BASF SM911, Per 368, Quantegy 632 tests on Uher 4200

Analog recording to tape is a different world.


Recording a single singing voice with signal so hot that VU meter needle is almost constantly between 0VU and end of scale,...,and it sounds fantastic. Just subjectively louder.


Below 0VU it still sounds fantastic. More silk and less aggression or loudness.


Signal path:


Recording:
Singing male voice at 1in - 4in from mic - AKG MI 201-100 - Uher 4200 report at 7.5ips - 1/4in virgin tape


Playback:
1/4in tape - Uher 4200 - resistor pad - Sennheiser HD580


Attenuation pad is 220Ω shunt to Uher 4200, 560Ω series with Sennheiser HD580. (At your risk, it is not known if this is safe enough).


2 Uher 4200 report recorders were used. Both having issues. They were bought on eBay. They sound fantastic but:


The 1st one bought ie Uher 4200 (1st) records and plays back on right channel only.


The second one bought ie Uher 4200 (2nd) plays back both tracks but records only right channel. Left channel recoding amplifier producing excessive distortion, (sounds like a high open loop gain system with no negative feedback).


Today SM911 and 632 were tested on mono right channel, track only.


Per 368 seems to sound similar or even better that SM911 but this is from memory. It was yesterday that a similar recoding which had been made a few weeks ago on Per 368 was played back. More tests are needed.


SM911 sounds more full and perhaps more bass heavy than 632. Possibly less hiss noise too. Both tapes were quiet anyway (speed 7.5ips).


632 sounds somewhat less loud but with perhaps more treble. It sound nice. But there is very high kind of static noise. Like playing a bad vinyl record.


This was more investigated and it was seen that adjacent layers of 632 were gently sticking to each other. Possibly signs of SSS syndrome? But 632 is not back coated. When unwinding by gravity and holding the spool verticaly by hand some static noise must had been heard too. So it seems to be electrostatic noise? There were no particles left on tape guides. Tape was stored and marked as ifie. Further tests were with SM911 only.


Recording on Uher 4200 1st sounds best in terms of HF reproduced on Uher 1st.


Recording on Uher 4200 2nd sounds best in terms of HF reproduced on Uher 2nd. Uher 2nd sounds best with more fantastic treble. So it seems there is azimuth discrepancy. Uher 2nd possibly has the correct azimuth adjustment. A test tape should reveal more.