Is there an 'Audiophile' Reel-to-Reel Machine for Under $1,000?

In the vintage audio world, there's a good portion of hobbyists who would consider ANY RtR machine "Audiophile Quality" and anyone who has one an audiophile...

I myself have a 2-track Akai GX-265d (with glass ferrite heads) and a Dokorder 1140 4 - track deck. IMO the issue isn't the decks - it's the tapes.

If you are a fan of any music from the 60s / 70s  that isn't Englebert Humperdink or Mitch Miller... you are going to pay through the nose for most commercial pre-recorded tapes. Hard (for me anyway) to justify $350 for a Led Zeppelin II reel that is in so-so shape, when I can pick up an original RL vinyl pressing in at least decent shape for around the same cost..?

For tape media, I have reel, cassette, and 8-track (audiophiles are now gasping at the mere mention of 8Tr). Of the 3, I have the least pre-recorded media for the RtR, just due to a combination of a lack of selection and cost.

metal type iv cassettes on nakamichi dragon/dr10 sound more “audiophile” to me than fe tapes even at higher speed on r2r

Try sky labs store in Iowa He. Has high end Audi 

Great Guy 

I was lucky a few years back to get a Revoc B77 refurbished for $1300.00 which I thought was a bargain. The sound of a R to R is superb if you can get a decent recording and the rest of your system is up to snuff.   
The soundstage is expansive in a good system and the palpability of players in the room is hard to better, definitely worth seeking out a good refurbished deck. You will lose the ease of play of a CD or even vinyl and a bit of a learning curve but well worth the effort.  
Keep looking and something will pop up eventually.