A New Reel to Reel Tape Deck?

They mean Studer is back? Or is it Nagra?

Norman,
Let's hope you are right about the comeback of tape.
I think, besides other things, that people just got tired of digital and of computers in general, they want something more authentic.

So he wants $5k for a refurbished Technics. If you are patient you could find Studer 810 for $4k, add $2-$3k to make it perfect. And Otari would be much less expensive. I would see no reason to get anything other than these two within this price range.

If you think about it this way - perfect Studer for the price of phono cartridge ! Not to mention Otari and Pioneer.
Ampex, was it an American company? Is it equal to Studer? Do they sound different?

dhl93449, I think you got lost in Audiogon wilderness and chose a wrong thread to paticipate in.
As for archiving, vinyl could and theoretically should be better, though tape will last for decades. And in 200 years all of that will probably be gone, at least outside of climate controlled vaults.

No significant difference in many cases between 7.5 ips and 15 ips two track?  How would you explain it?  When the recording is really bad I can understand it. 

This is good news, though I would not be interested. I would get classic Studer or Otari. The price is too high for a common folk and too low for it to be good for audiophiles. If a decent table/arm/cartridge start at about $4.5k - $5k, RTR deck should be double that, I would guess, well, maybe a little less.