How long do heads last ??

[cjacek]

Let's say I use my recorder for 1 hr per day (actual recording or playback on the heads) and cleaned the heads after each session. Just wanted to get a general ball-park idea how long heads last with tape going at 7 1/2 and 15 ips. Obviously the faster speed will wear the heads faster vs the slower you go but how much time are we talkin' here ? Another question that begs to ask is whether going from 7 1/2 to 15 ips justifies taking 2x the wear vs any improvements worth having ? I guess what I'm asking is whether going to 15 justifies the wear ? Thanks. -----Daniel

 

[The Ghost of FM]

How long heads last is specific to each particular head and how it is designed and of what materials it is made from. I don't think there is a correct universal answer to your question.

Many home users of the type of equipment we have can go for the life time of the machine and not have to re-lap the heads or change them at all. For those of us who are weekend warriors, I think that would be the case.

As to choosing 15 ips over 7.5 if the deck offers it; That would depend on the seriousness of the project you were working on.

Basically when you speed up the tape, the frequency response will improve, the wow and flutter specs get lowered and the signal to noise ratio expands. The last improvement is on tape dropouts. At higher speeds, small oxide drop-outs on the tape will be barely noticeable compared to slower speeds where it feels like you just drove over a sink hole rather then a minor bump in the road.

Considering that your running machine not constantly, I think you can afford to use the better fidelity speed of 15 ips and get the full, professional quality of sound that you paid for when you bought it and drempt of the sound it could capture for you.

Cheers!

 

[gilwe]

It is true that Fostex heads generally wear faster than Tascam heads and by how much ?

 

[cjacek]

Considering that your running machine not constantly, I think you can afford to use the better fidelity speed of 15 ips and get the full, professional quality of sound that you paid for when you bought it and drempt of the sound it could capture for you.

Cheers!

Thanks for the good reply, Jeff.

~Daniel