I just bought a Sony PCM-R500 on ebay and it has 1412 hours on the
heads. Has this machine about had it? The machine works perfectly at
this point.

Does anyone know what the life expectancy of DAT heads is?

I would appreciate any info in this regard, thanks,

David Smith

"David Smith" wrote in message
om...
I just bought a Sony PCM-R500 on ebay and it has 1412 hours on the
heads. Has this machine about had it? The machine works perfectly at
this point.

Does anyone know what the life expectancy of DAT heads is?

I would appreciate any info in this regard, thanks,

David Smith

If it is based on the Sony four-motor mechanism, then the claim of HHB, who
used the mechanism in their PortaDAT, may be relevant. HHB claimed that they
never had to replace heads in a PortaDAT!
This was attributed to the very finely controlled tension of the four motor
transport.
OTOH, if the transport is more typical in design, using felt clutches for
tension, then head life would be in the range of 1500 - 3000 hours.

"David Smith" wrote in message
om...
I just bought a Sony PCM-R500 on ebay and it has 1412 hours on the
heads. Has this machine about had it? The machine works perfectly at
this point.

Does anyone know what the life expectancy of DAT heads is?

I would appreciate any info in this regard, thanks,

David Smith

If it is based on the Sony four-motor mechanism, then the claim of HHB, who
used the mechanism in their PortaDAT, may be relevant. HHB claimed that they
never had to replace heads in a PortaDAT!
This was attributed to the very finely controlled tension of the four motor
transport.
OTOH, if the transport is more typical in design, using felt clutches for
tension, then head life would be in the range of 1500 - 3000 hours.

David Smith wrote:
I just bought a Sony PCM-R500 on ebay and it has 1412 hours on the
heads. Has this machine about had it? The machine works perfectly at
this point.

What's the error rate?

The thing about digital systems is that they work just fine until all
of a sudden they don't.

Does anyone know what the life expectancy of DAT heads is?

It depends a lot on the machine. I've got 3,000 hours on a Tascam before
but that was probably pushing it.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Thanks, Robert, for the good news--it does have the four-motor
transport, so I will hope for the best....
--D. Smith

(Scott Dorsey) wrote in message ...
David Smith wrote:
I just bought a Sony PCM-R500 on ebay and it has 1412 hours on the
heads. Has this machine about had it? The machine works perfectly at
this point.

What's the error rate?

The thing about digital systems is that they work just fine until all
of a sudden they don't.

Does anyone know what the life expectancy of DAT heads is?

It depends a lot on the machine. I've got 3,000 hours on a Tascam before
but that was probably pushing it.
--scott


I don't know if you can check the error rate on the R500 (unlike the
R300)--there is nothing in the manual about it. I'd be happy with
3000 hours. My experience with DAT machines is that the transport
gives out before the heads.
--D Smith

On 6 Oct 2004 19:53:45 -0700, (David Smith) wrote:

(Scott Dorsey) wrote in message ...
David Smith wrote:
snip

I don't know if you can check the error rate on the R500 (unlike the
R300)--there is nothing in the manual about it. I'd be happy with
3000 hours. My experience with DAT machines is that the transport
gives out before the heads.
--D Smith

Do a google search on sony pcm-r500 error rate and you will come up
with pages that show how to modify the remote to reveal a hidden test
button and instructions to reveal error rate.

Dave

"David Welp" wrote in message
...
On 6 Oct 2004 19:53:45 -0700, (David Smith) wrote:

(Scott Dorsey) wrote in message
...
David Smith wrote:
snip

I don't know if you can check the error rate on the R500 (unlike the
R300)--there is nothing in the manual about it. I'd be happy with
3000 hours. My experience with DAT machines is that the transport
gives out before the heads.
--D Smith

Do a google search on sony pcm-r500 error rate and you will come up
with pages that show how to modify the remote to reveal a hidden test
button and instructions to reveal error rate.

Dave

I can verify that this is true and the mod works.

John L Rice