Reel to Reel


So I have this tug to get a reel to reel but I'm a little perplexed by pricing and how the decks and the pretty high prices don't move.  I've been keeping an eye on certain ones for a while now.  People really have patience.  lol  But is it even worth it to mess with?  I remember having a quadrophonic RTR in the 80's and wow did it sound good...rich and thick and chocolatey!  It seems like it could be fun to experience/experiment with this and hear again how it sounds esp through modern gear.  Would/Have any of you had much experience lately with RTR?  Is my memory better than the thing is actually?  lol

bbarten

Knittersspouse advice is spot on about care and dedication. It’s a high calorie burning media.

Thanks everyone for all of the great info!  All aspects really got well explored here and I really appreciate the engagement.  I could respond to each one from an interest level.  There's so much to talk about and consider.  You all make great points!  I think I'll keep looking at them...see how the budget goes and maybe get inspired to go for it.  Maybe something will "fall in my lap" and make it convenient as possible to get into it again.  I did the Beta VCR thing too.  It was interesting.  Thanks again everybody!

Not RTR but I use Panasonic AG-7350 SVHS for background music every day. Sounds quite good, problem is low speed. At least the tape is wide.

@inna Cool!  One of the studios I recorded in used an ADAT system.  It uses VHS tapes and is/was very much pro quality.  Masters kept on them.

If you buy a fully rebuilt deck, calibrated  and specs documented from an expert tech, you should be plug and play, just need tapes.  But vintage prerecorded tapes often have the shedding problem due to age deterioration.

Buying used decks from amatuers or resellers is a low probability of satisfaction in sound quality and reliability.  I cannot recommend that route unless you are a tech and will be restoring the deck, or you just want to mess around with one for curiousity and won't be disappointed if they sound not so great.

My best experience buying used was a Pioneer 909.  But that was decades ago.  Just recently before I sold it I made a test dub from hi res TIDAL source and when monitoring during recording between source and recorded signal I could not hear a difference.

None of my three currently owned consumer level vinate Sony's are anywhere near that good sounding.