This is a project that's been on going since the days of my Lenco experiments. My Lenco project is posted as a virtual system here at Audiogon too.
My Technics SP10 MK2 in custom African Wenge plinth is posted in my main system and this Technics SP10 MK3 in Panzerholz and Ebony Plinth was completed November 20th, 2008.
More images to follow, including the Ebony custom platform it will rest on. The platform is 9 layer construction including a layer of Texas Instruments shield with active ground plane.
a dear friend of mine was wiped out by the Madoff scandal. Now he is 77 and his future is very unclear. Trying to find work is bad enough now. I'm 66 and no takers, him at 77 has zero chance. With no family left he may wind up in a gov supported ALF. Sorry to be somewhat off topic here.
No doubt that Peter has most likely moved forward from that time. As for me been out of RTR for many years as the medium no longer holds my interest. When I was with Columbia we used 35mm RTR, although now some 35 years later I cannot remember the brand of the units. Certainly anyone that has a ML 5 by now has upgraded the circuit cards by now. Anyway if I ever find one at a decent price may buy it just for the icon it was. At the time I was more than impressed with its performance, but things do move on and hopefully better, though that is not always the case. How many times as audiophiles we have jumped on something only to find out that the vintage piece was indeed better. But that's what the hobby is about, the search for the elusive grail.
For further info on the ML 5 contact Peter McGrath, he is totally familiar with it as well as many other open reel machines. However with that being said be prepared to suffer the slings and arrows of his dialogue. He does not suffer fools easily. In other words be on top of your game with him. My last conversation with him was March 1980, that was enough for me. His intellect is razor sharp.
May want to try and find a Mark Levinson ML 5 open reel tape recorder. Produced from 1981 through 1986. Used the Studer transport, but thats the only outsourced part. The rest is pure Levinson. Hefty fellow at 117 pounds. Used by some of the finest Classical recording studios world wide. Seldom seen for re-sale. But if I was going for an open reel tape deck, thats the one I would search for. I have heard it back in the day and price wise way above my resources. But in my opinion nothing could touch it.
albertporter on All Out Assault