Technical Details
Brand: Plessey
Model:707
Category:Mid High Fidelity
Application:Studio
Electronics:Solid State
Equalization:NAB , IEC
Country of Manufacture:Australia
Release dates:1967 - 1973
Tracks:1/4 Rec/PB
Speeds: 7 1/2, 15
Max Reel Size("): 10.5"
Number of heads: 1 (PB)
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: Mono - Full Track
# Motors: 3
Auto Reverse?:No
Voltage(s): 220-240v
Outputs: XLR, XLR Balanced, 1/4" Headphone
Frequency Response:10hz to 25khz
Wow and Flutter:better than 1
Signal-to-Noise Ratio:75
Sound quality rating:10 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 10/ 10
Additional Details
Description
These were designed by an Australian engineer Graham Thurkle, the machines are exceptional in all ways of performance, the record play version is the 700 and the 700b which had a separate head preamp mnounted behind the head block. These were extensively used by the ABC throughout Australia up until the late 70’s when they were retired.
The record version the 700B was a remarkable machine in the 80’s I performed some tests using a newly formulated EMI tape known internally as XP1000. The 700B erase current could be increased to the point that at 15ips it could melt the tape. Under test ignoring all standards and taking the tape to saturation you could get 86Db SNR unweighted from a machine at 15ips only just sub digital performance and it would do that at 20khz or anywhere else in the audio spectrum.
These can have new headblocks fitted and it is possible to make a stereo version, I am not aware that any were produced by Plessey in stereo
Additional Info
Reviews
Fantastic machine this is the replay version of the 700 and 700B. I currently have two of these , one in the rollaround cabinet with a rola 12" speaker in the bottom. the second in a rollaround rack which were used in ABC TV for tape replay. I also own 6 x Plessey 700A and 3 x Plessey 700B record play machines.