What makes tape sound better than vinyl ?

Besides, what about 1/2" tape machines ?

They're awesome! Not many titles available, but you can record your own. The format is a bit pricey...

Yeah, that's perhaps too much even for "extreme audiophiles", as Orpheus10 put it. But why not ?
Ralph, which one sounds better, 1/2" four track or 1/4" two track ? Assuming 7 1/2 ips and 15 ips speeds.

They are the same track width so they should sound the same....

FWIW Four track 1/2" is uncommon- 8 tracks on 1/2' is a more common format, used by lower end semi-pro machines.

"When you transfer vinyl to reel to reel, it sounds better on playback. The same goes for CD. Many professional audiophiles have concluded there is nothing better than reel to reel."

Would it not be true for you that reel to reel sounds better than the original (live, acoustic) performance?

Tostadosunidos, to begin to answer your question, I had to turn on the reel and relax in the 'sweet spot' with music emanating from that source.

First question, "Is it vinyl, or CD"? I can only tell by remembering when I recorded it. If I don't have the record, it must be CD.

CD's are generated from the computer to line in on the reel. Records are recorded the old fashioned way. Years ago when audiophile PC was a hot topic, I replaced cards in my computer with audiophile cards per the PC forum here and Stereophile.

Right now I'm listening to Jimmy Smith "Angel Eyes", the CD from the reel.



1 Stolen Moments 7:00
2 You Better Go Now 5:15
3 Angel Eyes 8:00
4 Bess, Oh Where's My Bess 4:10
5 Slow Freight 5:47
6 Tenderly 6:25
7 Days Of Wine And Roses 7:00
8 L'il Darlin' 6:57
9 What A Wonderful World 4:25



Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Gregory Hutchinson
Executive-Producer – Lola Smith
Guitar – Mark Whitfield
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Producer – Don Sickler, Richard Seidel
Trumpet – Nicholas Payton
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Roy Hargrove


When I focus on the center channel, Jimmy Smith is in the house with that loud and very wide dynamic frequency range like no other organ. (When you record from CD to two track, you have actually expanded what was on the CD without distorting it; same music, just bigger with a wider dynamic range, plus you have also lost any "digitalis".)   Jet black background as well, no tape noise on a good deck.

What I'm hearing  can not be measured, it is the emotional aspect of the music; I've gone beyond what reviewers talk about when describing components, frequency response etc. but into the story line of the song.

Now that I'm into "Angel Eyes", no longer am I in this listening room, but in one of the bistros in a time long past, sitting on the same bar stool, where I sat contemplating one of the "Angel Eyes" I've known.

      
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihZHR63UmNI


When you got the right rig, music can take you wherever you want to go.

As to your original question, it's impossible to get better than live, you have gone past the limits of logic.