2. analog
  3. 118926-1110

Reel to Reel uses -

My wife and I love to entertain.  It never ceases to surprise me how many will walk over to my stereo and stare at my Reel to Reel tape deck.  Some under the age of 35, will ask what it is? Others want to know why I have it, and what do I use it for?  Of course I answer their questions, but now it makes we wonder how others use their machines?  I have been following a couple of high end blogs that I really enjoy and see that one gentlemen uses his machine to play master tape copies.  I do this as well, but have no where near the selection that he does.  I make copies of my favorite LP's to play when guests are over, and also make my own master tapes using a couple of neuman's microphones.  I record small jazz trios and solo artists straight to the machine.  People are amazed at how 'real' these tapes sound.  My main reel to reel is a Pioneer RT-1050 high speed half track.  I have a second just like it that I use for the above mentioned site recordings.  I also have a ReVox B-77, a Sony TC-765, and a Crown 822, all half track machines.  Anyone out there making your own masters?

Norman
normansizemore

Showing 13 responses by inna

inna
7,831 posts
 
Norman, thank you. I will still probably go with the Otari series two or three. Unless I unexpectedly can afford Studer 810.
Is it significantly better than Otari?
inna
7,831 posts
 
How does this Pioneer compare to Otari ?
inna
7,831 posts
 
CDRs will vanish too, dub to hard drive.
inna
7,831 posts
 
To hard drive - sure- but also dub to another new reel. It will last for decades if handled properly. I have 25 years old cassettes, no or almost no sound deterioration.
I was thinking about getting Otari within a few years, but perhaps I should also consider the Pioneer.
inna
7,831 posts
 
livin_262002, I meant in terms of sound. Does Studer actually sound  better than Otari? Otari is wildly used in small studios too, as I heard.
inna
7,831 posts
 
Norman,
If tape handling is smoother and the electronics is much better, how can it not sound better? I would guess it should.

inna
7,831 posts
 
I am glad that there are still many enthusiasts of RTR decks. I hope, this is going to be my next big audiophile project. Otari would probably be more than enough, though Studer sounds very appealing. I think, I heard that Studer also has legendary quality and longevity heads.
Dream system - open reel deck, amps, speakers, cables. And that's it.
inna
7,831 posts
 
I get the feeling that, generally speaking, people who are tape heads sound different than vinyl heads. Of course, there are those who are both. Truer to the roots you know. Long live the tape!
inna
7,831 posts
 
Anyone using 1/2" machine for home listening?
inna
7,831 posts
 
Half inch two track at 30ips must be spectacular, depending on the recording of course. This certainly should make vinyl obsolete.
inna
7,831 posts
 
I would probably have no other place but kitchen to put such a machine in and run the cables to the living room, which would be no problem. This is not at all silly, this is striving for the best. I wish more people were like that.
inna
7,831 posts
 
If you think of it, open reel deck based analog set-up could be far less expensive than those ridiculously overpriced record playing rigs. $2k machine should sound excellent, and it doesn't have to be made in China. Make them in Poland or Czech Republic if Germany US or Japan are difficult. Switzerland is certainly difficult.
inna
7,831 posts
 
Norman, that's a great idea. My friend used to do the same for me, though with cassettes not reels.
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