Dolby B Decoder?

[Clark2]

Does a separate decoder exist for Dolby-B-encoded tapes?

I have an old Revox A77 and a substantial library of reel-to-tapes that I recorded over the years with an equally old Advent 100A Dolby Unit. I don't want to record any more tapes, nor do I make use of the nifty mixer, microphone, and monitoring capabilities of the 100A, which is anyhow bulky and awkward to use. I'm hoping for a smaller, possibly playback-only decoder that I can use to play these tapes. -- Clark2

[cleeds]

You should be able to find something like a Nakamichi NR-200 if you hunt around. That's an excellent unit.

[Clark2]

Thanks, but over $1000 on eBay?! Too rich for my blood. I guess I'll just live with the Advent unit... -- Clark2

[cleeds]

Originally Posted by Clark2

Thanks, but over $1000 on eBay?! Too rich for my blood ...

More than $1K? That's a crazy price! (And way more than Blue Book, FWIW.)

[slowGEEZR]

Nice one on eBay for $199.

[Clark2]

One question about this unit that isn't immediately clarified in the user manual: As mentioned above, I would be playing back previously recorded, Dolby-B-encoded tapes. Each tape has the calibration tone recorded on both tracks at the beginning. Since I won't be recording any new tapes, only connecting the playback side of each unit, is it straightforward to adjust the playback calibration of the NR-200 while ignoring the record calibration (most of the procedure described)? -- Clark2

[Clark2]

Originally Posted by slowGEEZR

Nice one on eBay for $199.

Sorry to be dense (newbie on eBay!); I'm not seeing it. Could you post the link? -- Clark2

[cleeds]

Originally Posted by Clark2

One question about this unit ... is it straightforward to adjust the playback calibration of the NR-200 while ignoring the record calibration (most of the procedure described)? -- Clark2

Yes, it is very, very easy to calibrate Dolby level on the NR-200. It's a great unit. Mine still gets some use, although not very often.

[Clark2]

Originally Posted by cleeds

Yes, it is very, very easy to calibrate Dolby level on the NR-200. It's a great unit. Mine still gets some use, although not very often.

Thanks! -- Clark2

[Clark2]

On this topic, why not digitize the tapes and do the decoding in software. There is at least one program available for this, "DDi Codec," although I don't know if it's any good. Does anyone know of others? Has anyone tried this approach?

The downside would be that it takes a lot of up-front time, although many of my recordings are just copies of vinyl disks, some of which I still have and could play directly. (Perhaps most of these disks are already available on my streaming service.) The potential advantage is to get rid of the old hardware AND tape library, moving everything onto CDs... -- Clark2