If you adjust the height, you can usually follow the tilt screw by roughly the same turn angle to keep the head tilt from going off. It's what Akai puts in the service manual for the GX-75/95. You will need to cross-check with the narrow track test tape to find the best spot. If that is done, the azimuth can be adjustet. Adjust for max. level first, then bring the channels in phase.
@@MoggysHiFiAntics my narrow track test tape comes from A.N.T. Audio and is sold as a fuctional equivalent to the Nak DA09087B/DA09007B test tapes. It has a 1 kHz test tone recorded in very narrow "strips" left and right of the head gap so a proper adjustment would be to bring both channels on an equal level. So yes, you're right. But: it doesn't work on all decks. For example, the Akai GX ferrite heads seem to have a gap that is too wide and "swallows up" the whole recording. And of course, Akai has their own alignment tape. Because in their infinite wisdom, they also did not include a tape guide fork on the head so you can't even properly use a gauge.
@@svenschwingel8632 ok same thing. Perhaps adjust height by counting the turns on each side of centre position. Sounds like a compromise, oh well, we do what we can! I would find the WHS300 mainly useful for depth and tilt, not so much for az and height. My main tapes are from Gennlab in NZ. I have quite a collection of test tapes now (~15).
@@MoggysHiFiAntics Gennlab tapes have an excellent reputation among the repair guys. And yes, the WHS300 is for tilt and height mostly - the azimuth can only be estimated with it. And if you own the 15 kHz full track test tape, there is nothing more precise to adjust azimuth with. The WHS300 also has a marking for proper head zenith (the measurement for how deep the head penetrates into the shell on rec/pb engagement). In that regard, it is similar to the A-BEX THG801 gauge. Don't get me wrong - I'm not affiliated with Willy Hermann in any way ;)
@@svenschwingel8632 I have the Gennlab15k az tape. I've noticed that it gives slightly different results to all my other az tapes. Even the gennlab freq resp tapes with an az section are different. I hope to do a comparison one day. ATM I just trust the gennlab az tape and assume that the other gennlab tapes aren't quite done right. Other makes of az tapes I can only guess. I can say this though, using the 15k az tape I have been able to get my ZX-7, B215 and my CR-5 all to be 40-22kHz +/- 2dB for record/playback using a blank tape and playback with test tapes. Now that I don't have the 1000ZXL I'm looking forward to working on my CR-7 and ZX-9 later in the year. These hope to be keepers. Cheers. I'll have another think about the WHS300.
I gave mine away to the second hand shop. I started fine, but halfway the cassette is started to flow in speed. Good luck to the one that buys it for 10Euro at the shop...
It is one of the best cassette decks ever made. You could have sold it on ebay for a lot more. Somebody is getting a bargain. The problem you describe is simply the motor needing a clean internally, that's my guess. I would have paid for the postage to Australia if only E10 to buy.
@@MoggysHiFiAntics Thanks. Yes I should have done that. But I even gave away more material. Our whole studio was dismanteld and I did not know how much space I had to move all with me 400 km further... May Jesus bless the lucky finders. God blessed us with a new workspace. Money is not all important. All money belongs to God anyway. When He blesses and we are content with what we have.... That's the best.
@@MoggysHiFiAntics @Moggy's HiFi Antics Thanks. Yes I should have done that. But I even gave away more material. Our whole studio was dismanteld and I did not know how much space I had to move all with me 400 km further... May Jesus bless the lucky finders. God blessed us with a new workspace. Money is not all important. All money belongs to God anyway. When He blesses and we are content with what we have.... That's the best.
When it comes to head height and azimuth settings, I first go by ear. A tape, that I know very well and how it should sound, when everything is set correctly. Monitored through very sensitive headphones. Only then do I move on to the measurements. At best, to confirm what I've heard, at worst, to make necessary minimal readjustments. In this way, I can ensure that on the one hand, I do not accidentally set the secondary maximum and, on the other hand, that only a minimal adjustment is necessary afterwards.
I tend to agree, however it's hard to dispute real measurements. I know for sure this deck sounds better with adjustments made and I wasn't going to tweak things by ear. For one thing I can hear azimuth but I can't hear track alignment so this is where real measurement comes into its own. Even if my tilt is a bit off I reckon it's not too much, a freq resp rec and pb will help the story. But what I do know is that I verify the result by listening and for this episode it works. Like you say. Before this, it wasn't fantastic by ear but now it is great, by ear. We're just talking about different ways to get to the same result. 😃
@@MoggysHiFiAntics Exactly. Both go hand in hand and only together can the optimum be achieved. From which side you approach this, is therefore more a question of personal preference and usual routine.
Ah, the good old head alignment with 3 screws where turning each screw throws off the other two 🤣 Getting this right is an iterative process indeed. And if you do that often, getting the WHS300 will pay off. Although you will need to remove the mechanisms to use that gauge.
that should last you for another 40 years they are built like a Tank and having 3 Direct Drive Motors no Belts or plastic cogs to break or stretch,i always fancied a Nakamichi Dragon but they are far to complicated and difficult to maintain so i used my Head and not my Heart and i bought a B215
Yeah, the no belt thing is a plus. Have you heard if getting a new head is difficult? Mind you I think mine is fine. I've ordered some proper 965 oil for the motors. Nagrovox being "local" is a plus. My listening so far is fabulous. My first listen many months age I was a bit underwhelmed compared to my Nakas. However today it's really catching my mojo. In my display replacement video I was really impressed with the internal layout, so good. I agree, I think this will outlast me!
Can you fix my revox 215 it play but sometimes it play slow n sometimes it play the cassette good but sometimes it don't take other tapes is weird everything is moving good it rewind n play maybe it need lubricant motor are moving fine it just play good sometime n sometime it slow down when the tape is playing I don't want to give it to anyone that don't know what they doing only a person like you that know the revox 215 n know how to deal with them let me know sir good job I see you know what you are doing thank you I pay you good if you fix my baby
Unfortunately not at present. I'm about to go overseas for many months which is why I haven't posted for a while. My first guess is that the motors need lubricating. They must use the correct oil as specified. Ordinary oil will not do. I bought the oil from Nagravox on ebay as "moneypm". Mine is running smoothly so I haven't oiled mine yet. However, I will probably do it next year when I return and have time. So many devices to get going. 🙂
If you adjust the height, you can usually follow the tilt screw by roughly the same turn angle to keep the head tilt from going off. It's what Akai puts in the service manual for the GX-75/95.
You will need to cross-check with the narrow track test tape to find the best spot. If that is done, the azimuth can be adjustet. Adjust for max. level first, then bring the channels in phase.
If I get back to it I'll try it. I've put a note in my B215 file. My naka alignment tape does what I think your "narrow track" tape does.
@@MoggysHiFiAntics my narrow track test tape comes from A.N.T. Audio and is sold as a fuctional equivalent to the Nak DA09087B/DA09007B test tapes. It has a 1 kHz test tone recorded in very narrow "strips" left and right of the head gap so a proper adjustment would be to bring both channels on an equal level. So yes, you're right.
But: it doesn't work on all decks. For example, the Akai GX ferrite heads seem to have a gap that is too wide and "swallows up" the whole recording. And of course, Akai has their own alignment tape. Because in their infinite wisdom, they also did not include a tape guide fork on the head so you can't even properly use a gauge.
@@svenschwingel8632 ok same thing.
Perhaps adjust height by counting the turns on each side of centre position. Sounds like a compromise, oh well, we do what we can!
I would find the WHS300 mainly useful for depth and tilt, not so much for az and height. My main tapes are from Gennlab in NZ. I have quite a collection of test tapes now (~15).
@@MoggysHiFiAntics Gennlab tapes have an excellent reputation among the repair guys.
And yes, the WHS300 is for tilt and height mostly - the azimuth can only be estimated with it. And if you own the 15 kHz full track test tape, there is nothing more precise to adjust azimuth with. The WHS300 also has a marking for proper head zenith (the measurement for how deep the head penetrates into the shell on rec/pb engagement). In that regard, it is similar to the A-BEX THG801 gauge.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not affiliated with Willy Hermann in any way ;)
@@svenschwingel8632 I have the Gennlab15k az tape. I've noticed that it gives slightly different results to all my other az tapes.
Even the gennlab freq resp tapes with an az section are different. I hope to do a comparison one day.
ATM I just trust the gennlab az tape and assume that the other gennlab tapes aren't quite done right. Other makes of az tapes I can only guess.
I can say this though, using the 15k az tape I have been able to get my ZX-7, B215 and my CR-5 all to be 40-22kHz +/- 2dB for record/playback using a blank tape and playback with test tapes.
Now that I don't have the 1000ZXL I'm looking forward to working on my CR-7 and ZX-9 later in the year. These hope to be keepers.
Cheers.
I'll have another think about the WHS300.
I gave mine away to the second hand shop. I started fine, but halfway the cassette is started to flow in speed. Good luck to the one that buys it for 10Euro at the shop...
It is one of the best cassette decks ever made. You could have sold it on ebay for a lot more. Somebody is getting a bargain.
The problem you describe is simply the motor needing a clean internally, that's my guess. I would have paid for the postage to Australia if only E10 to buy.
@@MoggysHiFiAntics Thanks. Yes I should have done that. But I even gave away more material. Our whole studio was dismanteld and I did not know how much space I had to move all with me 400 km further...
May Jesus bless the lucky finders. God blessed us with a new workspace. Money is not all important. All money belongs to God anyway. When He blesses and we are content with what we have.... That's the best.
@@MoggysHiFiAntics @Moggy's HiFi Antics Thanks. Yes I should have done that. But I even gave away more material. Our whole studio was dismanteld and I did not know how much space I had to move all with me 400 km further...
May Jesus bless the lucky finders. God blessed us with a new workspace. Money is not all important. All money belongs to God anyway. When He blesses and we are content with what we have.... That's the best.
When it comes to head height and azimuth settings, I first go by ear. A tape, that I know very well and how it should sound, when everything is set correctly. Monitored through very sensitive headphones. Only then do I move on to the measurements. At best, to confirm what I've heard, at worst, to make necessary minimal readjustments. In this way, I can ensure that on the one hand, I do not accidentally set the secondary maximum and, on the other hand, that only a minimal adjustment is necessary afterwards.
I tend to agree, however it's hard to dispute real measurements. I know for sure this deck sounds better with adjustments made and I wasn't going to tweak things by ear. For one thing I can hear azimuth but I can't hear track alignment so this is where real measurement comes into its own. Even if my tilt is a bit off I reckon it's not too much, a freq resp rec and pb will help the story.
But what I do know is that I verify the result by listening and for this episode it works. Like you say.
Before this, it wasn't fantastic by ear but now it is great, by ear. We're just talking about different ways to get to the same result. 😃
@@MoggysHiFiAntics Exactly. Both go hand in hand and only together can the optimum be achieved. From which side you approach this, is therefore more a question of personal preference and usual routine.
Ah, the good old head alignment with 3 screws where turning each screw throws off the other two 🤣
Getting this right is an iterative process indeed. And if you do that often, getting the WHS300 will pay off. Although you will need to remove the mechanisms to use that gauge.
I'm still tossing up whether to get the willy gauge. It's about A$300, hard to justify.
@@MoggysHiFiAntics I jumped in and got myself one. I've had no regrets as of now.
that should last you for another 40 years they are built like a Tank and having 3 Direct Drive Motors no Belts or plastic cogs to break or stretch,i always fancied a Nakamichi Dragon but they are far to complicated and difficult to maintain so i used my Head and not my Heart and i bought a B215
Yeah, the no belt thing is a plus. Have you heard if getting a new head is difficult?
Mind you I think mine is fine. I've ordered some proper 965 oil for the motors. Nagrovox being "local" is a plus.
My listening so far is fabulous. My first listen many months age I was a bit underwhelmed compared to my Nakas. However today it's really catching my mojo.
In my display replacement video I was really impressed with the internal layout, so good.
I agree, I think this will outlast me!
Can you fix my revox 215 it play but sometimes it play slow n sometimes it play the cassette good but sometimes it don't take other tapes is weird everything is moving good it rewind n play maybe it need lubricant motor are moving fine it just play good sometime n sometime it slow down when the tape is playing I don't want to give it to anyone that don't know what they doing only a person like you that know the revox 215 n know how to deal with them let me know sir good job I see you know what you are doing thank you I pay you good if you fix my baby
Unfortunately not at present. I'm about to go overseas for many months which is why I haven't posted for a while.
My first guess is that the motors need lubricating. They must use the correct oil as specified. Ordinary oil will not do. I bought the oil from Nagravox on ebay as "moneypm".
Mine is running smoothly so I haven't oiled mine yet. However, I will probably do it next year when I return and have time. So many devices to get going. 🙂