Can we finally put Reel to Reel out of its misery? Put it to rest people.

Brett
You could be right but I cannot afford Aqualung in any reel format!

Lol

Long Live R2R.

Analog must involve physical wear. We deal with it, happily.  Analog simply gets the overtones right. That's why it is so Involving. 

I play Sgt. Pepper's (anything I have in all 3 formats) on CD, then LP, then R2R. EVERYONE prefers LP to CD, and EVERYONE prefers R2R to LP.

Play  In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, CD, LP, .. now play R2R, you can hear him say "In the Garden of Eden".

Play 1st Moody Blues Album, Go Now, before Justin, when they were a piano based blues band. Hear hard driven piano, muddy/mushy on LP, play R2R, it sounds awesome. 

Rare Earth, ... Anything 

I play McIntosh 300 wpc transistor, then 30 wpc tube amp, EVERYONE picks the tubes.

Come over here, we will listen, you will leave with tears of joy.

I’ve ‘had tears’ twice now with reel to reel. One a recording of Nina Simone, the other an Ink Spots recording—a group and recording I had never heard before. 

Simply amazing!

I have some great early stereo 50's R2R that slay the LPs and CDs.  George Wrights' Razz Ma Jazz on Audio Fidelity, Red Norvo Quintet Naturally and the Hi-Lo's on a pre-Columbia tape   Amazing clarity and dynamics.

Regarding tape longevity,

I am reducing my collection. I have sold over 150 of my factory recorded tapes from the 50, 60, 70's. on eBay. I offer unconditional returns. 

40, 50, 60 years old, they still sound awesome, no one has ever asked for a return.