Integrated Amp with Functional Tape Loop?
 

I need to put a graphic equalizer in my system. In the good old days, I would have just put it in one of the tape loops of my Yamaha CA-1000, selected the desired source, and played the tape output through my speakers. (The dear old CA-1000 even allowed decoupling of the preamp and power amp sections for such purposes!) Not so with my current Yamaha A-S501 which, although it does have two "tape loops," does not give independent control of the output to tape and simultaneously allow playback from the tape through the speakers.

I see that there was a similarly spec'd Yamaha A-S500 that does do this correctly, but it's discontinued. Unless I can find one of these beauties available for sale, my question then becomes, are there any other options on the market without investing in separate preamp and power amp? -- Clark2

Yes, but what price range?
But off the top of my head, Luxman, Accuphase, and Yamaha models come to mind.

>>Yes, but what price range?<<

Well, I paid something like $600 for the A-S501. I'd like to stay under $1K if possible, which should be easier with an integrated amp than with separates. I've already researched the rest of the Yamaha line and, except for the discontinued A-S500, they either lack a true tape loop and/or are way out of my price range.

Beyond that, it's difficult to tell what makers offer the needed controls (for tape monitoring) without reading all the owner's manuals, so I hoped somebody here would already know of a few specific models with that and/or with accessible pre-out to power-in connections. The problem might be that few use tape, or even disk, recorders nowadays and even fewer want to monitor their recording quality on the fly... -- Clark2

Check out the 3 current Marantz amps within the $699-$1199 MSRP range.
They have "recorder" outputs but not sure if they do exactly what you're looking for.

>>Check out the 3 current Marantz amps within the $699-$1199 MSRP range.<<


Thanks! -- The PM8006 might just do the trick. I have to get my hands on the user manual (not readily available on their Web site) to determine... -- Clark2

Link for user manual is at the bottom of the PM8006 page on their site, you just have to scroll far enough down. https://www.marantz.com/-/media/file...a_06062018.pdf

Consider inquiring with the host of this site, Masterlu, for price and availability on Marantz gear!

https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=370

Bad News: Neither the Marantz PM8006 nor the more expensive Model 30 will do the job by either tape loop or pre-out/main-in loop. This even though they both have terminal pairs on the back suggestive of these functions. The manuals are no help on these issues, which was already a bad sign. After a very long chat with tech support, who didn't seem to have ever heard of a tape loop or of insertion of an equalizer between pre-out and main-in, I eventually extracted an admission that both of these functions are unavailable (as on the Yamaha A-S501).

Out of luck with Marantz. Any other ideas (besides investing in separate preamp and power amp)?

I'm curious - why can't you use an eq between the pre-amp out and power amp in connections on the Marantz?

It appears (as near as I can get out of tech support) that the pre-out is disabled when the power-in is enabled. Effectively you have to set the overall input to power amp. To be absolutely certain (after chatting with this guy and reading the manual) you would have to buy one to try it out. -- Clark2