Reel to reel

In regard to information present, and not heard clearly; I recall being at a high end emporium and requesting them to play my CD of Santana's "Abraxas". This was my CD; I bought the LP Abraxas when it came out; to say that I was familiar with the album would be an understatement; the background music that had been barely audible on all the rigs I had, was cleanly audible here. There were certain sounds that I have not heard clearly audible before nor since, and that was from a CD.



Keep in mind that this was in a "High end Emporium"; which meant that every detail in audio had been addressed; the electronics were "top of the line" Audio Research, and even the CD player was ARC. The speakers were Thiel, and the price of all that equipment was far beyond my reach, but I heard it on that day.

orpheus 10

Are you using an MC cartridge. How are you loading it for playback ? 

I think right there we now have at least 3 posters in agreement as to what is actually being said and claimed on r2r tape playback.

orpheus10

... I recall being at a high end emporium and requesting them to play my CD of Santana’s "Abraxas". This was my CD; I bought the LP Abraxas when it came out; to say that I was familiar with the album would be an understatement; the background music that had been barely audible on all the rigs I had, was cleanly audible here. There were certain sounds that I have not heard clearly audible before nor since, and that was from a CD

That’s not at all hard to believe. An LP and its CD counterpart are often mastered differently.

benjie

When I record these files, the information is there, it’s just not very audible. It is more in the background. Recording the file to tape seems to bring out more detail of the recording than is present through a digital player for the file.

Understood. But if what you hear from an analog tape dub differs from what you hear from the source itself, that difference is distortion. And it’s fine you find the tape preferable. I get it. I’m a tape guy, too.