Back in the day, when I was in high school..'72, I took out a $3000 loan to buy a stereo. I might have been a drug-addeled 16 yr-old, but I had my priorities straight.(I was working near full time in high school) My mom co-signed the note and I went off to buy a McIntosh 6100 integrated($600), a pair of Klipsch LaScalas($1050 unfinished), and a Tandberg 9200($1150) R2R. Cables back then..ha!..16ga lamp cord from the hardware store for about 7 cents a foot. I borrowed friends albums and recorded a ton, a ton of Maxell tapes. Needless to say, the Tandberg, was my main source. I still have the Mac. The LaScalas are long gone, but I still have the Tandberg. I went through three sets of heads on it. The last pair wore out decades ago and it sits in the basement, stored well. I don't know what to do with it. I think I checked on new heads like..30 years ago, and I found a pair for $800. I didn't bite. So it sits.
Gotta say, 60 watts from the Mac into LaScalas, in a 12x20 room, with some good hash..you could "..break on through to the other side.."
The Tandberg was a great source though. I find it..interesting..that people are starting to get re-interested in R2R. I attended the Tampa Audio Show and saw a couple there..hmmp.