Agree with many before stated including the new tapes.
I recently took a plunge into R2R.
Ended up with a professionally and fully restored Otari mX5050. These decks are really great as they can run three speeds (3.75, 7.5 and 15 ips - slowest needs to be switched on the back; mine has an added opening so its easy). I also lucked out getting an AKAI 630DB with 20+ vintage reels, mostly TDK, Maxell (some Scotch and Fuji). Some of the tapes are excellent. The Akai was a bargain vs the Otari, but it plays very nicely and sounds great. There is a LOT of information out there and some decks from TEAC, Otari and Technics (1500, 1700 etc) are really great IF fully restored. It will cost you but you will be appreciating the format better and will enjoy your recordings tremendously.
One has to spend extra time on learning how to properly clean (frequently) the tape path, demagnetization, and investing in reels, tape (new tape comes in a pancake without reels). I prefer metal reels, which can be bought old and new but very costly.
Prerecorded tape, esp 15ips is very expensive, usually several times the price of new pressing LP.
Enjoy the ride - i am (and the R2R resurrected my cassette decks too)
I recently took a plunge into R2R.
Ended up with a professionally and fully restored Otari mX5050. These decks are really great as they can run three speeds (3.75, 7.5 and 15 ips - slowest needs to be switched on the back; mine has an added opening so its easy). I also lucked out getting an AKAI 630DB with 20+ vintage reels, mostly TDK, Maxell (some Scotch and Fuji). Some of the tapes are excellent. The Akai was a bargain vs the Otari, but it plays very nicely and sounds great. There is a LOT of information out there and some decks from TEAC, Otari and Technics (1500, 1700 etc) are really great IF fully restored. It will cost you but you will be appreciating the format better and will enjoy your recordings tremendously.
One has to spend extra time on learning how to properly clean (frequently) the tape path, demagnetization, and investing in reels, tape (new tape comes in a pancake without reels). I prefer metal reels, which can be bought old and new but very costly.
Prerecorded tape, esp 15ips is very expensive, usually several times the price of new pressing LP.
Enjoy the ride - i am (and the R2R resurrected my cassette decks too)