Pure Tape Head Preamp

Description

The Goal of the Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp is to provide a much better alternative for high end Reel to Reel Tape Listeners. This was designed by Jens Waale in conjunction with Merrill Audio and built by Merrill Audio. The listener can instantly hear the increased dynamic range, lower noise floor and much greater immediacy, that is truly justifiable of tape that creates an exceptional listening experience.

The design of the Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp has a high gain of 71dB with a optional 6dB cut. Equalization is available for 3.75 ips, 7.5 ips, 15 ips, 30 ips with NAB, IEC and IEC2 equalization. The output is capable of a +/- 12 volt swing, giving a full 24 volt output. For most tape heads, the Tape itself will saturate before reaching this output level. This large voltage capability gives the Merrill Audio Tape Head Preamp excellent immediacy and speed. The gain is 71db with a 6db cut if needed. Lower gains can be factory set for preamps that cannot accept a high dynamic range and voltage. ?Ampex tapes can record up to 380nWB

The Merrill Audio PURE Tape head Preamp has an accuracy of 0.1dB and channel matching better than 0.1db for more accurate, vivid imaging and better stage.

Tape at 30 ips has good high frequency but worse low frequency. 15 ips has better low frequency and less high frequency, and is generally more accepted as a trade off. Other limitations are 80db S/N, Tape Head wear, alignment, reproduction head width, gap and length. All of these cause variations in tape recording and is very difficult to correct in the playback. For playback the most ideal is a good head that is well aligned. This reduces head bump, increases the output and lowers the noise.

The Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp is the purest form of a Tape Head Preamp that gives you the best sound without any phase errors from tweaks and adjustments. For 90% of the Reel to Reel afficiandos and audiophils, the performance is excel any adjustments. The Merrill Audio Pure Tape Head Preamp is perfect to sit back and enjoy Reel to Reel tapes.

Merrill Audio can provide Tape Head Access cards for the Ampex ATR 100, 102 and 104 Reel to Reel players.