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Atlanta Pro Sound

This offer is for (1) Brand New Replacement Belt for TEAC Model X-3 & X-3R.

This is a relisting of eBay item #173901355481, which disappeared suddenly and mysteriously. 9 of them sold, buyers only left positive feedback. See the picture of that page <(•¿•)>

Please be sure to compare shipping prices!!! This item ships USPS with Tracking Number for only $1.99. Other offers may charge as much as $6.00 for standard delivery.

Do not get tricked into paying too much!

There is a myth that one belt fits 95% of all open reels. In reality, nothing is further from the truth. A belt that is an inch too large or small will probably run your deck, but if it is too small, it will wear out your motor years before it would with the proper belt. If it is too large, it might also be bad for the motor, but as belts age, they expand, so in the best case, you need a replacement years before you should. Four (4) of the top five (4/5) belt sizes that fit most drive are all the wrong size for the X3 & X3R Like a great friend, your open reel stands by you through thick and thin. It deserves the proper belt!

There are people online who have been selling belts for 10-15 years. They look well established.... Many have lots of feedback or websites that look like they know what they are doing. Do they really know what belt is the match for your turntable?

TEAC & TASCAM quit giving technical support on the X-3 Series, including part numbers decades ago, so it can be difficult to find accurate information. When the models X-3, and X3-R rolled off the assembly line, I was Assistant Store Manager for the largest independent TEAC and TASCAM dealer in the Southeastern US. Read the Seller History below for more information.

While I was Assistant Store Manager for the largest independent TEAC dealer in the Southeastern US, I discovered that major electronics companies, like TEAC, did not make the rubber items in their turntables and tape recorders. One of my friends and customers at that time was Yoshi, he was the man who ran the TEAC and TASCAM Factory Service Center for the Southeast, in Doraville, GA, a few miles from the store where I worked. It was the *factory* service center, not just a factory-authorized center, Yoshi was was trained at the home office in TOKYO and received his paycheck from TEAC! I found a leading rubber manufacturer that made very high quality parts for many turntables and tape recorders, they made the parts for TEAC and TASCAM. This very manufacturer now makes the belts sold by Artistic Audio. I am certain that the belt in this offer is the one for your deck, not only because my past customers say so, but because Yoshi said so.

(In case you are wondering...I enter the model with the dash in different positions so those who search for the model can find it, even if they have the dash in the wrong place!)

All flat rubber belts have 5 measurements that affect the belt’s performance.

Length is the one most people think of right away. Length affects how tight the belt is. If it is too tight, the motor will not run or make a scraping sound and the motor could wear out quickly. If it is too loose, it may not run, and the belt will wear out quickly
Width is one you might not think is important, however, the manufacturers specify this one down to the 64^th of an inch! If too wide, the risk is the belt hits the outsides of the capstan, creating momentary bumps in the speed that turntable geeks call Wow and Flutter. If too narrow, it does not have enough contact with the capstan, causing it to slip. Either of these problems might be inaudible at first, but later? Who knows?
Thickness of the belt is the smallest of the measurements. Most Turntable belts are close to the same thickness, but some parts provider who has only a decade of experience might buy their belts based on length and their cost, alone. You could get a belt (maybe for a Hoover?) that they bought wholesale at 99¢ but is entirely too thick! A belt that is too thick will not fully fold around the capstan, causing slippage and pitch problems. When you call to complain, you are told that your turntable has Wow and Flutter but is within specs. Friends: These models' Wow and Flutter is at least (5) times below the audible limit. (Sources: Julian Hirsch - Hirsch-Houck Labs, article in Stereo Review and the your turntable’s published Wow and Flutter specs.) Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes! If you hear Wow and Flutter (a.k.a. bad speed fluctuation), something is wrong, you might have the wrong size belt.
External Diameter. This one is a no-brainer, it is closely related to the thickness and internal diameter.
Internal Diameter. This one is also a no-brainer, it is closely related to the thickness and external diameter.

Many old-style belts were cut to size. Modern (get it out the door as fast as you can) cutting techniques can lead to inconsistencies and inferior product.

I know for certain that this belt is precision molded to meet original factory specifications for the TEAC Models X-3, X-3R, X-3 Mk 2, X-3R Mk 2, X-300, X-300R and A-6100.

Artistic Audio buys thousands of very high quality belts made by one of the leading manufacturers of rubber turntable belts worldwide. Artistic Audio has been sending them to six continents for decades. Every few of weeks Artistic Audio reorders this belt by the hundred, replacing the stock they have sold. No belt is on their shelf more than a few weeks. Because they buy from Artistic Audio regularly, I can personally guarantee that the belt you get is

fresh!

About this Model:

The X-3 is a Single Capstan, ¼ Track Two Channel Stereo Open Reel with 3 heads, ERP (Erase Record and Playback).
The X-3R features auto reverse in PLAYBACK. It is like the X-3, except there are two extra gaps on the PLAY head (or, it is a 4-Track play head…) with the two extra channels used for the reverse direction.
The tape speeds available on the X-3 and X-3R are 7.5 and 3¾ ips (or inches per second).
The X-3 and X-3R were designed to use 7 inch reels. I have used 5 inch reels on this transport, before, but the use of 5 inch reels on these decks is not advised, because the braking is calibrated for the weight of the tape while using 7" reels
If you are in FF (>>) or REW (<<), hit the opposite fast direction. That is, if Rewinding (<<), hit FF (>>) or if Fast Forwarding (>>) hit REW or << quickly, before stoping to slow the transport. Hit stop as the reels start moving in the other direction. If you go directly to stop, the risk is stretching the tape, which would have a gross effect on pitch.
The X-3R Mk 2 is equipped to accommodate EE (or, Type II) Tape. Like Type I (LH, or Low Noise/High Output) tape, EE Tape is made from ferric particles. However, EE tape was treated with Cobalt so that the particles responded like CrO2 tape (like Type II cassette tape, like Maxell XLII or XLIIS/TDK SA or SA-X) tape with a significant (around 3 dB) increase in Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). Once again, if the tape you are playing back is a EE tape, use the EE Switch. If the tape you are playing is not an EE tape, play back with the Type I/LH switch. Here, if you get this wrong, you can not hurt anything. If you playback your EE tape in the Type I/LH position, you will boost the highs and add a little background noise. The Signal to Noise Ratio on the X-300 Series is so dang low, you may not hear the increase at all. On the other hand, if you play a Type I/LH tape in the EE position, you will mute the highs and cut a little background noise. [The next statement is contrary to what I remember, but I can find no manuals or brochures that document what I remember. The X-3 was not available in a version that would record EE tape. If you play one on the X-3, you will cause no damage, but the highs will be boosted in playback. (If you have information that shows an X-3 Mk II that had the EE symbol below the transport, please share! Send me a pic wit Ask Seller a Question – top right of this page….)]
Are you recording on this the X-3 or X-3R??? If recording is something you will be doing a lot of, it may be a good idea to have the record section calibrated for the type tape you will be purchasing. The deck came set up for Maxell XLI in the LH position, and, for the X-3 Mk 2 - Maxell XLII in the EE or Type II position. To my knowledge, EE tape is no longe in production.
The X-3 or X-3R one (1) DC motors, the capstan motor is an FG Servo, DC Motor. DC motors have an advantage over AC motors, especially for the capstan, in that the motor will continue running the exact same speed regardless of minor fluctuation in the AC currant from the wall outlet, so this is important for pitch accuracy, and why TEAC built it with a more expensive part. The two (2) reel motors are induction-type motors. Tape recorders should have DC capstan motors (yet, not all did). In the “old days” motors had slots, the motor would jump a little at a time to get to the next slot. The advantage of slotless motors is that they run smooth, there are no jumps from slot to slot.

Are you about to purchase one of these models?

The motor and drive system are built like a tank. Of course, you would like to see it run. Here is what I check before buying:

To play, make certain your tape is properly threaded. Put your reel of tape on the (LEFT) Supply Reel. Make certain that the tape, coming off the reel, is flat and has no twists. Pull the tape UNDER the tension arm, OVER the rubber roller, make certain the tape remains flat and pull it under the heads, then OVER the rubber roller, then UNDER the tension arm and thread it in the (RIGHT) Takeup Reel. Pull the slack out of the tape. Turn the deck on, and it should light up and make a barely audible whirring sound. Confirm that the slack is out of the tape and hit Play (>).
If buying from the original owner, ask if any tape or empty reels are included.
Check and see if all of the functions work (>, >>, << and stop, < on the X-300R).

Even though the USPS charges me more...

Shipping and handling is only $2.49 to any point in the US A.

Belts are shipped by Ground Advantage (expected delivery 2-5 days) with

tracking by the USPS.

Please, ask in advance about international shipping.

Priority Mail (expected delivery 1-3 days) shipping to the US is available for

$9.65.

Priority Mail International is available, the amount varies by country.

Items are usually shipped within 1 business day.

Thanks in advance for your purchase!