Technical Details
Brand: Ampex
Model:612
Category:Vintage
Application:Consumer
Electronics:Tube
Equalization:NAB
Country of Manufacture:USA
Release dates:1955 - 1958
Original Price: $395
Tracks:1/2 Rec/PB
Speeds: 7 1/2
Max Reel Size("): 7"
Number of heads: 1 (PB)
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: full-track-mono
Voltage(s): 110-120v
Outputs: RCA
Frequency Response:40 - 15kHz
Wow and Flutter:below 0.25%
Sound quality rating:5 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 5/ 10
Additional Details
Description
This Ampex unit was officially designated the “Model 612 Stereo Tape Phonograph (although phonograph
is an odd choice of words even for a playback-only unit). It was priced at $395 and intended for use in conjunction with a pair of Ampex 620 amplifier-speakers (about $170 each) . It did not, however prove
to be terribly popular despite its great playback sound.
Not many people (in 1955) were willing to hand over almost $750 on a playback-only tape system (even for that new-fangled larger-than-life stereo sound)
The 612 was very quickly replaced in early 1956 by the model A121 which, for about the same price , gave recording capabilities.
Additional Info
Half-track stereo