Reel to reel

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.  

If you want to do it right spend right as well. Forget that Pioneer with those boxes of tapes. The price is too low.
How good is your vinyl front end, including phono ? I am not even close to knowing this stuff but I researched the subject, started a few threads here and talked to people outside this forum. Otari two track with four track playback capability appears to be the best value. There are a few models. All XLR balanced in/out. Couple of Technics too. I would choose Otari, it should be more durable. If you are lucky you could find it for about $1500 in good or better condition, so you wouldn't have to have it professionally looked over and calibrated right away unless you wanted to. Yeah, tape cost ranges from about $50 to $100 for Maxell NOS back coated. I cannot advise but I myself would start with vintage Maxell not modern incarnation of BASF and AGFA. Yes, I know, there is a risk, the tape is old, might not have been stored properly etc. I would start with Maxell because I know for a fact that in cassettes Maxell Vertex back coated is the very best tape and a great tape at that. Same or very similar tape as in reels. If you take type II cassette tape Maxell tape is also the best, better than TDK, BASF etc. and AGFA is junk. Reputable company never makes junk even at their lowest level. BASF and Quantegy vintage should be alright. You would have to compare, but there is also a question of longevity and reliability. Point is you would want best tape even if you have a modest deck.
Anyway, it would all cost you, and as Bill said, if you want to buy pre-recorded from a reputable source, it might be a fortune. How does $200-$500 for one reel sound to you? 
15 ips speed is not necessary if the recording is not good - 7 1/2 ips would be enough, but again you would have to compare.
Playing tapes is a serious thing that requires attention, including deck maintenance from time to time. This is not this funky records spinning - just set up the table once, clean the records and go.
Personally, I have decided most likely not to get Otari and save up for Studer A810 or A807. They say there are also some excellent Sony pro machines, I'll consider them too. Studer transport is incomparable, it seems, and that's the most important thing to begin with. Just like in vinyl set-up the most important part is table itself.
ReVox  as poor man's Studer - two track high speed - might be all you need, I don't know. 
Tape is great, tape sounds best, tape is fun. But it is not consumer medium like vinyl, discs and computers, it requires effort.