Why do people like reel to reel players?

R2R tapes sound fantastic but the machines are expensive there are not many pre-recoreded tapes out there and they are very expensive also. Like $500 a pop for software. No thanks but I love hearing them at audio shows.

@mlsstl

@ghdprentice

I wonder if master tapes exist for lots of the older stuff, that is before 1990 or whenever Digital replaced it, where possibly this stuff can be transferred off the tapes in a better way that would improve what we now listen to.

It would seem if we’re able to be more impressed with an actual reel tape, there must be way to transfer this experience to another medium. It sounds like all the mass produced albums and I guess CDs may have been limited in the quality department which is really really really sad. But what did they know back then when they didnt care as much about the quality as we do now.

I saw a YouTube video that just came out where someone had a master tape from Sergeant peppers Recording that was used to make copies for lots of other tapes that went off to other countries to be reproduced. How cool would that be to listen to in such a pure form.

I always wanted a RTR deck. Preferably with 10 inch reels and huge level meters. The only real use I can see for a RTR deck is to record digital music sources into analog. Kind of like an analog buffer. Of course anything other than 1/2 track recording at 15 ips would degrade the quality too much, for me.

In the 80’s, I recorded thirty 10.5” reels of Maxell 35-180 and Ampex Grand Master tapes. At the time I had a Rodex professional mixer, two Technics SL-1600MK2 turntables, and two Technics CD players. Everything I recorded was dbx encoded. dbx eliminated all tape hiss and expanded the dynamic range. The sound then and now is wonderful.  When done right, there’s nothing like a good tape recording- IMHO. 

I’ve high end 2 channel analog gear that includes a refurbished pro Studer. RTR is expensive, laborious, and of limited selection. But the SQ is so good that I’d do it again. The best dynamic range and detail that I’ve heard is RTR. My analogy is that quality RTR is like watching football from the box seats — same game but an improved and pricey experience.