Open Reel Curious


I am relatively new to audiophile level listening, with a respectable SS system, streaming mainly, with some discs and vinyl in the mix as well.  But I am intrigued with open reel. Yet I am also a bit intimidated. There is clearly a learning curve regarding equipment, calibration, tape types, etc, not to mention a pretty major expense. 
 

It seems like there are only a very few places to listen and learn - Brooklyn, LA, Vancouver, BC…? Anyone know of places in Chicago or Detroit where one can go to hear high-end open reel demos and talk to knowledgeable people in person? Anyone have any advice, like “Run! Run far away!” lol. 

mattsca

Showing 2 responses by bdp24

 

By the way, Ken Kessler (long time equipment reviewer at the UK magazine Hi-Fi News & Record Review) has been writing a column for the PS Audio online Copper Magazine, in which for quite a while now he has been focusing on reel-to-reel machines and tapes. The mag is free, and is well worth checking out.

   

 

Finding open reel pre-recorded tapes is the biggest challenge. Rare and expensive, and limited in available album titles. If you can score some blank tapes with which to make your own recordings, used Revox A77's can be had at a reasonable price (I have two, a Mk.III and Mk.IV, and a stash of Maxell 7" and 10" reels of blank tapes).