Super 8 magnetic sound amplifier bypass?

[Robert Saraceno]

I expect that the answer is no or else somebody else would have tried this by now...but. Would it be possible to connect the mag sound head of a super 8 projector to a mag head preamp for use with a different than the one built into the projector? I have a Kodak m-100 that has a beautiful picture, but as noted by many the m100 doesn't have very good amplifier. My idea was to use a magnetic sound head preamp made for tape heads and run it into a home theater amplifier. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Steve Klare]

I'm sure it's possible to do, but one thing you would have to be careful about is keeping the connection between the head and the pre-amp very short: the signal coming off the head is very weak and given a lot of lead-length you would pick up interference such as hum that could mess-up the signal.

If it was me, I'd build a little pre-amp circuit with an op-amp and mount it right by the head. Once you boost up the voltage of the signal it can travel more distance without pick-up becoming significant compared to the signal.

-Would it work? I'd only know that after I built it!

BTW: I've always admired the Kodak M100: it sounds like a great machine!

[Robert Saraceno]

Thanks for the feedback Steve, I think ill give it a shot. Its very easy to access the sound head on the m100 so a mod would fairly easy.

[Brian Fretwell]

I've often thought about converting my Sankyo 301 (which seems to have 2 track heads) or a dual gauge Eumig to stereo by doing this, but never got very far.

[John Burgess]

Hi Robert,
If you have a circuit diagram you could try taking a feed from the preamp to a suitable better power amp, just a thought as matching would not be a problem. Best of luck with your project !
John

[Robert Saraceno]

John, Pm sent

[John Burgess]

Robert pm sent