MX-5050 B-II: history
In the period press, 1983–1995↑ TOP
The B-II replaced the plain B at the start of 1983 and became the broadcast standard: advertised to radio stations for a decade, reviewed by one of them, and still being refurbished by Otari in 1994.
Jan 1983 · US
The launch: "INDUSTRY STANDARD CHAPTER II", with transformerless balanced inputs and outputs, a real-time LED tape timer and built-in test tones on the B's unchanged deckplate. db, January 1983. The same ad runs in Broadcast Engineering the next month: Broadcast Engineering, February 1983
Feb 1983 · UK
A London dealer has the new "MX5050B2II" in stock. Studio Sound, February 1983
Nov 1983 · US
A distributor's two-page tour of the faceplate. Common Point, November 1983
Sept 1984 · US
"ONE LESS ALLIGATOR": the B-II as the most widely used machine for broadcast mix-down, news editing and production. BM/E, September 1984. The same month's line-up ad calls it the industry standard quarter-inch machine: Broadcast Engineering, September 1984
Sept 1986 · USReview
The review: a Houston station builder's user report after years with the earlier machines. Radio World, September 15, 1986
Jan 1988 · US
"RADIO'S TOP TEN!": the B-II and the MKIII/2 as Otari's broadcast two-tracks. Broadcasting, January 11, 1988
Apr 1988 · US
A dealer pairs it with a CD cart machine and calls it radio's most popular reel-to-reel recorder. Radio World, April 15, 1988
Aug 1988 · US
An Otari sales engineer's history of the two-track line, with twelve machines bound for the Seoul Olympics. Radio World, August 15, 1988
Jan 1989 · US
The MX-55 arrives as "THE NEXT 'WORKHORSE.'", and Otari promises the B-II stays in the line. Mix, January 1989
Oct 1991 · US
The B-II becomes the B-III: see the B-III's history.
Mar 1994 · US
"Does Your MX5050 BII or MKIII* need a lift?": an Otari factory refurbishment offer. BE Radio, March 1994 (page 39 of the PDF).
What it cost↑ TOP
| Date | Price as printed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1983 | $2,295 | Audio, February 1983, PDF p.17 |
| 1983 | "available for under $2,500.00" | db, January 1983 |
| Oct 1984 | "Otari 5050B/II $1795", a dealer's AES special | Mix, October 1984, PDF p.138 |
| Sept 1986 | $2,300 | Radio World, September 15, 1986 |
| June 1990 | £1,200, used | Studio Sound, June 1990, PDF p.110 |
Sources↑ TOP
The research dossier behind this page lists 165 B-II sightings, most of them studio directories, rosters and used lists. The ones with their own page are in the Period Press library.
- db, January 1983 and Broadcast Engineering, February 1983: the launch ad
- Studio Sound, February 1983: ITA's stock and hire lists
- Common Point, November 1983: the distributor's spread
- BM/E, September 1984: "ONE LESS ALLIGATOR"
- Broadcast Engineering, September 1984: "Solutions"
- Radio World, September 15, 1986: the user review
- Broadcasting, January 11, 1988: "RADIO'S TOP TEN!"
- Radio World, April 15, 1988: "Let's Make a Deal"
- Radio World, August 15, 1988: the two-track line's history
- Mix, January 1989: the MX-55 launch
- Audio, February 1983, PDF p.17, and BM/E, February 1983, PDF p.62: launch prices
- Mix, October 1984, PDF p.138: a dealer's price
- Studio Sound, June 1990, PDF p.110: used price
- BE Radio, March 1994, PDF p.39: factory refurbishment