Studer vs Otari

Inna, I've had my Technics 1500 for 20 years, and it's never been to the shop, plus you get good support from Panasonic when it comes to parts. Since you already know someone who can make it like new, I don't know why you don't have one?



      http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-RS-1500U.html

orpheus10, thank you for the link, yes I remember that you have had your Technics for many years.
No, I don't know any open reel decks master technician, but I am sure I would find one. Theoretically, I could even ship to Germany or Switzerland.
Why do I not have one yet ? Sometimes longing is better than having. Is this the case of it ? Only partly. Big expenses - thousands - including tapes. Another source of hesitation - after hearing good master tape dub my turntable will sound like a clock radio by comparison. In addition, I really want to upgrade my Redgum integrated amp to Gryphon integrated within a few years. Again, thousands of dollars and even more of Danish krones. There are also complicated issues of family politics.and whether or not I am willing to finance these projects. I really dislike debts but I also dislike smaller savings. And finally, I cannot choose yet - Studer, Otari or perhaps Technics. My heart says Studer, my head says..Studer. What in me says Otari or Technics then ? Just the wallet, I guess.

Blank tape is too big of a problem to buy a reel of any kind.

I think in the US it is a very good option to purchase the Technics, since access to spare parts and clever tweaks are available afaic (if you already didnt, check https://tapeproject.com/machines/).
In Europe it has achieved an enormous reputation for playback - for decades it´s been the reference deck for playback of master tapes for the Swedish recording studio Opus3, e.g.

I may have missed this but is the intent to use the tape deck’s internal output section and run it into a preamp, or to bypass the output section by taking the signal directly off the tape head and running it through an external tape head preamp?

FWIW - I have been running Otario 5050’s for several years now. At first using the internal output section. Then I got a hold of a 5050 Series III that was a two piece unit in a rack. I tossed the preamp and just used the transport modifying it to take the signal directly from the tape head. If you are truly after the best sound, then this is it IMO.

I have three tape head amps: A modified Atma-Sphere MP-3 that Ralph set up with both RIAA and IEC EQ, a DeHavilland 222, and a Music Reference phono/tape head amp. Granted the Otari does use balanced XLR outputs, but they are not difficult to convert to RCA (there is info on the Tape Project forum), or what I did was had the DeHavilland and MR units set up for single ended XLRs so I didn’t have to change cables. The Otari/MP3 combination leverages balanced operation and that makes a nice difference as well.