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[woodlands]

Hi. Needing some info on the differences between these two machines. The thread is on this forum :http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/t/19871/0/.

Thanks muchly!

[Fletcher]

I frankly have no idea where to get parts for either machine... the AG-440 was one of the absolute best sounding machines Ampex ever put out... I think even better than the ATR-124 in many regards.  As for the Studer... it kinda depends on what "mark" deck it is... I always thought the MK-I decks sounded best... the MK-II not quite as good as that was the first incarnation to use a head coupling transformer... and that transformer ran out of head room in a hurry.  The MK-III had a transformerless input but still had the headcoupling transformer on the repro head... the MK-IV had a tranformerless audio path but still had the headcoupling transformer.

You can get the headcoupling transformer out of the audio path if you install A-800 heads on the machine... if the deck you're talking about is a 1" 8-track I'm pretty sure I know where you can pick up a set of A-800 heads... but that again is going to be a capital investment into something I have no idea what the spare parts supply is like.

On the bright side I do believe they sold more A-80's than any other machine... which probably means that it will be possible [though a pain in the arse] to find parts for another decade or two.

I hope this is of some assistance.

Peace.

[thedoc]

I would say that 440's are easy to repair if you can get parts.  Not complicated like ATR's,

[Matt Allen]

After a very good talk about tape machines at AES, the 440 8 track was at that transport's limits when it was setup for 1" 8 track. I have no experience with it, but John French, Mike Spitz,  and John Klett all agreed. I'd have to trust that statement.

[gevermil]

Im curious about the Heads . Didnt ampex use different heads for the 1200 ?
Than say the older 440s
as tape formulas progressed different heads could print hotter ?

[minkthinking]

I have a Studer A 80 1/2" 4 track from the 70s for sale for parts if you're interested.  Needs work, but a good parts machine if you go the A 80 route.