AG440

About the AG440

The Ampex AG440 is a super high fidelity reel-to-reel tape recorder designed for professional studio use, manufactured in the USA between 1967 and 1970. It features a modular design allowing expansion from one to four channels by adding electronics panels and changing heads and cabling. The machine supports 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch tape widths with quick head assembly changes, and has a precision milled transport for perfect alignment and easy servicing. It operates at two speeds (15 & 7½ ips or 7½ & 3¾ ips), supports up to 10.5 inch reels, and uses synchronous-servo capstan motor drive. The AG440 includes solid-state plug-in modular electronics, balanced XLR and RCA outputs, and a stacked/inline permalloy head configuration with four heads and three motors. It was regarded as the mastering machine of the late 1960s to mid-1970s, offering excellent sound quality and reliability.