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Reel to reel , is it real the hype!

I am thinking of venturing into the realm of reel to reel.
I have access to purchase an otari mtr10, with enhanced 1/2 “ head block, refurbished and recapped for 9k.
my system is in brief is ayre kxr and mxr twenties playing through magico M3 with Jl audio Gotham subs. Front end digital is souped up wolf streamer pure digital capable of playing 512 and 1024 dsd files , t+a sd 3100hv dac( capable of playing 1024 dsd native . Front end analogue is sme 30/2 with Lyra Etna lamda sl catridge playing through vandenhul grail Se+ phono stage.( please see my system page for details )
my question is will the otari give me better performance than my digital and vinyl front end . Thank you in advance .
newtoncr
billwojo
397 posts
 
Just getting a great tape deck isn't going to do anything for you unless you have some very well recorded tapes. Really good tapes are very expensive unless you have a line on getting recordings from master tapes. At that point if everything is right it should easily beat all your other formats.This is the most expensive format to do right and the media is far to expensive for most folks but if you have the money than go for it.

BillWojo
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Not hype. Reality. I had open reel back in the 70's and 80's. Dumbest thing I ever did in audio was sell the RT. Back then I would dub my records to tape and do almost all my listening off tape. Playing records was a special occasion. Although honestly the dubs were so close.....   

But that was then. Now there are really superb tapes you can buy, and master tape dubs will blow you away. If your system is up to it anyway. The ones I heard at Mike Lavigne's, if I had that the turntable would be gathering dust, let me tell you!   

Rather than research the deck I would suggest research the tapes first. Because no point buying a deck if it sucks you dry for buying tapes. But if you can swing it then brother, swing for the fences! We heard some Pink Floyd that made time stand still. Then some Led Zep, and I don't even like most of it but damn, this was something else! Not hype. Not even. 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,598 posts
 
If you enjoy spending $100's per album go for it.
Otari parts are gone.   
Have at it.
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Yup have a plan, because it's not a poor mans toy. Doing your own stuff is just about the only good option, prices are just NUTS and what's available really sucks for the most part.  35 years ago it was bad, it's a whole lot worse now.. There were a lot of good DIY 1/4 7.5" and 15" back then.

Unless your going to record your own.. and 1/2" tape..

Otari, some are surely better than others.. I've used them close to 40 years off more than on... Still a lot of good parts and a few techs to keep them going.. They have good maintenance manual too, if you want to learn.. All of the wear parts are still around and quite a few upgrades, just depends on what you're doing. 

1/2" tape? You better check and see if there is a source first..

Regards
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