I had a sizable stock of NOS blank reels I got out of storage last year and bought a refurbished Teac X-10M -- a two track deck capable of 15 i.p.s. I love it to death. It just sounds fantastic to my ears.
I've been dubbing LPs and 45s to 'hi-rez' (24/192) for many years, have a Nakamichi CR-7 (fantastic deck especially with metal tape, but cassette just can't beat RTR), and a Pioneer RT-707 (OK for 7.5 i.p.s. but no match for the Teac).
When it's all said and done a good tape with the Teac sounds better to my ears than anything else. A good recording on an audiophile vinyl press sounds better to me dubbed to reel than any other of the formats I listed above. They all have their place, but as the end user who's in it for the sound more than anything else, I have to say RTR is a rich and wonderful experience. Yes, it finicky, it's not convenient, I'll have to get it maintained regularly...but so what. I don't care when I get this kind of pleasure from the sound.
I've been dubbing LPs and 45s to 'hi-rez' (24/192) for many years, have a Nakamichi CR-7 (fantastic deck especially with metal tape, but cassette just can't beat RTR), and a Pioneer RT-707 (OK for 7.5 i.p.s. but no match for the Teac).
When it's all said and done a good tape with the Teac sounds better to my ears than anything else. A good recording on an audiophile vinyl press sounds better to me dubbed to reel than any other of the formats I listed above. They all have their place, but as the end user who's in it for the sound more than anything else, I have to say RTR is a rich and wonderful experience. Yes, it finicky, it's not convenient, I'll have to get it maintained regularly...but so what. I don't care when I get this kind of pleasure from the sound.