Technical Details
Brand: EMI
Model:L2
Category:Vintage
Application:Portable
Electronics:Tube
Equalization:IEC
Country of Manufacture:United Kingdom
Speeds: 1 7/8, 3 3/4, 7 1/2
Max Reel Size("): 10.5"
Number of heads: 2
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: full-track-mono
# Motors: 1
Auto Reverse?:No
Voltage(s): 220-240v
Frequency Response:(all 3 dB): 15 ips: 50Hz - 7kHz; 7½ ips: 50Hz - 5kHz
Wow and Flutter:15 ips: better than 0.2%; 7½ ips: better than 0.25%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio:better than 45db (at 1kHz) unweighted
Sound quality rating:7 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 7/ 10
Additional Details
Description
A portable battery-operated recorder from the early 50’s, the EMI L2 was a single speed, single track recorder designed for use “in the field”. It took 5″ spools, used a permanent magnet d.c. motor (governor controlled) and had a manually operated (cranked), geared rewind.
The batteries used were 2 x 67.5 volt Ever-Ready type B103 for H.T and 10 x 1.5 volt cells in a removable metal box for L.T. (valve filaments & motor).
There were two heads, record and playback. No facility was provided for erasing, so one would always have had to use blank or pre-erased tapes on the job.
Power consumption was 12 mA on record (H.T.) and approx 800mA for the motor and filaments (L.T.)
Three models were made, each with a different tape speed – L2/C (15ips), L2/B (7½ips) and the L2/B (3¾ips).
In 1960 the L2 evolved into the solid-state L2/TA , identical to the earlier L2s but transistorised. A further variant was produced, the RE321, again mechanically identical to the L2.
Finally, In 1965, the aging L2 series was replaced by the all new Model L4.
Additional Info
Dynamic range: better than 45db (at 1kHz) unweighted / Valve complement: ZD17 x 4, N18 x 3 (Marconi) 1S5 x 4, 3Q4 x 3 (American equivalents) / Rewind speed: manual cranking! / Inputs: high impedance microphone / Outputs: headphones (1,500 ohms) and speaker (10,000 ohms) / Speaker(s): no / Dimensions: 15¼ x 7½ x 8¼ ” (387 x 190 x 210 mm) / Weight: 14½ lbs (6.4 kg) including batteries / full-track mono