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Tape Project-Any reason so many tapes are showing

Why are so many Tape Project tapes showing up for sale on A-gon? So far I have seen at least three full lots of tapes appear up for sale, and remainder of subscriptions are also being offered.

My reason for not joining is because of the amount of tapes I would need to purchase with music that I am not interested in.

I dont think it's the quality of the music/tape transfer. I did purchase four tapes from a fellow goner and played them on my Studer A-810 with excellent results. The Studer needs to be re-calibrated and the Tape Project tapes still sounded incredible. So from my own experience these are first class master tapes.
I personally feel the Studer A-810 is the only way to go if you want to get the most benefit from Tape Project. Unless of course you are in the position to purchase an Ampex 102.

Is it economics that these tapes and subscriptions are starting to show up for sale or is it that maybe the tapes are not all that big of a deal sound/quality for the money?

Curious as to what others are feeling about Tape Project?

Ed
apachef1
ironbut
4 posts
 
Out of the number of subscribers, a few are bound to find any new (old) media not for them.

Aside from the obvious economic reasons, there's always stuff like the old spousal factor ("Get that freakin' thing out of my living room!") and disagreement with musical selections.

But, I think one of the main reasons is that reel to reel tape is not for the faint hearted. Since all the machines must be purchased used, and unless you have deep enough pockets to pay a tech to bring it up to spec, it requires a deeper commitment than any other media. In other words, it's not plug and play.
Folks who have spent a lot of time tweaking their vinyl systems are used to this sort of thing. But someone that's used to inserting a disc and hitting play are in for a rude awakening with tape.
For these folks, they probably would've sold off their phono systems too and I'm sure that happens every day.
apachef1 OP
164 posts
 
Ironbut-I know what you mean. I come from the older school audiophile group. I do have vinyl open reel and cd/mp3 as all part of my two channel system.

The Tape project takes a more involved approch and a commitment with a deck that can play the tapes plus modding/maintaining the deck.

Between the deck the mods and the subscription you are forking out 5k just to get started plus another 2k a year or so for the subscription.

The good thing I'm seeing is that the tapes are holding a fairly good value for people looking to get out of the Tape Project.
I really didn't think people getting out of the Tape Project would be from a quality control factor.

buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Because the music content being released on these tapes is not appealing. Sound for sound sake does not make sense. This is especially true given the typical cost to find and upgrade a machine. A lot of great music was done in three channel and mixed down, so on that typle of music there is something to be looked for. A transfer of Miles/Blue in Blu-Ray is in progress. It will blow away the mix tape.

I have a few reel to reel's and have found some 7.5 tapes done for broadcast to be outstanding, inspite of the source being vinyl.
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