Reel to reel , is it real the hype!

I got into R2R this year (fully refurbished 2T HS Revox B77 Mk2 and 2T HS PR99 Mk2). With the right, expensive, tape nothing beats a 15ips, 2T well-recorded R2R tape for SQ. Plain and simple, why do you think high end manufacturers are now using R2R tape to demonstrate their products?

My favorite R2R tape is Lyn Stanley's London With A Twist; I guarantee, on a top quality system, you will think you are listening to live music, quite simply unbelievably real. Also from Acoustic Sounds; Nora Jones Come Away With Me, Oscar Peterson We Get Request and Muddy Waters Folk Singer. Again, all 3 tapes sound like live music being played in front of you. I have been a HiFi enthusiast for 55 years now and owned a lot of equipment in that time and heard many wonderful recordings (LP, CD, Streaming, FM Radio and now R2R); well recorded 15ips 2T tape beats every format hands down.

If you need a good source of R2R tape machines try: https://www.techtrader.ch. Urs is a great guy to deal with and his refurbished Revox/Studer machines are as good as they get IMHO. Beyond being a customer I have no affiliation with this company.

R2R system is mainly the Revox PR99 Mk2 (IEC) playing into a McIntosh MC52, MC312 power amp and Magico A5 speakers. The Revox B77, Mk2 2T, HS is setup for NAB equalized tape.

EVERY analogue copy adds a generational loss. No exceptions. You heard wrong.

95% of amazing sound is built into the recording not the playback medium.
You are quite welcome to spend $K’s chasing the 5%. If that’s your thing.
Lyn Stanley is an Audiophile. She did a seminar at Axpona ’18. That album was not made on tape. If the tape sounds good imagine the direct to disc lacquer.

fuzztone, I attended the same Lyn Stanley AXPONA 2018 seminar. Apparently the tape was made simultaneously with the DD, cut as a safety copy. From the Lyn Stanley web site:

The original session used RGMI 468 1/4 inch tape at 30ips as the lacquers were being cut

I actually own both the DD and tape. Although the DD LP is truly exceptional, the tape is even better IMHO. Clarity, resolution, frequency response, low noise, spatial presentation and dynamics are second to none to my ears. The best recording I have ever heard!

First OP congrats on your sweet system - both analog and digital, very well sorted out. I am sure w this level of thought and discernment, you are able to differentiate relative strengths and weaknesses to format. I am fortunate to dabble in all three. I have a heavily modified B77 with outboard tube head amps and EQ.

You have been given good advice. I prefer IEC and 1/4” 15 ips half track. This may limit you but provides a good jump in point. I would recommend a reference tape sampler from Opus 3 to get feet wet. Tape subscriptions can lower costs as does piracy, i don’t want to sidetrack the thread, just give that some thought.

I have heard that stock Otari, i didn’t get the liquid midrange i value so much, but again…it was stock but in a high caliber Ayre and Verity system, no slouch.

You will need to invest in calibration tapes, etc…some DIY expertise. seek out the R2R tapehead sites..no shortage of expertise, opinions…

Best to you on your journey….

Jim