If people are crazy about Ampex 351 preamps, why not 440's?

[honkyjonk]

Seriously,

The 440 tape decks are seriously groovy. Considering all the 440 electronics there are out there, why not make those into pres?

Just wondering.

[brianroth]

The Ampex 350 and 351 audio electronics included an "inherent" mic preamp stage as a standard feature. By the time the 440 was released, few if any people were jacking mics directly into a tape recorder, but instead running through a desk.

Hence, a mic-level input capability for the 440 was dropped as a standard feature. Instead, you had to purchase a separate optional plug-in "can" that was inserted into the octal "accessory" socket on the rear of the 440 audio chassis. This preamp can had a tiny Beyer "peanut" input transformer that overloaded easily, especially at low frequencies. It was not the greatest preamp in the world, especially for modern types of music and hot mics.

I won't get into the toooob vs. solid state argument.

Bri

[drumsound]

I know a mix engineer with 8 440 modules that he uses to add some ju-ju.on really 'clinical' tracks he sometimes gets.