Re: The TR-801...hmmmm...not bad !

[Dan #3]

I've a TR-801 as well - no complaints here at all - recording is
supurb for the format with no Dolby NR!!
Picked mine up for $5 at a salvation army roughly 5 years ago -
FANTASTIC CONDITION. This is my second machine of this model as i had
one since 1986 and it already had some high miles on her. My first
machine basically wore out in 1996 and when I saw the one at the
thrift store, I gave it a home. I've had very good results with it.
Dan #3

(trippin2-8track) wrote in message >...
> Something pulled me like a magnet to the local thrifties this week...
>
> And there it was, a MINT Radio Shack TR-801, not so much as a nick in
> it...
>
> Price, $10
>
> Man, does it sound nice, for a RS deck. NOTICEABLY BETTER SOUND than
> the TR-803's I had previously, and metal tape head supports too,
> instead of plastic...it's still no Akai or Roberts in sound/build
> quality, but pretty close. And better than the Wollensak 8056 I
> tried.
>
> I like the eject button feature, the VU's, the front panel,
> everything. The buttons are so cheesy looking, they're attractive in
> some odd way. Anyone else try/have this deck ??
>
> If you see one, grab it...you won't regret it.

[Daniel & Kathy Gibson]

Glad you like it. Now...when you find that TR-803 for $5..snap it up!!

Dan #3 wrote:
>
> I've a TR-801 as well - no complaints here at all - recording is
> supurb for the format with no Dolby NR!!
> Picked mine up for $5 at a salvation army roughly 5 years ago -
> FANTASTIC CONDITION. This is my second machine of this model as i had
> one since 1986 and it already had some high miles on her. My first
> machine basically wore out in 1996 and when I saw the one at the
> thrift store, I gave it a home. I've had very good results with it.
> Dan #3
>
> (trippin2-8track) wrote in message >...
> > Something pulled me like a magnet to the local thrifties this week...
> >
> > And there it was, a MINT Radio Shack TR-801, not so much as a nick in
> > it...
> >
> > Price, $10
> >
> > Man, does it sound nice, for a RS deck. NOTICEABLY BETTER SOUND than
> > the TR-803's I had previously, and metal tape head supports too,
> > instead of plastic...it's still no Akai or Roberts in sound/build
> > quality, but pretty close. And better than the Wollensak 8056 I
> > tried.
> >
> > I like the eject button feature, the VU's, the front panel,
> > everything. The buttons are so cheesy looking, they're attractive in
> > some odd way. Anyone else try/have this deck ??
> >
> > If you see one, grab it...you won't regret it.

--

Daniel and Kathy Gibson
http://www.katestrackshack.com
"Kate's Track Shack -Your Internet Home For Inexpensive 8-tracks!!"
AND...
http://drnooseandjambone.com
"DrNoose And Jambone - Do It To The Optigan!"

[Dan #3]

sure thing! I'll hit you off-line
Dan#3

(trippin2-8track) wrote in message >...
> I have a few of those Recotron blank carts, are you interested ??
>
> There's something on them now, but I can bulk erase them for you.

[RickM]

(trippin2-8track) wrote in message >...
> I tried 2 of those TR-803's. They are light as a feather, although
> physically larger, but the case is mostly empty in them. The 803's
> sounded inferior to this TR-801. The 803 has a plastic tape head
> support, that usually cracks. Then the tape head gets loose, tracks
> incorrectly, even falls out. (one of mine arrived with the tape head
> hanging out) I had to use adhesive to hold both tape heads in on the
> 803. The 803's also had audible wow/flutter to the unacceptable level,
> and some ghost tracking.
>
> The techs here warned about it, and sure enough, both of my 803's had
> cracked plastic tape head supports. They are chock full of cool
> options, like output level control on the front panel, soft eject,
> etc. But the sound quality of an 803 can best be described as
> "watery". Was also warned about that trait, and sure enough, both
> 803's sounded like listening to music while underwater.
>
> An 801 just whips an 803, hands down. One thing about an 803 though,
> they have a high resale, sold both of mine for a small profit
> actually, on ebay. Their looks sell them.
>
> There's a TR-802 at a local flea mart for $20. I may give it a listen
> next.


Sorta sounds like what happened with the Akai line of decks. The
earlier machines all were built solidly, heavy flywheels, strong AC
motors, separate erase heads, they even had about 4 tape guides to
help ensure the tape traveled smoothly across the heads.

Then comes the Akai CR-83D (The last 8 track deck Akai built), first
thing you notice is how light it is. Then when you open it up the
case is half empty. Then you see the ****ty, tiny unreliable DC
motor, tiny flywheel, only one head,one tape guide etc... and you
realize that they "dont build them like they used to".

I bet the 803 along with its plastic tape head support (whats up with
that???) had a DC motor. Just curious, did the 801 have an AC motor??

Rick M

[Daniel & Kathy Gibson]

RickM wrote:
>
> (trippin2-8track) wrote in message >...
> > I tried 2 of those TR-803's. They are light as a feather, although
> > physically larger, but the case is mostly empty in them. The 803's
> > sounded inferior to this TR-801. The 803 has a plastic tape head
> > support, that usually cracks. Then the tape head gets loose, tracks
> > incorrectly, even falls out. (one of mine arrived with the tape head
> > hanging out) I had to use adhesive to hold both tape heads in on the
> > 803. The 803's also had audible wow/flutter to the unacceptable level,
> > and some ghost tracking.
> >
> > The techs here warned about it, and sure enough, both of my 803's had
> > cracked plastic tape head supports. They are chock full of cool
> > options, like output level control on the front panel, soft eject,
> > etc. But the sound quality of an 803 can best be described as
> > "watery". Was also warned about that trait, and sure enough, both
> > 803's sounded like listening to music while underwater.
> >
> > An 801 just whips an 803, hands down. One thing about an 803 though,
> > they have a high resale, sold both of mine for a small profit
> > actually, on ebay. Their looks sell them.
> >
> > There's a TR-802 at a local flea mart for $20. I may give it a listen
> > next.
>
> Sorta sounds like what happened with the Akai line of decks. The
> earlier machines all were built solidly, heavy flywheels, strong AC
> motors, separate erase heads, they even had about 4 tape guides to
> help ensure the tape traveled smoothly across the heads.
>
> Then comes the Akai CR-83D (The last 8 track deck Akai built), first
> thing you notice is how light it is. Then when you open it up the
> case is half empty. Then you see the ****ty, tiny unreliable DC
> motor, tiny flywheel, only one head,one tape guide etc... and you
> realize that they "dont build them like they used to".
>
> I bet the 803 along with its plastic tape head support (whats up with
> that???) had a DC motor. Just curious, did the 801 have an AC motor??
>
> Rick M

Even though Charlie has a thing in his craw about the 803 (I think it is
because he asked me what player I liked the best at one time, and that
was my reply), I have to disagree with his assesment of it. Just because
the head support is plastic does not immediately imply that the machine
is somehow not worth checking out. I someone suckered him into buying
junk machines, then that is his problem. Fact is, all of the Akais I had
were not that impress. Heavy and rugged? Yup, but the sound was not that
great. Does that mean they all stink? Apparently not, based on the
feedback from some of the other posters here. Same with the 803. Larry
B, you had one for the longest time, were you disappointed with it? PB
was here a while back, and he seemed to like the way mine sounded just
fine.

The bottom line for me...my 803 has the most features, sounds great, ans
is able to play tapes that bog down in my other machines. Is it lighter
than my other ones? Does it have plastic head supports? Yes on both
accounts. Will it play rings around just about any player you care to
put up against it? Yes again. Look at it as the Ferrari of the 8-track
world..high performance, but it does need maintenance occasionally. If
you don't want a Ferrari, then you can check in with the Nudos of the
world, and see what Hyundais are selling for. ;^)

Danno


--

Daniel and Kathy Gibson
http://www.katestrackshack.com
"Kate's Track Shack -Your Internet Home For Inexpensive 8-tracks!!"
AND...
http://drnooseandjambone.com
"DrNoose And Jambone - Do It To The Optigan!"

[Danspeakin]

>> An 801 just whips an 803, hands down. One thing about an 803 though,
>> they have a high resale, sold both of mine for a small profit
>> actually, on ebay. Their looks sell them.
>>
>> There's a TR-802 at a local flea mart for $20. I may give it a listen
>> next.
>
>
>Sorta sounds like what happened with the Akai line of decks. The
>earlier machines all were built solidly, heavy flywheels, strong AC
>motors, separate erase heads, they even had about 4 tape guides to
>help ensure the tape traveled smoothly across the heads.
>
>Then comes the Akai CR-83D (The last 8 track deck Akai built), first
>thing you notice is how light it is. Then when you open it up the
>case is half empty. Then you see the ****ty, tiny unreliable DC
>motor, tiny flywheel, only one head,one tape guide etc... and you
>realize that they "dont build them like they used to".
>
>I bet the 803 along with its plastic tape head support (whats up with
>that???) had a DC motor. Just curious, did the 801 have an AC motor??
>
>Rick M

803 DC
801 AC

Dan 2

[trippin2-8track]

10-4, I have (2) of those 83D's, one the motor took a crap on. The
other, the motor started wavering, so I oiled it, it's ok now. They
obviously cut corners on the 83D to save some $$.

But they do have a nice quiet channel change on the 83D. Those early
Akai decks sound like a rifle shot when they switch tracks.

I'll break open this 801 and see what type of motor is in it.

[trippin2-8track]

Danny,

How bout the TR-802 ??

AC or DC ??

[trippin2-8track]

ok

[Larry Blumenfeld]

Daniel & Kathy Gibson wrote:

> Even though Charlie has a thing in his craw about the 803 (I think it is
> because he asked me what player I liked the best at one time, and that
> was my reply), I have to disagree with his assesment of it. Just because
> the head support is plastic does not immediately imply that the machine
> is somehow not worth checking out. I someone suckered him into buying
> junk machines, then that is his problem. Fact is, all of the Akais I had
> were not that impress. Heavy and rugged? Yup, but the sound was not that
> great. Does that mean they all stink? Apparently not, based on the
> feedback from some of the other posters here. Same with the 803. Larry
> B, you had one for the longest time, were you disappointed with it?

Not at all. Don't wanna get Nudo after me, but I found very little to criticize in the 803. Like you said, it's
considerably more lightweight than its predecessors, and has that ****ty head mount, but I still felt it sounded decent. I
guess it's possible to have good and bad examples of _any_ machine. One of the most surprising machines I ever had was a
Montgomery Wards that used many of the same internals as the 803. Once I fixed its several problems it worked fine; I had a
bitch of a time selling it, though, because well hey, it was a Monkey Wards for chrissake! As far as the Akais go, I'm
listening to a CR-81D right now and it may even sound better than my Wolly 8055. Bottom line: beware of _any_ machine with
a plastic head mount, unless it's not cracked. Although even then you may be able to adjust it so that it works well. We're
talking about thirty year old machines here, folks...we're lucky they play at all!

Happy trails,
Larry B.

[trippin2-8track]

yo Larry,

How do you like that Akai CR81D ?? That's the only Akai machine I
have not not tried yet. I missed the end of 2 ebay auctions, where
those went for under $20, nice examples too. Damn !!

How does it rate against the GXR82D ??

[trippin2-8track]

yes, the TR-803 is this huge looking deck, that's half empty, with a
**** plastic head support,watery sound, and a WIMPY DC motor with
plenty of wow/flutter, that you WILL hear expecially on double length
tapes. Those are harder to spool.

ps- I took the cover off this TR-801. I'm seeing what looks to be a
larger DC motor, not an AC motor.

[Larry Blumenfeld]

trippin2-8track wrote:

> yo Larry,
>
> How do you like that Akai CR81D ?? That's the only Akai machine I
> have not not tried yet. I missed the end of 2 ebay auctions, where
> those went for under $20, nice examples too. Damn !!
>
> How does it rate against the GXR82D ??

Never had an 82. From what I've read, the benefits of the glass head on
the 82 are outweighed by the increased crosstalk. Evidently the glass
layer lets the tape "float" enough that you get much more potential for
two tracks at once. I'm a big fan of the glass head design - my
reel-to-reel has it - but it may have been a mistake on the 82. As far
as my 81 goes, it's primo. Mine was "massaged" by a technician before I
got it, and it sounds just great. Initially had channel-changing
problems, but those seem to have vanished. Fidelity is incomparable, and
I don't have the crackling problem so many others have run into.I had a
Roberts 808D once, it's the same as a CR-80. I sold it to Malcolm, don't
know how he's doing with it. Sittin' pretty with the CR-81 and the Wolly
8055, that's for sure...

Happy trails,
Larry B.

[trippin2-8track]

Got to try an 81 myself soon.

Any crosstalk with the 81 ??

How's it compare in sound to the 8055 ??

[trippin2-8track]

So does a chunk of packing insulation cut to size, for free...