Tascam (TEAC) BR-20T Reel to Reel Machine, Serviced

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General:
I've worked on many reel to reel machines over the years and this is one of my favorites in terms of build quality, serviceability, and function. Only to be outdone by some of the Swiss-made Nagra machines which is really saying something.

A quick look inside reveals super high quality components, a clean logical layout, and easy access to all areas of the deck. Even the front panel hinges upward like the hood of a car to reveal access to all of the calibration pots. Sealed volume and record pots ensure you don't have to service them, just excercise from time to time. 

This machine arrived in good condition but required a light service. I changed the gummy pinch roller wheel and capstan belt, then disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated the tape transport mechanism which tends to dry and stick over time. It didn't require much adjustment from there to get it playing and recording beautifully. 

Cosmetics are very very good with light signs of use. Both meters are responsive and the tape counter LEDs are bright and perfect. 

This is a very capable machine supporting speeds up to 15 IPS (Inches per second) which is what most audiophiles will require.

Best of all it has balanced XLR inputs and XLR outputs, along with standard unbalanced RCAs. 

Your purchase includes the machine, power cord, NAB hub adaptors, and 2 aluminum 10" take up reels as pictured  - with one reel properly branded TASCAM which is a rare find.

Ownership:
Unknown

Connections:
RCA and XLR ins and outs, removable IEC power cord.

General Sound:
Accurate to the recording

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab.

Included:
Exactly as pictured and described above.

Sales Brochure:
Click Here

Manual:
Click Here

Packing:
Will be packed using our highly developed in-house process and custom packing materials.Weight:
75 lbs.

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Testing Process:
First steps are performed to determine if the unit is a candidate for our full restoration process, or if it's just in need of a light service.

We perform a basic functionality test to ensure proper playback, fast forward, and rewind. We look for smooth operation of the motors, transport engagement, and associated rolling parts.

We then do an internal physical inspection to ensure the belts and rubber consumable parts are up to spec.

Internal components are checked to make sure there are no signs of heat stress or damage, particularly in the power supply section. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

A light service will involve replacement of belts and rollers, external cleaning of heads, mechanism and boards, and basic record and playback tests.

A full restoration will often include disassembly of the drive system and replacement of all consumable and wearable parts including pinch rollers, belts, brakes, and bearings. We then clean, lubricate, and re-assemble the drive and perform basic mechanical alignment to ensure proper tape path and head alignment.

Final calibration will involve adjustment of the playback, erase, and record heads, along with optimization of the bias for a specific tape type. We do this with the aid of a Sound Technology 1510A tape deck analyzer plus a Nakamichi T-100 Audio Analyzer with reference calibration tapes.

Final listening tests are performed while monitoring with our reference Grado HP-1 headphones and a variety of factory and custom reference recordings We find that there is no better system for critical listening on tapes than with headphones, especially when comparing a live feed to a recorded feed.