MCI JH-110 or Studer A80 for mix down deck?

Sean Sullivan · 31st October 2008

My studio partner bought both of these machines at an estate auction. We can't decide which to keep. We could get more money back selling the Studer, but the MCI seems like it will require more maintenance. Which of these two decks do you think serve as better mix down decks. Both are two track 1/4".

dbbubba · 31st October 2008

Where do you live?

Getting technical help on the Studer can be hard unless you live in NYC or LA.
If you are anywhere in the US and many parts of the world MCI techs are more plentuful.

The MCI will need a bit more maintenance, but if properly re-built it will run as good as the Studer.
I could have a JH-110 COMPLETELY re-built in three days.
It would operate almost like new IF all of the mechanical parts were intact.

I have fully re-built both MCIs and Studers recently and both are good sounding decks.
Truthfully, I had HELL finding anyone with knowledge of a Studer A810.
I had some specific questions with the capstan motor drive amp and almost ALL of the analog tape deck re-builders said that they didn't know those decks that well.
Very few of them even wanted to work on a Studer!

Studers have more of a mystique, but I can't tell you that they sound "better" than an MCI.

I'd keep the one that has the best heads and is in the best over-all condition.

Ken Paul · 31st October 2008

I'd do like Danny said and keep the one with the best heads. I've worked on and used both over the years The MCI may need a bit more TLC over time (after all MCI does stand for most connections are intermittent) but you'll have a lot easier time finding parts.

Ken Paul
Kengineering

Sean Sullivan · 31st October 2008

I'm in Nashville, which is where most of the MCI techs seems to be (Blevins).

dbbubba · 31st October 2008

If you are in Nashville you're covered on MCIs and probably Studers as well.

Steve Sadler is Blevin's tech.
There is no better MCI tech than Steve really.

Really...
Studers don't sound better than MCIs.
They sound slightly different, but not THAT much!

The Reel Thing · 1st November 2008

i have both MCI and Studer tape machines. the differences in sound have less to do with the make of the machine than with the brand of tape, alignment, bias setting etc.
they're both great machines and will do a superior job anyday.

but apart from that - if you're into analogue you should keep them both. you can always use one for tape echo, pre delays etc. and if you want to go ADT, flanging, phasing etc. you'll need 2 machines anyway.
i have 3 2-tracks here, a 1/2" and two 1/4", and they're up and running all the time when i work.

good luck,

tom

analoghaus :: studio label verlag - home

31st October 2008	#1
Sean Sullivan Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 3,439 Thread Starter 1 Review written	MCI JH-110 or Studer A80 for mix down deck? My studio partner bought both of these machines at an estate auction. We can't decide which to keep. We could get more money back selling the Studer, but the MCI seems like it will require more maintenance. Which of these two decks do you think serve as better mix down decks. Both are two track 1/4".

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31st October 2008	#2
dbbubba Banned Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 7,099	Where do you live? Getting technical help on the Studer can be hard unless you live in NYC or LA. If you are anywhere in the US and many parts of the world MCI techs are more plentuful. The MCI will need a bit more maintenance, but if properly re-built it will run as good as the Studer. I could have a JH-110 COMPLETELY re-built in three days. It would operate almost like new IF all of the mechanical parts were intact. I have fully re-built both MCIs and Studers recently and both are good sounding decks. Truthfully, I had HELL finding anyone with knowledge of a Studer A810. I had some specific questions with the capstan motor drive amp and almost ALL of the analog tape deck re-builders said that they didn't know those decks that well. Very few of them even wanted to work on a Studer! Studers have more of a mystique, but I can't tell you that they sound "better" than an MCI. I'd keep the one that has the best heads and is in the best over-all condition.

31st October 2008	#3
Ken Paul Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 810	I'd do like Danny said and keep the one with the best heads. I've worked on and used both over the years The MCI may need a bit more TLC over time (after all MCI does stand for most connections are intermittent) but you'll have a lot easier time finding parts. Ken Paul Kengineering

1st November 2008	#6
The Reel Thing Gear addict Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Frankfurt Posts: 478	i have both MCI and Studer tape machines. the differences in sound have less to do with the make of the machine than with the brand of tape, alignment, bias setting etc. they're both great machines and will do a superior job anyday. but apart from that - if you're into analogue you should keep them both. you can always use one for tape echo, pre delays etc. and if you want to go ADT, flanging, phasing etc. you'll need 2 machines anyway. i have 3 2-tracks here, a 1/2" and two 1/4", and they're up and running all the time when i work. good luck, tom analoghaus :: studio label verlag - home