Reel to reel

Thumbs up for @benjie

Right. I found the ATR stuff too. Most of the tape heads I know are using it for a "higher fidelity" medium than LP (i use the quotes only because I don’t want to create an argument about whether tape is better than LP, just noting the difference in use): that tapes are available pre-recorded at a premium and some folks find old tapes, including safeties used for making records in various territories (there were a bunch of Yugoslavian tapes for sale on e-Bay a while ago- who knows what the story is on those sonically). This is different than the OP’s objective- which i remember too-- recording your albums to reel to reel, not only to save on wear but to make highlight reels (or what people today might call a mix tape or playlist).
The modern hi-end reel to reel stuff is deep and the real cost, ultimately, is source material in my estimation. One of the excuses I’ve used so far to avoid diving into that pool, much as I love the gear.
I think the comments about researching thru the tape head community are well taken though-an old machine is going to have needs. I gather Otari was a pretty good bargain deck, but don’t know.
Crazy, but Lee Perry recorded what is considered one of the very best reggae records on a TEAC - probably a 3340 or equivalent-- The Congoes, Heart of the Congo. Killer record (you need the Blood and Fire remaster, most of the others I’ve heard are pretty bad sonically, though i never heard a first Jamaican pressing-- rare and costly).
Good luck with this- could be a fun project. The ReVox and Tandberg were very common in the early -mid ’70s when I was fooling around with this stuff. Have no idea what it would cost to restore one of those machines or whether it is even worth it.

Reel to reel is ultimate audio, this is unequivocal fact; just a few days ago, in order to prove this to myself, I decided to record one of my favorite Santana albums at 15 IPS. This is something I had never done because it shortens recorded time and raises cost; a ridiculous thing to do; never the less, I proceeded.

The results were far beyond my expectations; the experience of hearing this album that I played so many times that the new one I recorded must have been the fourth album, was so intense and exhilarating, that I repeated it over and over; the same as other experiences that I never tire of repeating.

As to speakers, what speakers; the sound emanated from a black velvet background of silence across the rear wall; left, right, and center, with background sounds that were to the rear of the rear wall.

Santana, "Barboletta" is one of the best albums ever made; let me give you a rundown of the artists.


Personnel
Leon Patillo – vocals (3,4,5,7,8), piano (8), electric piano (3,5), organ (4)
Flora Purim – vocals (1,11)
Jules Broussard – soprano and tenor saxophones (4,6,9,11)
Carlos Santana – guitar (3-5,7-11) percussion (2,9), congas (7), gong (8), vocals (11), producer
Tom Coster – piano (4,9), Hammond organ (7,10,11), electric piano Fender Rhodes (2,9-11), organ (3,5,6,8), Moog synthesizer (4,8), producer
Stanley Clarke – bass guitar (6,9-11)
David Brown – bass guitar (2,4,5,7,8)
Michael Shrieve – drums (2-5,7,8), producer
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (6,9)
Airto Moreira – drums (10,11), percussion (12), sound effects (1), triangle (11), vocals (12)
Armando Peraza – percussion, congas (2,4,5,6,8,11), bongos (3,6,11), soprano saxophone (10)
José Areas – timbales (4), congas (2,3)
Michael Carpenter – echoplex (2)



Although all the artists on this LP were fantastic "Chepito" really caught my attention;


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceir7Jj7pZc&start_radio=1&list=RDEMkuOapXZbfe8SlzNP9mmMrg


Here's the thing about 15 IPS; each individual instrument pops out of this black space in such a way that you can focus on it alone.

Like all of the best things in life, the question comes up, "Can you afford them"? Personally, I have never been able to "afford" hardly anything, yet I manage to indulge.

"One day this is going to be all over".

Now you have me drooling over machines with 15 ips capability.

Still my old Sony tc645 was/ is a great cheap entry level r2r.

Built well, tough, relatively simple and fairly compact.

Sounds darn good to me recording 24/96 and 192 streams from Quboz at 7.5 ips.

I’m very bummed right now. Snooze you lose I guess. I just saw and ad for a great shape working Pioneer RT-909 with literally boxes and boxes of newer ATR tapes for sale for $900. When I responded to the ad, the seller told me there were 3 people ahead of me that wanted it. If they fall through, he’ll let me know. I’m trying to stay positive thinking this thing has probably had the living crap  used out of it but the 10” tapes alone are worth 3 times if not more of that value. The ad was up 4 hours before I saw it. Sucks!!

If you really want it, offer to pay more than the asking price. Cash is king. That’s how I got my first Technics SL-1700mk2, and they are as scarce.