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Instroverb
New member
I have a chance for an M520 supposedly near mint for 1300 w/ no shippping. Is that good price?
sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
Not in my opinion...great mixer, but at best I'd think the market to be about half that.
DuddyGuy
No good fer nothin!
agreed that is way to much.. just wait on one and you'll find one.
when I got mine the craigslist ad said
"music mixer works probably very good"
and nothing else no model nothing
ended up walking away with an m-520, a 1000watt power amp, and a box full of good quality cables, for virtually nothing. In fact I sold the power amp and ended up making fifty bucks on the deal
when I got mine the craigslist ad said
"music mixer works probably very good"
and nothing else no model nothing
ended up walking away with an m-520, a 1000watt power amp, and a box full of good quality cables, for virtually nothing. In fact I sold the power amp and ended up making fifty bucks on the deal
I
Instroverb
New member
Thanks, Sweetbeats
The post also sounds fishy. He says he bought it new late 70's. My understanding is that Tascam first sold in 1984. Does that sound right?
The post also sounds fishy. He says he bought it new late 70's. My understanding is that Tascam first sold in 1984. Does that sound right?
DuddyGuy
No good fer nothin!
that is correct
sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
Hmmm...yeah my understanding is that the M-50 came out in 1983 and then the M-512 and M-520 followed in '84 in that order.
I sold my M-520 which was just minty-minty-minty and fully functional for $700, with OEM manual and PSU recapped and I think that was pretty fair and the buyer felt it was fair too.
Wonder if the seller is confused about the model or???
I sold my M-520 which was just minty-minty-minty and fully functional for $700, with OEM manual and PSU recapped and I think that was pretty fair and the buyer felt it was fair too.
Wonder if the seller is confused about the model or???
I
Instroverb
New member
The price has dropped
He now only wants $350. I've been watching this go down for a few weeks. He claims to be the second owner and that the machine is still "mint" "Only used five times." I haven't looked at it yet, but am thinking maybe this weekend. What do the experts say?
He now only wants $350. I've been watching this go down for a few weeks. He claims to be the second owner and that the machine is still "mint" "Only used five times." I haven't looked at it yet, but am thinking maybe this weekend. What do the experts say?
DuddyGuy
No good fer nothin!
that's quite a price drop!
If it is in good condition go for it....
Just make sure you test it and ensure that everything does in fact work, I would naturally be a little distrustful of this guy but hey if it's good then that seems like a fair price.
If it is in good condition go for it....
Just make sure you test it and ensure that everything does in fact work, I would naturally be a little distrustful of this guy but hey if it's good then that seems like a fair price.
sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
$350 is a great price for a minty M-520, but again like has been said test it out. Take your time and come prepared to test it and if he pressures you be suspicious.
Bring a couple sets RCA cables for cross patching stuff to test, a phantom powered mic if you've got one handy, a mic cable for the mic and one to test the balance amp outs, set of headphones...you can pretty much test the whole board with those things with the exception of the instrument input (bring a guitar and a guitar cable to check that out if you like) and phono amp...need a turntable to do that.
Bare minimum test each mic input and make sure you can get it to each subgroup and to the headphones, and then you can quick test each line input on each channel by hooking the mic to a mic pre and then sending the direct out from that channel to each line input one at a time using the RCA cables you bring. Then test the balance amp section by using any RCA output into each balance amp RCA input one at a time, and then connect each balance amp output one at a time to a mic input (phantom power OFF) with the -30dB PAD inserted (switch to the right).
Good luck!
Bring a couple sets RCA cables for cross patching stuff to test, a phantom powered mic if you've got one handy, a mic cable for the mic and one to test the balance amp outs, set of headphones...you can pretty much test the whole board with those things with the exception of the instrument input (bring a guitar and a guitar cable to check that out if you like) and phono amp...need a turntable to do that.
Bare minimum test each mic input and make sure you can get it to each subgroup and to the headphones, and then you can quick test each line input on each channel by hooking the mic to a mic pre and then sending the direct out from that channel to each line input one at a time using the RCA cables you bring. Then test the balance amp section by using any RCA output into each balance amp RCA input one at a time, and then connect each balance amp output one at a time to a mic input (phantom power OFF) with the -30dB PAD inserted (switch to the right).
Good luck!
D
digi2
New member
Price M520 Tascam
Hi all
I agree the price its around 200-400$ now.
Dont look what they ask in ebay, the established second hand shops.
In the ads in Germany i find one Tascam M520 80$, it depends of if the mixer was recapped and serviced and etc.
Some negative things why its cheap here :
This mixer uses unbalanced direct outs RCA and -10 db.
(Try summing busses with no headroom. Try 5532 chips in every channel that sound like ass. Try no way to directly assign an input channel to the master output; must pass through a superfluous gain stage/summing amp. Try pcb-mounted RCA connectors) Thats why!
Otherwise the M2600MKII solves many problems with recent electronics from 90's, better sound, balanced direct outs etc.
The M520 is from 1985.
Cheers
Hi all
I agree the price its around 200-400$ now.
Dont look what they ask in ebay, the established second hand shops.
In the ads in Germany i find one Tascam M520 80$, it depends of if the mixer was recapped and serviced and etc.
Some negative things why its cheap here :
This mixer uses unbalanced direct outs RCA and -10 db.
(Try summing busses with no headroom. Try 5532 chips in every channel that sound like ass. Try no way to directly assign an input channel to the master output; must pass through a superfluous gain stage/summing amp. Try pcb-mounted RCA connectors) Thats why!
Otherwise the M2600MKII solves many problems with recent electronics from 90's, better sound, balanced direct outs etc.
The M520 is from 1985.
Cheers
Last edited:
sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
Nice job quoting somebody else's verbage. 
One person's opinion, and you might do well to form your own.
"Unbalanced direct outs"...As if nobody else's direct outs are unbalanced, and I betcha the heavy-duty RCA pin jacks on the M-520 will outlast and out-perform similarly aged TS jacks...BTW, the M-520 has 8 balanced outs that can be used with ANY output on the board.
And no 5532 opamps on the M-520.
Please consider getting your facts straight before you start slinging around somebody else's misinformation.
One person's opinion, and you might do well to form your own."Unbalanced direct outs"...As if nobody else's direct outs are unbalanced, and I betcha the heavy-duty RCA pin jacks on the M-520 will outlast and out-perform similarly aged TS jacks...BTW, the M-520 has 8 balanced outs that can be used with ANY output on the board.
And no 5532 opamps on the M-520.
Please consider getting your facts straight before you start slinging around somebody else's misinformation.
D
digi2
New member
I take it back , i,m so sorry for that, i was very fast
Thats great news if its not that .
By the way i have to say that you are incredible here , you rock guys!
I have to read first all the posts
regards
Thats great news if its not that .
By the way i have to say that you are incredible here , you rock guys!
I have to read first all the posts
regards
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
Man, that was one hell of a blunder.
jedblue
beep beep beep beep beep
Man, that was one hell of a blunder.
Hmm, I have been down the back this morning and consulted the recording oracles on this one...
On the matter of the M520 and it's unbalanced direct outs they said "brrrrraaarrrrkkkkk and thanks for the seed bells"
sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
Yeah...what a pile...
Snobs need not apply (and digi2 that is NOT directed or meant for you, but the senseless haters...) What Tascam put into the M-520 for the price it was sold (and for what it can be had now) has seldom been done to the same degree IMHO. And when you compare to what is equivalent on the market today you just won't find it...Tascam created a mid-level price bracket with professional-grade products that had innovative, unique and useful features. No product is perfect so its fruitless to sit there and take pot-shots at those elements that may not be up to today's "standards" on a 20+ year-old product while at the same time ignoring the pile of features it has that you won't see on today's "affordable" offerings. Give me a break! That market has diminished into a sea of cheaper more mass-produced products that also offer less in features.
Sure, you'll find folks that will turn up their noses at the M-520 because their hearts are set on a Neve desk (for instance) and there is nothing else for them. You'll also find people who have used the very best and the legendary that have been genuinely impressed with the features AND THE SOUND of the M-520, and I have first-hand experience with that. So choose your path and enjoy it and share that with others...THAT is something worthwhile.
Snobs need not apply (and digi2 that is NOT directed or meant for you, but the senseless haters...) What Tascam put into the M-520 for the price it was sold (and for what it can be had now) has seldom been done to the same degree IMHO. And when you compare to what is equivalent on the market today you just won't find it...Tascam created a mid-level price bracket with professional-grade products that had innovative, unique and useful features. No product is perfect so its fruitless to sit there and take pot-shots at those elements that may not be up to today's "standards" on a 20+ year-old product while at the same time ignoring the pile of features it has that you won't see on today's "affordable" offerings. Give me a break! That market has diminished into a sea of cheaper more mass-produced products that also offer less in features.
Sure, you'll find folks that will turn up their noses at the M-520 because their hearts are set on a Neve desk (for instance) and there is nothing else for them. You'll also find people who have used the very best and the legendary that have been genuinely impressed with the features AND THE SOUND of the M-520, and I have first-hand experience with that. So choose your path and enjoy it and share that with others...THAT is something worthwhile.
D
digi2
New member
No product is perfect i agree . In the late 80's and 90's i worked with MCI and NEVE.
I really appreciate the analogue vibe and sound. But you see i prefer to play more music as i dont have enough time to spent on reparations, recaps etc.
As analogue M520 experts have you some measurements of the particular board ?
I'm try to find some specs but with out results.
I just read the whole thread now 17 pages about M520 from Sweetbeats and the others and its amazing story, well done. Are you the Analogue Heaven ?
regards
I really appreciate the analogue vibe and sound. But you see i prefer to play more music as i dont have enough time to spent on reparations, recaps etc.
As analogue M520 experts have you some measurements of the particular board ?
I'm try to find some specs but with out results.
I just read the whole thread now 17 pages about M520 from Sweetbeats and the others and its amazing story, well done. Are you the Analogue Heaven ?
regards
sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
Complete M-520 specifications here:
https://www.torridheatstudios.com/documents/M-520%20Manual%20Excerpts/Specifications.zip
https://www.torridheatstudios.com/documents/M-520%20Manual%20Excerpts/Specifications.zip
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digi2
New member
Hi
I just checked the specs.
Its alright for analogue board (80-90db signal to noise).
Those specs applies to a brand-new board. I saw you had one unbalanced balanced rack form Tascam. This was optional for M520 ?
Cheers
I just checked the specs.
Its alright for analogue board (80-90db signal to noise).
Those specs applies to a brand-new board. I saw you had one unbalanced balanced rack form Tascam. This was optional for M520 ?
Cheers
sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
Are you talking about a rackmount unbalanced to balanced converter? Not an option exactly...Tascam sold the LA-40 and then later the LA-80, LA-81 and LA-40mkII...they currently sell the mkII versions of the 80 and 81 and are up to the mkIII version of the 40.
G
glaciersofice
New member
I have a chance to get a 520 for $100 with no power supply. Should I do it?