Reel to Reel information, user tips and tricks...

I've used Vishay a long time.  They have a cap that I use in XO builds when I do one. They are rated at 160 or 200 v. Low but one of the best sounding for mids and highs I've used for the money..

The resistors, are a given, they are the best, the inside of Mcintosh, and my Nord buffer boards are full of them. Cool lookin' little guys too. Hard to solder for me.. I have to be careful.. Little soft tails...your talking about..

I read an article with "WHY" the load resistor, in parallel, makes no difference. in series yes, make sense? I mean its NOT in the signal path, it's shunting to ground, YES, NO? if it were in series, Yes I could see, it would be passing a signal through the resistor.. Am I wrong?

You've heard the ZP3 with RtR and direct head tap? I haven't heard it, I'm taking a chance. BUT I looked over the schemo... VERY basic, short path, HIGH CAP, very good transformer, and high horsepower, for a pre 60 watt. Tube rectified. US built, and pure Point to Point, easy front to rear layout. A lot of time went into the second/third series of this Phono stage.

Which RtR did you hear them with? You remember?

I haven't even gotten an ETA from them, my ZP3 

I've done a couple. HH Scott, MX110. Both were potted, for on the fly BIAS tweak from 47K to 600 ohm, or anywhere in between.. Different tape type, ay? NAB to IEC. I'm just getting back into it.. READ READ READ.. Story of my life..mechanic...

I wouldn't be doing any of this if the gear hadn't got nicked.. UH...
All the gear stored in my shop.. Gettin' there though. :-)

Thanks everyone, Happy Turkey Day. Mine is cooking as I type, 21 pounder....STUFFED...5-6 hour cook..

Regards

@oldhvymec glad to hear that you're bringing your RtR back into service and adding a really sweet Decware tapehead preamp...it's a beauty! I hope it brings you excitement and renewed enthusiasm for the hobby.

The idea of wiring the playback head straight onto a modern tapehead preamp and bypassing the RtR 40+ years old solid state internal electronics is a popular one amongst tapeheads. Here's a few highly regarded tapehead preamp to lust over:

http://doshiaudio.com/portfolio-items/v3-0-tape-stage/
https://www.merrillaudio.net/product/master-tape-head-preamp/
http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/222_Tape_Preamp.htm
https://bottlehead.com/product/tube-repro/

I know Atmosphere and King-Cello also makes some really nice tapehead preamps, I know I'm missing a few nice ones.

For blank tapes, there's ATR magnetics and Recording the Masters if you're into recording. Really high quality stuff!

For newly released music on RtR tape, check out my post on this thread, it's the last post on page 5. Some of these recording will knock your socks off.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/why-no-interest-in-reel-to-reel-if-you-re-looking-for-the-ult...
   
Drop me a PM anytime you want to discuss tape.

Oh WOW! Thanks for the goodies.. I'll check them out. I know there are some MEGA buck rigs there.. I recognize a few of the names.. :-)

Yes I'll be recording, I like RtR format, always did. It doesn't have to cost a fortune just like vinyl, it CAN but it doesn't have to. I can get a high enough quality tape to make me happy. Thanks ay

Regards

oldhvymec

Yes I'll be recording, I like RtR format, always did.

What do you plan to record?

What type of music, or the source? The type, just about anything that strikes my fancy. The source, LP, RtR, CD, SDAC, and any other source I can figure out. This will be a work in progress, I have no doubt.. :-) 

I had some good pre recorded 2 track. Chet Atkins, Elvis (of all things), Doors, My Grandmother playing the organ in an old Baptist church, 1952.
Dean Martin, and Lena Horne.

I won't be paying the crazy prices, for stuff I'D never listen too. I think I paid, 100.00 for a few.. Chet, Dean and Lena were 100 for all 3. Not a lot to choose from back then, either. I did see a current "Abbey Road" for 650, or some some crazy price..

Most of the classical I listened to is like Strunz and Farah, flamingo. Latin Jazz, Carol music (Island), Tropical, Rock and Roll, Country Western, Soul, R&B, Funk, Pop, Kid stuff, it's good... Bali, YUP! Bali, I know nothing about it , I just like it...I'll turn it up. All day long Smooth Jazz is playing, UNLESS we do some vinyl, CD or just change the station/channel.

Regards