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Audio Al
12-08-2015, 12:55
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SONY-APR-5000-ANALOG-TAPE-RECORDER-REPRODUCER-PROFESSIONAL-/221850916919?hash=item33a7585837

£899 last time now much cheaper :eek:

Lodgesound
12-08-2015, 14:43
Lovely machines these.....they need setting up but once that is done they are really quite spectacular.

It is the best sounding quarter inch analogue recorder I have ever owned...

struth
12-08-2015, 14:50
looks a bosker. i guess. ts not a lot of money for something that complex and well built. folk think nothing about spending more on a second hand tt

topoxforddoc
12-08-2015, 20:18
It looks bloody tempting at that price.

The Black Adder
13-08-2015, 16:41
looks a bosker. i guess. ts not a lot of money for something that complex and well built. folk think nothing about spending more on a second hand tt

Bosker?

struth
13-08-2015, 16:50
Bosker?

Definition of BOSKER

slang, Australia
: first-rate, excellent

topoxforddoc
14-08-2015, 12:17
Stewart,

I have sent you a PM asking for some advice about this Sony

Charlie

Audio Al
15-08-2015, 05:27
OK Who was it ?

This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available.

:)

topoxforddoc
15-08-2015, 07:27
Mea culpa.....

Just got to collect some time next week. It's going to replace my High Speed Revox G36, which I'm going to sell. The plan is to use Black Adder's A807/II to replay some safety copy masters, which will be copied using the APR-5002. I can then store the safety masters and play the new copies.

Lodgesound
15-08-2015, 08:58
Well done Charlie!!!

I think you will love it...

topoxforddoc
15-08-2015, 09:23
Stewart,

Thanks. It looks an amazing machine. If it sounds half as good as its reputation, I'll be very happy indeed. My tapes already sound pretty good on the A807/II and the G36, so it will be good to see how much better this sounds. However, I'm looking forward to the improvement in its recording ability compared to my G36.

PaulStewart
15-08-2015, 10:05
Well done Charlie, I'm sending you a PM about the G36 :)

topoxforddoc
18-08-2015, 15:56
I collected this earlier today. Haven't got home yet. Seller is a R2R enthusiast, Keith Phillips, who won a shed load of Nagras & Studer/Revoxes. It's an older APR 5002, rather than the more desirable later models with S/N over 20000. Functions ok. Hands look ok, but probably a bit worn - difficult to see clearly in the dim light with my contacts in!

Barry
18-08-2015, 17:08
From the photos posted on eBay, it looks like you now have a suberb machine in excellent condition at a good price. Well done Charlie! :)

topoxforddoc
18-08-2015, 21:30
OK it's home and I've got it past the missus :)

Time for a clean up first

struth
18-08-2015, 21:32
OK it's home and I've got it past the missus :)

Time for a clean up first

Diversionary tactics ;)

Audio Al
18-08-2015, 21:49
OK it's home and I've got it past the missus :)

Time for a clean up first

I hope you heal quickly ;)

topoxforddoc
18-08-2015, 23:04
Unbelievably unscathed!

The deck needed a good clean, as it had been used with some old Ampex tape with sticky shed. There was fair bit of oxide on the heads, rollers and guides. it's taken about an hour to clean. There's a bit more visible wear on the heads than I could see in the slightly dim room at the seller's place. Hopefully it will be ok. Time to put a tape on and have listen.

walpurgis
18-08-2015, 23:08
Show us a piccie of the cleaned up item Charlie.

Lodgesound
19-08-2015, 13:27
Excellent news that you have it now Charlie......let's see a pic when you can spare the time...maybe a vid of it in motion also.....

topoxforddoc
19-08-2015, 13:57
Geoff and Stewart,

Here are some pics of the machine and heads. The heads and guides were caked in oxide, but they have cleaned up ok. I spent about an hour and a half last night cleaning these. There's a fair bit of head wear, but hopefully they'll last a bit longer. There's always the option of sending the headlock to JRF in the USA for new heads or relapping.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/Sony%20APR%205002-5002.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/topoxforddoc/media/Sony%20APR%205002-5002.jpg.html)
http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/Sony%20APR%205002%20heads-2.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/topoxforddoc/media/Sony%20APR%205002%20heads-2.jpg.html)
http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/Sony%20APR%205002%20heads-.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/topoxforddoc/media/Sony%20APR%205002%20heads-.jpg.html)

Audio Al
19-08-2015, 14:03
WooW

Very nice , looks in fine condition 2 me
Did you try cleaning what look like a ceramic capstan spindle next 2 the pinch roller , looks a bit dirty

I'm as excited as you can't wait for your comments on how it sounds and records :D

struth
19-08-2015, 14:17
stunner of a machine Charlie. It would deffo be worth gerring the heads done on that. a reel keeper

topoxforddoc
19-08-2015, 16:20
Did you try cleaning what look like a ceramic capstan spindle next 2 the pinch roller , looks a bit dirty



Hi Al,

I have had a number of goes at cleaning the ceramic spindle. It was much worse when I started. I will have another go at it in due course. It got very late (about midnight) and my eyes were getting weary.

topoxforddoc
19-08-2015, 16:28
OK here's a very short video (volume was turned down to minimum as my wife was grappling with her laptop at the time). My A807/II is in the background.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/th_Sony%20APR%205002%20video-2552.mp4 (http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/Sony%20APR%205002%20video-2552.mp4)

Audio Al
19-08-2015, 16:34
Good 2 see it works , is the squeak part of the soundtrack ? or something that need a lube

topoxforddoc
19-08-2015, 16:37
Good 2 see it works , is the squeak part of the soundtrack ? or something that need a lube

Probably something that needs a lube.

topoxforddoc
21-08-2015, 14:57
Had a long chat with Stewart (Lodgesound) yesterday. He has very kindly offered to help re-align and calibrate my new beastie. Planning to drive round the M25 next week - fingers crossed :)

Audio Al
21-08-2015, 15:06
had a long chat with stewart (lodgesound) yesterday. He has very kindly offered to help re-align and calibrate my new beastie. Planning to drive round the m25 next week - fingers crossed :)

He is the man :D

topoxforddoc
26-08-2015, 23:11
Just back from Stewart's (Lodgesound) home in Surrey, where he kindly realigned and calibrated my APR-5002 and Studer A807/II. It looks like the APR had never been set up properly, but 4 hours later, it's dialled in and ready to go. The A807/II was a breeze by comparison!

It was a real education and we both needed many cups of tea, whilst the cussed APR was brought back into line. It was well worth the petrol, time and the very modest fee, which I agreed to pay Stewart for his time and expertise. Thank you very much indeed.

Audio Al
27-08-2015, 03:49
Great News :)

topoxforddoc
28-08-2015, 21:34
Tonight's album on the Sony - Nina Simone "Pastel Blues"

2nd generation master played on the APR-5002 and duplicated on my (ex-Black Adder's) A807/II

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/Nina%20Simone%20-%20Pastel%20Blues%20cover.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/topoxforddoc/media/Nina%20Simone%20-%20Pastel%20Blues%20cover.jpg.html)

topoxforddoc
12-10-2015, 17:00
Stewart (Lodgesound) has just contacted me to say that my APR-5002 is ready for collection. Full service & lube, electronic bias bugs fixed, heads re-lapped and machine calibrated for RMG tape. Perfect - now I just have to find time for the 5 hr round trip to Surrey. :)

topoxforddoc
16-10-2015, 21:28
Collecting it tomorrow morning. Can't wait. My High Speed Revox G36 has been repaired by Henry Dulat at ATV as well and I'll pick that up on the same journey round the M25. :)

topoxforddoc
17-10-2015, 15:51
Just back from Stewart's house, having collected my APR-5002 and my HS Revox G36. They'll have to wait for a break in the rugby though. The APR-5002 looked and sounded wonderful at Stewart's though.

topoxforddoc
18-10-2015, 12:56
It's now plugged back into my system and sounding truly wonderful. Thank you so much to Stewart (Lodgesound) for the complete overhaul and head relapping. Here it is this morning playing the Doors debut 1967 album master tape. Just stunning sound and the Sony is working perfectly.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/Sony%20APR-5002%20Oct%202015.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/topoxforddoc/media/Sony%20APR-5002%20Oct%202015.jpg.html)

topoxforddoc
18-10-2015, 16:48
Here's a video of the Sony playing some Steely Dan earlier this afternoon.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/th_Sony%20APR-5002%20Oct%202015%20low%20res.mp4 (http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj516/topoxforddoc/Sony%20APR-5002%20Oct%202015%20low%20res.mp4)

Marco
18-10-2015, 17:02
That's a lovely looking thing, Charlie! :drool:

Marco.

Audio Al
18-10-2015, 17:07
One day Marco will get some PROPER hifi ;)

topoxforddoc
18-10-2015, 17:53
That's a lovely looking thing, Charlie! :drool:

Marco.

Marco, since getting into R2R properly over the last few months, I haven't played a single record. I have 2000 LPs sitting on the shelves, but they have remained dormant. It's quite hard listening to LPs again after hearing master tapes on 15 IPS R2R.

Marco
18-10-2015, 17:57
One day Marco will get some PROPER hifi ;)

Lol - if I had the space I would get an R2R. Sadly though, I don't.

Marco.

Marco
18-10-2015, 17:59
Marco, since getting into R2R properly over the last few months, I haven't played a single record. I have 2000 LPs sitting on the shelves, but they have remained dormant. It's quite hard listening to LPs again after hearing master tapes on 15 IPS R2R.

Yup, Charlie, I can appreciate where you're coming from, as I've heard such master tapes before. Those are the ultimate, so enjoy! :cool:

Marco.