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Help Picking a Reel to Reel Deck

Hi All (first insider post),

I purchased an excellent TEAC 2300s last December and had it professionally checked and calibrated here in LA....I was hoping that tape would not live up to the hype, but it did. So now that I am totally addicted, I want to upgrade and I need your help to help me find the right deck.

Here is the short list of requirements:
1) Reliability and serviceability 
2) 3 3/4 and 7 1/2 ips play speeds
3) Auto-reverse 
4) Two outputs
5) A dedicated straight tape head output for a preamp.
6) Is kind and gentle on tapes
7) Has playback bias and/or EQ controls
8) Costs about $1,000

I have a feeling it’s a lot to ask for, but I’m asking anyways.

Thanks much!
brettmcee
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Brett.
Sad to say but you may need to post in the regular analog section to garner any usefully responses.

Good luck
harrylavo's avatar
harrylavo
346 posts
 

Actually, you will have to go back to '50's and '60's decks to find ones that include a tape head output.  And finding dual outputs may be even harder .... I don't know of any decks that feature that.  Strike those from your list and you will still have to eliminate at least half (probably more like two-thirds) of the remaining decks because they don't have auto-reverse.  One that I know does have it is the 1970's Teac 4070, and there are a few others as well.  

superhonestben
212 posts
 

I have owned teacs, pioneers, akai, revox and heard others to

If you like your teac, you will love Revox or Akai, they both sound MUCH better than any teac that I have heard, Teac well built though but the others sound way better.

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