A brief history of MJS and Neutrik test sets
The Neutrik TT402A and its predecessors were build and sold for more than a decade. This is a brief overview of its history with media clips from audio and studio magazines.
MJS model 401 Noise and Level Test Set (1977)
The story begins with the MJS 401 Noise and Level Test Set which was developed in 1977 by the British engineer Mike Sells and his company MJS Electronics. The “401” was a relatively basic instrument and quite different from the later MJS 401D and is included here for completeness only.
Below are some clips from audio and studio magazines from the time when the MJS 401 was released and marketed.
Technical Projects MJS 401D Audio Measuring System (1982)
In 1982 MJS merged with the Special Projects division of Theatre Projects Ltd, which specialized in stage, studio and recording gear such as mixing consoles, balanced/unbalanced converters, direct in boxes etc. They formed the new company Technical Projects and operated from Isle of Wight (UK) as a part of the Theatre Projects group. The system was further developed and Technical Projects soon launched the updated MJS 401D Audio Measuring System in 1983. It was manufactured by Technical Projects in their facility on Isle of Wight.
Neutrik TP401 Audio Measuring System (1986)
The company Neutrik AG was founded in Liechtenstein in 1975 and established its Audio Measurements Division in 1976. Neutrik AG aqcuired Technical Projects in 1986 and renames the company to Neutrik (UK) Ltd to establish it as a new subsidiary in Great Britain. The company was renamed to Neutrik (UK) Ltd to establish a new subsidiary in Great Britain and manufacturing remained on Isle of Wight. Neutrik soon rebranded the test set and the TP401 Audio Measuring System was launched in 1986.
Neutrik TT402 Audio Transmission Test Set (1988)
After acquiring MJS, Neutrik continued improving the design and released the updated TT402 Audio Transmission Test Set in 1988. The accompanying software “TS01” took advantage of the GPIB interface to simplify and automate measurements by controlling the instrument remotely.
Neutrik TT402A Audio Transmission Test Set (1990-1992)
Neutrik kept fine-tuning the instrument and the last iteration TT402A was released in 1990. The TT402A test set included a parallel printer port for graphic or textual printouts of test results and can be fitted with a RS232 interface for communication (in addition to the IEEE-488 interface). It is unknown to me when the TT402A went out of production but it was likely around 1992. The latest media coverage I have found is from December 1992 when it was listed among other Audio test systems in the Equipment Reference Manual supplement of Broadcast Engineering. While there are a few mentions after that I have not found it in advertisements, news or reviews.
NTI AG - New millennium, new company
In 2000 the Audio Measurement Division of Neutrik AG was bought out to form a separate company NTI AG. While the TT402(A) test set was an obsolete product at that point, it was still in use in many studios and service labs. As far as I know the instrument was never produced, sold or officially supported by NTI but the company inherited the engineering from Neutrik (UK) and have been helpful and supportive to users that hang on to their beloved test sets.