I was at the recent THE SHOW and I took that chance to listen to Reel to Reel
Well, I want one !! but my wallet said, no you can't.
growing up with Reel to Reels and TT in the 60 and 70s, this is nostalgia but at a higher level. With today's materials and technology, Reel to Reel is at a much higher level, BUT so is the price. Even if you can afford the deck, the software is 1) hard to find 2) there are not a lot of Artist recorded on that format 3) The tape itself is expensive. I cannot comment on mediocre gear as i have not heard it. All I can say is that what I heard in the show (Revox and Tanberg) is a dream to own. it's musicality and details are extra ordinary, spectacular tone and PRAT and that is from a show demo. How much more if that is in your listening room!
If you have the resources to tune up these decks, I believe you can get some of these decks off eBay and have a resource who knows to work on these decks and bring it up to snuff. an example is a Revox B-77. But after you get all these done, you still need to source out software and there is not a whole lot out there, unless you are happy with whatever is just available
As for me, I will pass.