The dangerous world of Reel-to-Reel Tape

@thom_oz 

I hope you mean that the dbx box preserved the dynamics of those recordings you were capturing. Me, I wouldn't want the original dynamics altered in any way when taping (it audibly "pumps" if you push dynamic restoration more than 5-8%).

I can only tell you that, in general, my tapes sounded better than the source vinyl albums - especially those recorded 15 ips.  Back in the day, I also used a dbx 3bx to tweak the dynamic range a little bit during playback. The sound was a little fuller with a tad more bass. I still have the 3bx, but I no longer use it.

As for recording your vinyl today, surely your phono preamp before the BHK has a fixed line-out. You could use a splitter cable at that point, send the signal to the BHK Pre AND the tape deck or dbx box at the same time. Then monitor your recordings thru the BHK in your chosen tape input.

I use XLR cables between my Stellar phono pre and the BHK.  I may give the RCA cables with splitter idea a try.  That would be a lot cheaper than buying a new preamp or integrared amp 😂!

"....what's old is new, yet again..."  *S*

@thom_oz ...as one who's just beginning to play w/XLRs', that 'splitter' routine is still a SOP 'round here...*G*

@oldschool1948 ...dust off the dbx while you're at it.... ;)  Nothing like a 'spoonful of sugar' that made magic happen before....

Sidenote/unrelated: Just curious:

how long do recorded magnetic tapes (here: R2R, but also 8 track, cassette, VHS, etc) LAST before they loose their information?

When I went off to college in the early 90s my dad decided to update his hi-fi system and gave me his rack of "separates" which included an Onkyo receiver, graphic EQ, tape deck, technics turntable, and Sony 5 CD changer, and a Sony R2R.  I lived with 4 other guys with eclectic musical tastes so I would make a 3 hr mix tape on the R2R and then we would just let that thing run. No one at college was very familiar with R2R so it was like a vintage UFO landing in the living room for some people. The SQ was great and I loved everything about it but finding blank tape reels was (despite cassette tapes being big at the time) a challenge so I reused my minuscule stash for the 4 years of college party mixes and eventually the Sony R2R was traded in with the rest of those separates to a shop in Boulder, CO called Second Sound when I opted to upgrade after graduating. 

Sometimes I think about getting a new-to-me R2R but I'm not sure I would get much use out of it these days other than as hi-fi shelf candy and conversation starter for visitors. 

@mikelavigne 

Nice that we agree on something. I do not expect I will use the Nagra for anything but display.

I do not have any recent experience with tape machines. I did at one time own a Revox A77. However the outlet I was affiliated with did live recordings of classical and folk music with a Studer deck which I had loads of experience with and we used an HQD system to play the recordings back. Some of them were actually released. From a sonic perspective at the time you could do no better. A good digital recording on my current system is superior in every way. There is far less distortion and and superior bass. The biggest problem with modern digital recordings is the compression used which SUCKS. This is the main reason I like certain older vinyl recordings better and this might make certain prerecorded tapes better. But, with identical uncompressed recordings digital will win every time unless you like listening to distortion which many people do. Unfortunately, that distortion also produces a less vivid image. 

I am very comfortable with this assessment to the point where I have no plans to purchase another tape machine. The value in it is awful and I would rather spend the money on music. The best of them are wonderful machines but like Idler turntables are a thing of the past and IMHO belong in museums. On the other hand I drive an old 911 which in no way can keep up with a modern 911, but it has way more character and is much more fun to drive. So, I understand the attraction to old tape machines. If that is your thing and you have the room, Enjoy. He who dies with the most machines wins!