More than anything, I miss EE blank tape.
Reel to Reel Tape
I have an analogue setup. Although I have a CD player in the system. But everything else is an analogue. I am listening to Reel to Reel tape decks, I have a few of them, and I also have DBX 224X-DS attached. Does anyone else have similar setup? I find the DBX to be quite awesome. What's your opinion?
Showing 10 responses by orpheus10
Raul, I don't have the resources to make the comparisons you suggest; consequently, I have to be satisfied with the results in my own little laboratory. I began my "high end" journey in 1990 when there were two excellent high end salons that I spent an excessive amount of time in; that's where I learned most of what I know. My search has ended, and now I'm quite content with my present rig; the bottom line is what combination of components reproduce the music you like best. |
After all is said and done, the "quality" of the sound of an LP that has been recorded on my 2 track reel, when played back, is better, and this even goes for CD's. This "high end" thing is not about frequency extremes that are inaudible; it's about music that is audible, and that's where the reel is still "el numeral uno". |
The commonly stated range of human hearing is 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Under ideal laboratory conditions, humans can hear sound as low as 12 Hz and as high as 28 kHz, though the threshold increases sharply at 15 kHz in adults, corresponding to the last auditory channel of the cochlea. Frequency response: 30Hz to 30kHz (15 ips); That's 10K above audibility. But the bottom line can not be stated by specifications; it's all about the musical quality of the sound. |
"Logic ain't worth a squat in high end audio"; and flawed logic ain't even worth that. In regard to recording: my TT and reel are in the basement on a concrete floor; records are recorded to reel, (2 track 7 1/2, 15 is for live) and this is transported upstairs to the listening room where it is played back. Raul, when the signal from a TT goes through a top of the line ARC phono, is it degraded? When a line signal goes through a CAT preamp, is it degraded? As I stated previously, all electrolytic capacitors have been replaced with "Black Gates"; these were the best and most expensive capacitors that are no longer available. All of the transistors have been replaced with new ones from Panasonic. Raul, your tape disadvantages are fictitious: not that what you printed was false, but those are very good specifications. In RE to recording: the line level signal goes to tape in, through RR circuitry and on to the recording head, that imprints a magnetic signal on tape. This is played back by the playback head, and goes to line out. I can not count the times when I heard superior audio that defied logic; logic in the high end ain't worth two cents. http://edisontechcenter.org/MagRec.html |
Raul, in one word it's "bigger"; the signal is bigger on playback because the 2 track tape heads are bigger, that translates to "apparent" larger speakers, and more powerful and more forceful power amp. The music has not been altered in any way shape form or fashion; it's just bigger, which means you can hear more detail. The size of the heads make for a larger more forceful signal on playback. https://www.google.com/search?q=size+of+tape+recording+heads&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&... In addition, my deck has all "Black Gate" electrolytic capacitors, plus new original transistors. No, that doesn't make it better, but enables precise duplication of the original signal. Maybe, the link I provided will convey what I'm talking about. |
This does not tell the whole story; https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/technics/rs-1500us.shtml Specifications Track system: 2-track, 2-channel, stereo/monaural system Motor: 2 x reel, 1 x capstan Reel size: 5 to 10.5 inch reel Equalization: NAB Tape speeds: 3 3⁄4 7 1⁄2 15 ips Wow and flutter: 0.018% (15 ips) Frequency response: 30Hz to 30kHz (15 ips) Signal to Noise Ratio: 60dB Total harmonic distortion: 0.8% Input: 60mV (line), 0.25mV (mic) Output: 0.775V (line) Dimensions: 446 x 456 x 258mm Weight: 25kg 2 track is always better than 1/4 track; that's when you only record in one direction, but it uses twice as much tape. EE tape is the most incredible result I've ever heard; the dynamic range and resolution is like live. I only use blank tape to record my records. The playback is better than the original recording. That's because the signal has been magnified as a result of the large 2 track heads; they make the signal larger, and hence the music is larger on playback; it's as if your speakers are larger as well. While I enjoy this everyday, nobody seems to believe it; such is life. |