Reel to Reel tape decks
Oleschool, that Tandberg was one of the decks I lusted for, but couldn't afford it at that time; now, when you consider the cost of the best TT and cartridge, a reel is not so expensive when your aim is ultimate audio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiEdjOFhMnc&list=RDhiEdjOFhMnc#t=20 Happy listening. |
Bdp24, I guess I just got lucky when I found the Technics. They're good people to deal with; at least they were 10 years ago. So many things have changed I'm not sure about now. I'm glad you tipped me off about Revox. CJ was good people awhile back, but now they've gone crazy with the price for parts, and will not sell electrical parts. Before now, I would have considered Revox. Will they still repair them? Unless there is recent bad news about Technics, I recommend them. Enjoy the music. |
Topoxforddoc, I imagine after listening to 15 IPS master tapes, everything else sounds dull. All of us go as far as we can in regard to expense; some are even so accustomed to live, that everything else sounds dull. It's for sure you can't get any thing better at home than what you're listening to. Happy listening. |
Scar972, after I discovered how easy this deck was to work on, I called Panasonic and found that I could get any parts I wanted. The only Ckt boards I've seen of this quality were in industrial equipment; they built this deck to last, and be repaired if it didn't last. I replaced all the transistors and the capacitors with "Black Gates"; they were expensive and meant to last, but you can't get them anymore. Although I want another deck, I'll never part with this one. I'm not familiar with IEC equalization? I had a Teac that had a tape position for EE tape, and I really miss that tape. I still have one or two reels left, that are mixed up with the rest of the tapes, and I can no longer tell it by sight, but when I hear it, I know it by sound; it's spectacular. What I didn't know is the fact that you don't have to have a deck with that EE position. I wish I had bought it by the case when it was available. I'll make sure the next deck has that IEC equalization. Happy listening. |
We, "people who love tape decks" are the true music lovers. There are people who like to watch records spin around on the worlds best turntable; while some even like to go shopping for records. Tape deck people just want to listen to their favorite record, minus that cut they can't stand; all that record playing is just work that goes along with the process of transferring it to the tape deck. Now that all that disagreeable work is done, it's time for a glass of (whatever floats your boat) and watch those hypnotic reels turn so very silently, while becoming immersed in the world of music, where today's dreams of long lost loves can be relived as though it was yesterday. All of our wins and none of our loses are allowed to intrude on the perfect mood created by those silent hypnotic reels that produce the most realistic music available from one's rig. Enjoy the music. |
I must be some kind of reel to reel freak; they all look so beautiful that I want everyone I see. Now I understand why some people have so many. For sure, now is the time to buy, and it's going to take the masses forever to catch on and run the prices up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfP0u64-xGI Enjoy the music. |
Presently, I'm enjoying a new tape I just made, and recalling a story about a well heeled audiophile who could afford just about anything he wanted. This was some time ago when audiophiles were bad mouthing computer audio. Him and his club got together every week. If I remember correctly, he had "Joule Electra" amp and pre; at that time he was comparing his vinyl collection he had recently archived to the PC library, to direct from the TT. Once he discovered that he couldn't tell the difference between playing a record and listening to the computer playback, he quit spinning vinyl; instead, he selected the evening listening session from the PC library, and settled back into his listening chair to enjoy. At the next club meeting; "Well John, how did your audition with the XYZ cartridge go"? Rather than tell everyone he'd been listening to computer playback, and had not taken the time to audition "XYZ" cartridge, he faked it. I'm listening to the reel that I selected, and recorded from the PC library; it's so much easier than the old way of running back and forth from the TT to the deck. I don't think I can tell the difference between CD and LP, much less the difference between spinning a record and hearing it from the TT direct. while most of what was selected is vinyl, there are also some CD's in the mix. Just recently I posted a thread asking if others could tell the difference between TT direct, and PC playback; they answered they couldn't, and neither can I. Sometime ago, we went round and round on the PC forum about the best way to archive LP's; and "Stereophile" had articles on the subject, plus, they even selected the best computer cards for interfacing the transition from LP to PC library. There is absolutely no doubt, that if done right, you can not distinguish between listening to a record from your PC or TT. BTW, appreciate recommendations for blank tape. Enjoy the music. |
mgattmch, I know you do; I've never heard nothing but good things about that deck. But it's good that you can get another one, and blank tape is no problem, like it was for a couple of minutes; I just ordered some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7yeoisl8nA Good luck. |
I have my boxed reels stacked on shelves like records; but unlike most people, I just grab one down without even knowing what's on it. Today, the reel I pulled down had songs on it like "Ling Ting Tong" , "Barbara Ann", and "In The Still of The Night". This is music that was popular when I was in Jr. High, and High School. I was in no mood for reminiscing, but the music just drew me in. That's when I got up and checked the reel; it was "Maxell" tape, that's what made the big difference. Maybe if these reels get popular again, we'll be able to get our favorite tape. How many different brands of tape are available now, does anybody know? Happy listening. |
I thought this was very interesting for guys like us who really like reel to reel. There is a reel to reel museum in Texas; I didn't know they had anything in Texas beside the biggest rattlesnakes you ever saw. (ha ha) This link brings back a lot of memories for those who became acquainted with many different decks in years past. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOyYsg7fcvE Happy listening. |
Norman, I recall a beautiful 10 inch Crown, that was on display at the store I went to in the beginning. That was when most of the reels were the 7 inch kind; my first reel was a small Akai. Here's a big Crown that reminds me of the one that was on display. BTW, I just discovered that a 2 track will correct some room anomalies; the playback from the head is so forceful, that it corrects a left right imbalance caused by room acoustics. I get a perfect sound stage on playback from the reel with the same CD that gets a heavy to the right imbalance. I spent years trying to find the cause of that problem, until I finally decided it was the room, because everything else that could cause that problem checked out good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49rGrX4EO5g Happy listening. |
Topoxforddoc, thank you very much for that information. Since I started this thread, I've been listening exclusively to the reel, and enjoying the music more everyday. "Nina Simone" sounds so much more "Simonish"; she's in a class all by herself, and she can also play the piano. No matter who the artist is, you get so much more involved when you hear them from the reel. I quit trying to distinguish whether or not I'm listening to LP or CD because I can't tell the difference; my LP's get so little play, because I record them on PC or reel, that they have almost no record noise, and when you think about it, CD's are now "analog". We "music lovers" always need something to put new life in our hobby, and this is it. Enjoy the music. |
Here are the facts on 2017 Revox Reel soon to be out; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5TbIu27JfY http://www.analogplanet.com/content/new-revox-details-emerge#lJXImUlCKTvrbLsA.97 http://1001hifi.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-new-2017-revox.html Those are the links on what I could find. If they're coming up with a new reel, I'm sure there will be new tape, or even some of the same old tape that's good as any. I still have some EE Maxel, and listening to the playback on that at 7 1/2 IPS is entering a whole new world of playback. Originally I purchased it because it delivered high speed tape sound at low speed play; thereby giving you twice the time per reel without sacrificing any quality in regard to high end audio. Since it was for a Teac with a position for EE Tape, I didn't know it would work on any machine. Presently I use the little I have left on my Technics, and it's out of this world; I believe it could even beat the new Revox if it used old tape. Happy listening. |
I am religious in regard to degaussing; after every recording I degauss the tape heads. Recorded reels must be far enough away not to be affected. I clean tape heads with a cotton swab after every use. I have rubber cleaner for the pinch rollers; it not only cleans them, but it also keeps them new. If you only play tapes without recording, there is no need to degauss as far as I know, but you still have to clean the heads; which is also very easy. For reasons I'm unaware of, I never had an aging problem; maybe it's because I record over what's already been recorded; and the way I do this, is to first record with no signal, that erases whatever was previously on the tape; then it's like a new tape. If I failed to mention anything else that should be done, you can "Enliten" me. Enjoy the music. |
Jnovak,My best friend owned a Sony 10 inch reel to reel, when I see that reel, I think of the times we had at the parties he gave with music from the reel. Sometime we just listened to the reel; he's no longer with us and I miss him. I've got a Technichs RS 1500 2 Track, and there's a thread on reels that will put you back into the game; I'll dial it up; in the meantime, check this out; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBSWlt8Ua4I This is the RS 1500 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEKBu_dqwsM&t=820s Enjoy the music. |
