Switch box
 

I am adding a Nakamichi tape deck and will require a switch box to be able to use it and my current reel to reel with my C2300 preamp. I want to use both decks to record and play - the reason for the switch box. Any recommendations by owners/users appreciated.

I went down this road finding out all the switch boxes are from the 70's, Sony Pioneer Akai and Technics all made tape deck switch boxes.

Other option, DBX 200 or 400 but just over kill as it includes switching in/out signal processors, noise reduction, eq's and the like.

I had a hard time inserting one of these switch boxes into a high end system. I found locally a Perreaux TS2 passive switch box, but these are rare and really don't come up for sale in the US.

I did consider having a boutique company like Marchand build a switch box with point to point wiring and higher quality switches. If cost is not an issue this is the way to go.

Ed

I can recommend mspdesigns audio, they made me a switch box to order which is very transparent and well built. May take a few weeks as they are built to order for a reasonable cost.

info@mfspdesigns.com is the contact. High quality components used throughout.

Kevin.......Take a look at the Niles TSB-3. It allows you to switch record and playback of up to three tape decks.


https://images.crutchfieldonline.com...190tsb3-f.jpeg


Niles TSB-3 User Guide
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I picked up a Realistic 42-2115 for like $15 shipped from EBay, not sure about the noise if any just yet. Read a post where somewhere compared it w/the DBX and no difference. Just manual switching so not a lot to introduce any nastiness. I also looked at the DBX switches but seemed like overkill for a relatively simple task that I need to accomplish. Sony also made a couple, the SB-300 which has a distinctive retro look and the SB-500 is a little more modern (by that I mean 80's).

The DX 400 is quite good but, as others noted, it may be overkill. Another cool option is the Manley Labs Skipjack.

I don't know if the Skipjack would allow record and play, it seems like just a basic audio switcher not allowing for rec and monitor ins/outs for all decks. Looks like a basic source switcher.

I think you're correct. You'd need a pair of Skipjacks for both rec and play.

Heres a pic. Does just what I need, only using a couple of inputs at present.


https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...8&d=1491475902
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Thank you all for the responses - time to research. I am hoping not to get a 20 yo unit for obvious reasons.

I worked as a recording and mastering engineer for over 3 decades.

Unless you need to be able to record to both devices at the same time, the best way to handle dealing with your two tape decks is to just move the cables when you need to.

You can't listen to both at the same time right?

A simple patch bay or even just "Y" cables would allow you to feed your source to both tape decks to be able to record on them at the same time. You could swap patch cables from the outputs of each tape deck to the monitor input on your preamp if you are short on line level inputs on your preamp.

When I worked as a mastering engineer, I spent a lot of time moving cables to keep the audio path as clean as possible. Hard wire, home run, whatever term you want to use, just forget switch boxes and patch bays. Move the cables to do what you need.

In my case moving cables isn't very feasible. My decks are on top of a record shelf and it's such a tight squeeze I need to use right angle adapters on the RCAs. You are right that a purer signal path is better, but sometimes convenience is a bigger factor.