TECHNICAL REFERENCE
Head Stack Variations found on the ATR-100 Series
Ampex Ferrite
Ampex’s original design made use of ferrite head technology for each of the erase, record and reproduce heads. Primarily selected for its extended service life, additional benefits of ferrite are detailed further in this article.
1/2″ 4-track Ampex Ferrite
1/2″ 4-track Ampex Ferrite
Ampex Metal
After a series of reports about high-frequency instability from the first crop of ATR-100 users Ampex shifted back to traditional metal laminate head stacks. The ferrite material’s mode of failure was to chip along the record and reproduce head gaps. Read more about ferrite and metal laminate heads here.
1/4″ 2-track Ampex Metal
1/2″ 2-track Ampex Metal
1/2″ 4-track Ampex Metal
Flux Magnetics Metal
After the close of Ampex’s Audio Products Division many ex-employees founded their own companies based on their field of expertise, one such company is Flux Magnetics. Flux Magnetics is the world leader in the production of professional grade analog magnetic recording heads.
1/4″ 2-track Flux Magnetics Metal
1/2″ 2-track Flux Erase, Record, Play and Extended Response Play
Saki Magnetics Ferrite
Saki Magnetics provided long-life replacement heads for the Ampex ATR-100 series and many other tape recorders. Saki provided ferrite heads in all compatible configurations of the ATR-100: 1/4″ 2-trk, 1/2″ 2-trk and 1/2″ 4-trk. Advertisement from 1985
1/4″ 2-track Saki Magnetics Ferrite
1/2″ 4-track Saki Magnetics Ferrite
DIP Switch Configurations for Determining Equalization Standard LF Boost
2-Speed PADNET
