
Ampex 755
Ampex
USA

Tape Deck Details
Number of Motors
3
Number of Heads
3
Head Configuration
Stereo
Wow & Flutter
0.2% at 7½ ips
Signal-to-Noise [dB]
45 dB at 7½ ips
Dimensions [mm]
Weight [kg]
Year built
1968-69
Head Composition
Permalloy
Equalization
Frequency Response
50 Hz to 15 kHz at 7½ ips
Speed
3¾, 7½, 15
Max Reel [inch]
7
Tracks
1/4 Rec/PB
Price
User
Consumer
Additional Information
The Ampex 755 reel-to-reel tape deck is a quality engineered stereo tape recorder produced around the late 1960s. It features three-speed operation, typically supporting 3¾, 7½, and 15 inches per second tape speeds, which allow for various levels of audio fidelity and tape consumption. The 755 model has three deep-gap head assemblies that enable advanced tape functions such as sound-on-sound, sound-with-sound, and echo effects, which are useful for creative audio mixing and layering.
Technically, the Ampex 755 is designed for stereo playback and recording with high sound fidelity, leveraging Ampex's expertise in magnetic tape technology. It includes pause control, tape monitoring, and sophisticated tape handling to maintain consistent tape tension and speed for high-quality sound reproduction. The three-head design means there are separate heads for recording, playback, and erasing, allowing enhanced tape monitoring during recording sessions.
The machine was positioned in the market as a high-quality consumer or semi-professional stereo recorder, bridging the needs for audiophiles and studio users who demanded reliable and flexible multitrack stereo tape recording. It was part of a lineage of Ampex decks that emphasized sound quality, operational control, and tape format versatility.
To summarize: the Ampex 755 is a well-regarded stereo tape recorder with three speeds (3¾, 7½, 15 ips), three-head design for sound-on-sound and echo functions, pause control, and tape monitoring features that catered to high-fidelity and creative stereo recording needs in the late 1960s.