for doing the half soeed/drop an octave multiple times. Keep up the good work.

My pop had a TEAC reel-to-reel in the early 80s. It was brilliant!

Dad had a much cherished reel-to-reel that he would play (and record radio stations; don't ask me why) for years. Still, it's not a cheap hobby. lol Miss my Dad; don't recall the name of his system, but remember it being either light gray or greenish gray. :)

@Blackadder75

Жыл бұрын

:) that narrows it down to only 90% of all machines ever made :)

40 years later and I'm still learning what all those buttons did on my old hi fi systems thanks to these videos 😆

I was really hoping for more techmoan to watch, I binged your entire channel in the last few days Happy to see more

@TooManyHobbiesJeremy

Жыл бұрын

What's your favorite video?

@Grace_Robbins

Жыл бұрын

I approve; now, watch these: kzread.info/head/PLKvwOmOxBjOvsupWG40DR4ZjyVu7x3UCW

Thanks for putting this video together. I recently picked up an X300 and was unclear about the relationship with the X3 and all the different variants. It's a lovely machine to have around the place - great sound and a very pleasing (and relaxing) thing to watch....

@andyyouell5037

Жыл бұрын

Hey @Techmoan - looks like a scamming robot is impersonating you 🙁

I have a Akai GX 635D and I love it! Everyone that stops by wants to hear it and majority of them have never seen one. Love the sound, love all my cassette decks as well!!

@florianm3170

Жыл бұрын

Have one too, it is a beautiful machine, well worth keeping in working order!

@jermaineanderson4732

Жыл бұрын

@@florianm3170 100%!!

I enjoyed the detailed video review of the reel to reel deck. Like a Hi-Res player, the rich frequency response is eye-catching.

Having a reel to reel machine is strangely addictive.

@RandallJennings

Жыл бұрын

@Fur Q why not both?

Yet another great video. Thanks, Matt!

Nice video again. I have a Akai as shown in the beginning of the video, love it and the wood on it matches my other retro gear.

I love my TEAC x-10R. Thanks for showing me the correct tape route!

Saturdays w/o Techmoan make me nervous...

@chukzombi

Жыл бұрын

@@austinpowers6260 last time it was something with his dad. i hope he's ok too.

I’ve got an X-3II and an Akai DS-4000 mkII, and both run through a DBX noise reduction unit. Great to see them both in a Techmoan video!

@andrew_koala2974

Жыл бұрын

When you look closer and pay attention you will notice that the CORPORATE name is AKAI and not Akai - It is clearly written - So be sure to stay conscious - and see exactly what it is you are looking at - despite that you were programmed to be a ZOMBIE and you do not realize it Learn to pay attention to detail.

@ms_enj

Жыл бұрын

@@andrew_koala2974 Literally don’t care for your pedantry, Mr Andrew-Koala. 20 years of being a service engineer for consumer and professional A/V gear, and every brand is written on every report like any other proper noun - Capitalized first letter, the rest in lower case.

@Dan-TechAndMusic

Жыл бұрын

@@andrew_koala2974 Don't take yourself too seriously, that big head of yours might fall off your shoulders!

The video I've been longing to see. I bought my X7R used in 1993, mostly for live recordings and to mix down my 1st 3 albums (recorded on a Foster 4 track cassette recorder). I love this machine! Thanks for all you do.

@danpessell846

Жыл бұрын

Fostex. Autocorrected again

I like the wooden look and it totally fits the aesthetic of your setup.

This brings me back. My family had a TEAC reel-to-reel from the 60's.

I just ordered a TEAC A-3300SX and I’m so pumped!

Teac's are like Hondas. They are very well built, easy to fix, and a boatload of fun. I have a tascam 8 track (tascam is the pro line of teac), and it is a ton of fun to track to.

I've seen these pop up on ebay for sale and I have thought of picking one because who doesn't need a 5th R2R tape deck. But I do remember growing up that if I were going to a stereo store and looking at a reel to reel it was a very high probability of being a Teac. They were everywhere. Thanks for the excellent trip down memory lane!

Another fantastic video, Mat. Well done! Bring Back The Moans!

I can't see myself ever getting a reel to reel.... but you do make it oh so tenpting with your enthusiasm for it. I can see how it would very much be the centerpiece of a hi-fi setup.

My first "serious" open reel deck was a Realistic TR-3000 that I purchased brand new in 1981 when I was 14 years old. (I cut a lot of lawns and saved my money!) I still have that same machine and I will be restoring it one of these days. Funny, unlike Techmoan, I prefer the styling of the TR-3000 over the X-3. But I would gladly take an X-3 (or any of its variants) as well. Today my collection of open reel machines includes a TEAC X-700R, TEAC X-1000R, TEAC/TASCAM 25-2 (essentially the TEAC A-7300-2T), Pioneer RT-707, Revox B77 MkII half-track standard speed, 1968 vacuum tube Roberts 770X, Akai GX-221D, and an Otari MX-5050BII-2. I love all my machines!

Excellent, love these reel to reels. The Akai 4000 range can be bought for as little as £50 on eBay for collection and are nice easy machines to work on as shown on my channel

the late 70's the US NAVY base in Subic had TEAC players and an incredible library. I spent hours there as they were set up to transfer to cassette tape. Fond memories.

I have had an X10R for the last 7 years, has worked flawlessly since i replaced belt and re greased and calibrated it. Nothing looks better than a R2R in the setup

Love your work, it's 0500ish eastern for me. This was the right way to wake up with my tea.

Great information Techmoan. I remember those X series when they were new. I would have bought it or the RS version but it was entirely out of my price range back then. At times I was too broke to even pay attention at times. I settled for a $50 used ReVox A77 four track from a car boot sale. I still have it. It too still works well but I have renewed it over the years. One of those A77s would have fit well into your system too. I hope the Pioneer returns soon, ready for another twenty years.Cheers

Always look forward to a Techmoan video, especially if R2R. I have 3 old ones but they all require an expert overhaul and that is going to cost. Already had my 3 decent cassette decks overhauled so justifying the R2R's as well is going to be tricky. Great video as always.

TEAC made some solid devices and the X3 reel to reel device platform is the longest supported device platform since its inception. You'll love the X3 its a solid and reliable device.

Love your reel-to-reel videos!!

What a sweetie of a TEAC deck!

I have an old Akai since the first day it was released and it's still running great. Love reel to reel players

One of my goals is to add a reel to reel to my system. Thanks for showing these models.

This is the first time Techmoan even briefly features an AV device that I own! (The RadioShack model of the 3X). I feel very validated. :)

There are few things better than waking up on a Saturday morning, sitting down with your coffee and finding a new Techmoan vid. Good morning, sir :)

I love my Teac A330 SX. I had one of the Akai GX models and I think one of the reasons they lasted so well and are common nowadays still is the GX Models have glass coated heads and we’re guaranteed to last something like 18 years.

I recently purchased a radio shack version. Had it repaired. Works great. Sounds excellent on my high end onkyo separates system.

I still have my X3 going strong after approximately 40 years. Bought from Uxbridge Audio long since defunct! A work colleague borrowed it from me some years ago and needed to replace the various drive belts and I will probably need to do the same now. I have many old tapes that I need to copy onto CD and HDDs/SSDs. I haven't used it for several years but it still sits amongst my everyday HIFI rack. My father's old Philips Stellaphone machine has lived on top of a wardrobe since the TEAC came into the house. One of these was seen in a Compare the Market adverticements with the meerkats a while ago. Nice video.

Good job with the researches as always. I’ll pull my Sony out of the closet probably after the summer when I finally have space for it in the living room. Right now the whole stereo is packed up.

Great video! Reel to reel machines generally produced excellent quality audio. I used a Revox in the early 90s and it was a real workhorse.

When I saw the TEAC name on this video, I had to watch it. You see I had a Teac Reel to Reel with built in amplifier in my hooch in Vietnam. Bought it from a GI who was going home, don't recall the price but it had the auto reveres as well as all the bells and whistles. I also purchased a small receiver so I could run the music through the speakers I got from another rotating GI. Since I sent the majority of my money home, I always purchased my stuff used. This was in 1970

Hi matt hope your repair goes well you are the one that initialialy got me into r 2 r

I love TEAC.. brilliant tech and quality stuff. I still have my Series 500 Amp and CD player and it all sounds fantastic. Pairs very nicely with my modern Q Acoustics speakers too. :)

Reel 2 Reel is the best music format when it comes to look & feel. Like vinyl but with the ability to make your own recordings. Also the machines look so damn good.

I'm very happy with my AKAI 4000D. :) But the TEACs are nice, too. Thanks for the video.

3rd, also, love your videos! I know so much about weird niche music storage formats because of you.

My Grandfather had an Akai open reel machine. It never missed a beat. Very mechanical, with the big levers and all, but it just never died and kept a rock steady speed.

Another fab video. Thanks.

Hi Techmoan. Just a note on your X3. The tension arms on each side of the tape path should not be at the top of their slots when running, this indicates that the the reel tension is set to high, and could mean that you are stretching the tape when playing. They should be in the middle of the slots and if you have the service manual this will tell you how to adjust them.

Five minutes in 'but then things get complicated...' love it!

In the 80's Radio Shack was my hangout with all the toys, gadgets and gizmos. They always had batteries in display units for us to use and play with.

I have a lovely TEAC X-7r, great unit and one of the flagship items in my collection.

In other words Techmoan pleased himself with a new toy again! (Of course I'm jealous!)

I own an X3R, X1000R, X700R. They’re great units. Each of them has the optional dust cover. The X1000R has the optional wood case. Been happy with them over the years.

I know the levers on the Akai looked a bit outdated back then when the TEAC X-3 came out, but I'm really happy with my GX-215D. Not only because it's black/anthracite like the rest of my equipment (are there any black X-3's? The "Pulp Fiction" recorder was black), but it has a less complicated auto reverse system. Not 2 pins (big and small) on the TEAC, but a grooved tension arm on the left side, and a grooved pin (fixed, under the head cover) on the right. A very small piece of foil will do the job to get the tape in another direction (back side of the tape for A -> B, tape side for B -> A) as it only has to bridge te groove on the pins. But as usual: thanks for the very informative video (again).

I used to drool over these Teac X series machines as a high schooler/college student! Of course I couldn't afford them. A glorious thing hanppened, a Pioneer RT-909 like his showed up in a used stereo shop in town, it cost me $300 in the mid 80's. It was barely in my budget, but I bought it along with all the tapes that came with it. I was broke for a while, but I still have this machine today. It was worth every penny, and it will always be in my system.

I have this same deck in my system. Like you I don't use it often since I have digitized most of my reels anyway, but it does look good and makes a statement to the rest of my 80's stereo gear that I have had since the early 80's.

I used to employ a similar (4 track) version of one of these for mastering.. I loved it!

Reel-to-reel machines seem to be a neat throwback about as much as videos with a commentary puppet-skit at the end of them. Have to go through old stuff to find one.

@Dan-TechAndMusic

Жыл бұрын

There's a comedy playlist on Techmoan's channel with uploads of just the puppet skits, if you're specifically after those.

"And it wooden't be my first choice" I hear you, but I think wooden cases add some richness to the timber. I'll see myself out.

@machupikachu1085

Жыл бұрын

I'd just like to branch out and say tree puns are better than two.

I have a TEAC X-1000R down in the basement that I should dig out one of these days. Quite sure it needs new belts by now. Was a fantastic unit.

I used a TEAC reel to reel until the mid 1980s, I loved it for mixing and archival recordings. Great quality up until the last.

My grandfather had these when i was a kid. Just laying my eyes upon them takes me back. Nostalgic as all get out. -Or something along those words. 😉🙃

LOVED my TEAC cassette deck in the 90’s. It even had a powered door. Swish!

I like your collection of electronic Amps, Turntables, Eq's Etc.

Excellent review.

Anytime you have to send in analog equipment for repair can be a bit of a scare. I feel that every time I send in a guitar amp for a fix. Good luck, sir. Wish you the best of luck! Love the channel.

I worked for Quality Sound and Video in North Carolina several years ago. I know you could get it repaired there. Just in America though. The guys that work there have worked there since the 70’s. I’ve had them do some work recently rebuilding a few speakers and recapping my realistic receiver.

At different times I have owned the X3, the radio shack version, and the 22-2. They really were good machines, and still hold up well over time. All were purchased used and I still whish I had not sold them back in the late 90s. but I still have my teac 3300sx.

My X300 says Hi! Thanks for all the fascinating info!

@derekgreenacre1738

Жыл бұрын

Sorry - that's SCAM???

Love these videos....

Yes! I'm early for once! I love your videos!

NICE i have the x3 mk2, r2r machines truly are a beauty when in use.

Great video! I have an older Sony TC 353D 7 inch machine that has been in my system since the early 80's and although it needs some work, I still play it from time to time. I purchased an RT909 about a year or so ago and absolutely love it. Best looking Reel to Reel machine in my opinion. Won it on an Ebay auction for $1895.00. It works great, but am thinking about getting it recapped. Some people say do it, some say leave it alone. We will see. Hope you get yours back soon and please let us know what the repair involved!

I still have a working TEAC A-2300S 7 inch reel to reel. I believe they were sold in the mid 1970's, and mine has the wood panels on either side, but not the top and bottom. It was thrown into the deal for free when I bought a used TEAC 4 track 10 inch reel to reel machine in the late 80's/early 90's from a private seller. Long ago I traded in the 4 track 10 inch machine for a Tascam TSR-8 reel to reel professional 8 track machine which was working fine until a couple of years ago when I messed something up trying to install a new capstan belt. It's fun to see you review old technology.

Nice job doing this video! Very informative; especially with all the various areas covered concerning this deck. l learned a lot. l have the X-300R and l can tell you it's a very solid, sturdy machine with excellent build quality and amazing sound quality! l record high-res digital music and the results are spectacular. lt's almost as if TEAC foresaw that their machines would be used in this way and built them for it!

I had an X-300R as my first reel to reel. I eventually “upgraded” back to an A-4300SX which fit in with the aesthetics of my system better. It was a good machine though.

Every time I think my hi-fi setup is good, I'll come back to this video to humble myself.

You would be surprised how many of these machines soldiered on into the 21st century at various radio stations throughout the US. They saw a lot of rough usage. They only met their demise when affordable computer digital recorders and editors became available around 2000.

I serviced many Teac open reel tape decks in my "youthful" days as an electronic technician. Akai also made some excellent tape decks.

G'day! Love your work!

I have it’s son the x-2000r I will NEVER get rid of it. It still works wonderfully. Open REEL FOREVER!!!

Fits really well with your set-up