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Reel to Reel tape decks


Reel to reel tape decks; I recall going with my wife, in the early 70's, in search for a new washer and dryer. This was when "Tipton", a major appliance store sold everything, including reel to reel tape decks. They were just flat out beautiful; I could picture one in my luxurious listen room done up in mahogany; tables, chairs, woodwork, everything. (in my dreams)

            http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/5/9409563/reel-to-reel-tape-retro-audio-trend


As a matter of fact, there was a Pioneer deck just like the one you see pictured on this link, at that time; presently I have a Technics 2track RS 1500.

I noticed they mentioned a Teac X-2000R. Sorry folks, I don't recommend that one. I bought mine new, and it lasted for a good while, but it was not repair friendly. Even if you get a new deck, it has to be repair friendly; it's not like the old days when you could find a tech to put your specs back in harmony.

I also owned an Akai; it took months to get parts when it was new. How long do you think it would take now?

Technics people were a dream to work with; after I bought my used reel, I called them for new parts, no problem; I bought everything I could replace, that's why mine is still up to snuff. Plus it's repair friendly; I worked on mine a time or two. I'm a tech, not specifically a reel tech, but I do have the repair manual.

Inna, you evidently did your homework; I wouldn't consider anything other than a 2 track, Otari, or Technics like the one in the picture, and Studer with out a doubt, but if you can not get it repaired don't buy it, what ever it is.

That Tascam sure looks pretty; I would buy it new, if the price was right. That $200, pre recorded tape is no good if your machine is not 100% up to specs.

You can record, and playback on your own machine, and get results that are 100% good, but you're taking a chance when you get outside tape that's prerecorded.

For sure, a reel to reel can top any turntable; good luck, have fun; and as I always say;


Enjoy the music.




orpheus10
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
There are 2 manufacturers of new R2R tape - ATR and RMG/Pyral (now known as Recording the Masters RTM). A new US tape made by Capture has been mooted as well.

Essentially, the ATR tapes are similar to the old Ampex and Quantegy, whilst the RTM are the old Agfa PEM468, BASF SM911 and SM900 tape formulations (with long play variants LPR35 and LPR90 respectively for the SM911 and 900). I use the RTM tapes all the time (LPR35, SM911 and SM900); I have not had any SSS problems and the quality has been excellent.

If you are in the US, you may find that ATR is cheaper. However, I have heard reports of occasional SSS, although I have not experienced this myself.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Topoxforddoc, thank you very much for that information. Since I started this thread, I've been listening exclusively to the reel, and enjoying the music more everyday.

"Nina Simone" sounds so much more "Simonish"; she's in a class all by herself, and she can also play the piano.

No matter who the artist is, you get so much more involved when you hear them from the reel. I quit trying to distinguish whether or not I'm listening to LP or CD because I can't tell the difference; my LP's get so little play, because I record them on PC or reel, that they have almost no record noise, and when you think about it, CD's are now "analog".

We "music lovers" always need something to put new life in our hobby, and this is it.


Enjoy the music.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Here are the facts on 2017 Revox Reel soon to be out;


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5TbIu27JfY


      http://www.analogplanet.com/content/new-revox-details-emerge#lJXImUlCKTvrbLsA.97



      http://1001hifi.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-new-2017-revox.html


Those  are the links on what I could find. If they're coming up with a new reel, I'm sure there will be new tape, or even some of the same old tape that's good as any.

I still have some EE Maxel, and listening to the playback on that at 7 1/2 IPS is entering a whole new world of playback. Originally I purchased it because it delivered high speed tape sound at low speed play; thereby giving you twice the time per reel without sacrificing any quality in regard to high end audio. Since it was for a Teac with a position for EE Tape, I didn't know it would work on any machine.

Presently I use the little I have left on my Technics, and it's out of this world; I believe it could even beat the new Revox if it used old tape.


Happy listening.


enliten
44 posts
 
Interesting that nobody talks about tape life/management/degaussing/erasure/printhrough....

I worked at a major studio in Chicago for a little while when I was a kid. It was all a BIG DEAL there. I remember degaussing an old Ampex 1/2" mastering deck and having the engineer yell at me: "what are you doing! You MUST do that properly or you'll ruin our master tapes!"

Maintenance of the decks and rolling the master tapes was 1/2 of what I did there.

Life span of tape is quite finite, along with the gradual degradation over time from stray fields. How do tape head audiophiles deal with that? The studio had a climate/humidity controlled room for storage!

The Ampex and Studer machines they had there were quite amazing machines.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

I am religious in regard to degaussing; after every recording I degauss the tape heads. Recorded reels must be far enough away not to be affected. I clean tape heads with a cotton swab after every use. I have rubber cleaner for the pinch rollers; it not only cleans them, but it also keeps them new.

If you only play tapes without recording, there is no need to degauss as far as I know, but you still have to clean the heads; which is also very easy.

For reasons I'm unaware of, I never had an aging problem; maybe it's because I record over what's already been recorded; and the way I do this, is to first record with no signal, that erases whatever was previously on the tape; then it's like a new tape.

If I failed to mention anything else that should be done, you can "Enliten" me.


Enjoy the music.
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