Open Reel Curious

I have made a couple of visits to United Home Audio UHA), a company that specializes in refurbishing and making their own improved electronics for R2R machines.  The most interesting demonstration involve playing a record on a very high end vinyl set up and comparing the sound to a tape recording of that same vinyl setup playing that record.  The UHA folks think that the R2R copy sounds better than the vinyl original.  I did not agree (the vinyl original sounded a bit more dynamic) but I can see why others might prefer the R2R version which was very open and airy sounding with a pleasant relaxed quality to the sound.  Of course that means the recording altered the sound, but arguably, it improves the sound.  In any case, I enjoyed the R2R sound a lot.  Since that visit UHA has gone much deeper into improving the electronics of refurbished machines; top models approach six figures.

This reminds me of an interview a magazine presented of three recording engineers.  All three agreed that high resolution digital recordings sound much closer to the sound of live microphone feeds than do the analogue R2R recording when doing instantaneous comparisons.  But, all three agreed that they liked the sound of the R2R recording more than the digital version.

My mother bought me a 99 dollar Radio Shack R to R...in the 60s...I loved recording and making tapes.I belonged to Columbua house R to R tape club...I still have them..Don't have the tape deck.I do have 2 teac decks 

I grew up listening to Capriccio Italien on a tubed Tandberg R2R through VOT’s and it would move you deeply. I own 2 Sony’s, a 756-2 (1/2 track) and a 765 1/4 track. Both record and play at 15 ips. even though I never use that speed.

I have old 2 track tapes from the 40’s that sound incredible that were found on ebay. You can still find an occasional sealed tape which can be expensive depending on the artist, usually the 1/4 tracks. There is a sealed Beatles 7.5 ips for a cool 1000 on that site now.

I use mine to create a "my tape" and record my favorite songs to listen to over and over if I choose to. It sounds as good as the vinyl and I don’t wear out my vinyl and needles (which can cost a fortune). The heads for the Sony’s last a looong time.

Cheers

Tape machines are obsolete technology.   Simple as that.  What did you think you were going to be using one for? Commercially pre-recorded tapes are hard to find, and are not as good as youʻd like.  They are dubbed at 2x speed.

I ran a Revox A77 for 30 years doing location recording.  My $150 Tascam portable digital recorder stomps all over it.  I ***GAVE*** the Revox away.

Spend your money elsewhere.  Buy concert tickets.

As above…people who do it are intrigued by the old tech, as with the users of old HMV Gramophones.