Reel to Reel decks

The best sounding source must be master tape, the best sounding recorded tape in market is the third copies from the master tape like Tape project's product and I don't know how many generations from the master were those before 1970's 4 track 7.5ips tapes but if you have a good machine they still sound better than vinyl but hard to keep in good condition, so if you looking the top sound quality in play back, then create your own master tape, buy a pro machine like Studer(price are really bargain today) and a pair pro Mic with tube pre amp record live music will have a perfect sound in play back

Hi Andy we are not pro just for fun still a lot to learn, We did used two systems in the same Mic and amp in the same time digital and analog in recording. result in best of cause is master tape but the CD recorded after from the master tape still better than the direct recorded in the same digital recorder (Tascam), maybe my play back system are good for analog more than digital (all tube amps in 4 ways horn system) tape recorder of cause the most important in recording but Mic and pre amp also change the level of quality even the Mic's cable too, really a lot of things for try and learn!

Hi Andy, although I am not pro but I learned some from the pro , if you have 1/2" tape then better use as the master, store in reverse condition (fast forward first and record and store, time to play back same fast forward first and play, that will keep tape better for longer), for more copies, dub from the master to a dub master in a 1/4 , in making copies better dub in same speed (you can use fast speed for less time but in quality down a little bite ) those small sound quality different can be notice only by higher level play back system or by people's individuality. try more different things to do in recording for to get the answers maybe we can as good as the pro's doing sometime

Digital technology is doing successfully in vision and communication, when CD was doing great because at that time most people listen to cassette tape and low level vinyl system in solid state amp, but after people found out CD with tube was much better then tube gear came back, later high level vinyl system with tube amp can beat most of CD so that is why most of the high end market full of vinyl system now. reel to reel machine is no more on production now, a pro machine like Studer is very bargain in price even less than a small mid level cartridge but most machine in transistor amp, now people try to play with tube again, I believe this will be top of all in sound quality, the only problem is the source, tape your own is one of the way

The best is 15/ 2 track, but not too many soft wear to choose tape project or record your own, next 7.5/ 2 track, you still can get some pre-recorded tapes from E-bay, sound recording quality very good but 30 to 40 years old stuff depend how it keep. 7.5/4 track, more tapes in the market, good sound as vinyl's sound. 3.75/4 track, still better than CD

Studer A810 is a very popular model it come out from radio station or studio mostly, this gear look like a digital machine more than a analog one it has a digital CPU to control the whole thing, but make sure the built in recharge battery still work, that is the power supply for the CPU after switch off, price will be very bargain compare to it's golden time

Hi Andy
I also did modification on a Revox PR99, just changed all the coupling cap to Solen fast cap about 10 caps out-put change to monitor out and a CCIR/NAB switch that can play Tape Project's tape,three years ago, with very good result, of cause there are no room for those big caps, I had took off all the record PCB to get room, I will show pictures later
tony ma