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Ampex19762-trk reelStudio / Mastering$$$$Collector-Grade($3,000+)

Ampex ATR-102

High-end mastering engineers wanting the definitive analog tape master chain.

Calculate pitch & speed changes for the Ampex ATR-102

Free tool — see the exact pitch shift and BPM change using this deck's real supported speeds.

Strengths

  • Widely considered the gold-standard 2-track mastering deck of the analog era
  • Exceptionally clean, wide-bandwidth reproduction at 30 ips
  • Still actively sought after and serviced for high-end mastering work today

Trade-offs

  • Extremely expensive on the used market due to enduring mastering-engineer demand
  • Requires precise, specialist alignment and maintenance to perform at its best

Full Specifications

Full technical specifications for the Ampex ATR-102
SpecificationValue
BrandAmpex
ModelATR-102
Era1976
Typical Price TierCollector-Grade ($3,000+)
Tape Speeds15 IPS / 30 IPS
Track Count2
Reel Size10.5"
Tape Width0.25"
Head Configuration3-head, mastering-grade alignment
Noise ReductionDolby A (studio rack)
VarispeedYes
Pitch Control Range±10%

A relative used-market guide, not a live quote — real prices vary by condition, region, and timing. Check the Reverb/eBay links on any item for current listings.

Similar Studio / Mastering

Match Score Explorer

Weight what matters to your workflow. Every deck is re-scored live against your priorities, benchmarked against the Ampex ATR-102.

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This deckAmpex ATR-102
Match57
Audio Fidelity98
Flexibility25
Ease of Maintenance20
Tonal Neutrality85

Ranked against 34 other decks

  • Audio Fidelity90
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  • Audio Fidelity76
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  • Audio Fidelity85
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    Tonal Neutrality68
  • Audio Fidelity94
    Flexibility55
    Ease of Maintenance15
    Tonal Neutrality78
  • TASCAM 38
    Match60
    Audio Fidelity85
    Flexibility55
    Ease of Maintenance40
    Tonal Neutrality58
  • Studer A80
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    Audio Fidelity97
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    Tonal Neutrality82
  • Audio Fidelity82
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    Tonal Neutrality72
  • Revox A77
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    Audio Fidelity80
    Flexibility35
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    Tonal Neutrality52
  • Nagra IV-S
    Match57
    Audio Fidelity75
    Flexibility40
    Ease of Maintenance45
    Tonal Neutrality68
  • Audio Fidelity82
    Flexibility42
    Ease of Maintenance32
    Tonal Neutrality70
  • TASCAM 34
    Match56
    Audio Fidelity82
    Flexibility45
    Ease of Maintenance42
    Tonal Neutrality55
  • Audio Fidelity78
    Flexibility40
    Ease of Maintenance55
    Tonal Neutrality50
  • Audio Fidelity68
    Flexibility58
    Ease of Maintenance42
    Tonal Neutrality55
  • Audio Fidelity72
    Flexibility65
    Ease of Maintenance38
    Tonal Neutrality45
  • Audio Fidelity76
    Flexibility32
    Ease of Maintenance58
    Tonal Neutrality52
  • Studer B67
    Match55
    Audio Fidelity82
    Flexibility30
    Ease of Maintenance35
    Tonal Neutrality72
  • Audio Fidelity78
    Flexibility45
    Ease of Maintenance45
    Tonal Neutrality48
  • Revox A700
    Match54
    Audio Fidelity75
    Flexibility35
    Ease of Maintenance40
    Tonal Neutrality65
  • Audio Fidelity72
    Flexibility40
    Ease of Maintenance42
    Tonal Neutrality60
  • Audio Fidelity78
    Flexibility30
    Ease of Maintenance42
    Tonal Neutrality65
  • Audio Fidelity75
    Flexibility32
    Ease of Maintenance45
    Tonal Neutrality62
  • Audio Fidelity68
    Flexibility40
    Ease of Maintenance55
    Tonal Neutrality48
  • Audio Fidelity82
    Flexibility30
    Ease of Maintenance50
    Tonal Neutrality48
  • Audio Fidelity85
    Flexibility32
    Ease of Maintenance40
    Tonal Neutrality50
  • Fostex R8
    Match52
    Audio Fidelity62
    Flexibility55
    Ease of Maintenance48
    Tonal Neutrality42
  • Audio Fidelity60
    Flexibility50
    Ease of Maintenance45
    Tonal Neutrality52
  • Audio Fidelity68
    Flexibility35
    Ease of Maintenance45
    Tonal Neutrality58
  • Audio Fidelity72
    Flexibility35
    Ease of Maintenance38
    Tonal Neutrality62
  • Audio Fidelity65
    Flexibility35
    Ease of Maintenance48
    Tonal Neutrality55
  • Audio Fidelity68
    Flexibility30
    Ease of Maintenance45
    Tonal Neutrality58
  • Audio Fidelity65
    Flexibility35
    Ease of Maintenance42
    Tonal Neutrality55
  • Teac X-10
    Match46
    Audio Fidelity55
    Flexibility35
    Ease of Maintenance52
    Tonal Neutrality42
  • Audio Fidelity50
    Flexibility30
    Ease of Maintenance42
    Tonal Neutrality48
  • Ampex 351
    Match41
    Audio Fidelity78
    Flexibility25
    Ease of Maintenance25
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Maintenance & Supplies

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