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Putting aside the benefits of having a stereo machine vs a mono
machine, and just looking strictly at sound quality... does anyone know
if there is much of a difference recording on the 1/4" per track Nagra
4.2 vs the 1/8" per track Nagra IV-S. Does having double the tape width
per track make the Nagra 4.2 a superior sounding machine?

[Scott Dorsey]

wrote:
Putting aside the benefits of having a stereo machine vs a mono
machine, and just looking strictly at sound quality... does anyone know
if there is much of a difference recording on the 1/4" per track Nagra
4.2 vs the 1/8" per track Nagra IV-S. Does having double the tape width
per track make the Nagra 4.2 a superior sounding machine?

Well, you have two major differences here that are unrelated.

FIRST of all, if you have a full-track mono machine, you get a 3 dB
improvement in S/N over half-track. This isn't a huge deal, but it's
nice if you don't care about stereo.

SECONDLY, the original IV machines had a top plate design that was not
as good as the 4.2, and the electronics aren't quite as nice. The 4.2
is more rugged.

You can get both the original IV and the newer 4.2 configured all kinds
of ways. Pick the configuration you want but consider buying the newer
design in that configuration.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[DownHome]

Originally Posted by

Putting aside the benefits of having a stereo machine vs a mono
machine, and just looking strictly at sound quality... does anyone know
if there is much of a difference recording on the 1/4" per track Nagra
4.2 vs the 1/8" per track Nagra IV-S. Does having double the tape width
per track make the Nagra 4.2 a superior sounding machine?

It should, however the Nagra IV-S also has a 'Mono' 'Stereo' selector and can become a full track mono deck with the flip of a switch.