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The dangerous world of Reel-to-Reel Tape

It feels like I re-entered the world of tape knowing full well of all the downsides, yet I  did it anyway.  I spent much of my youth glued to my dad's decks, making recordings.  As cassette and digital came of age, I always appreciated the sound of tape. 

Whether this adventure is worth it is a subjective exercise.  For folks who plop down $500-$1k on cables or those who swap gear often, tape is really not that expensive, relatively speaking.  Titles are limited though. 

The sound quality and experience is quite something.  Before jumping back into R2R, I had 4 versions of Muddy Waters' Folksinger.  Hearing Chad Kasem's firm's work on it in 15ips it's just something else.  Body, size, and presence are just different than very good vinyl and digital.  And this is with the stock reproduce board from a Revox PR99 MKIII. I can only imagine what's going to happen when I rebuild that card, put in a modern one, or run directly from the head out to a preamp. 

Maybe I'll see some of you in R2R Rehab, where I'll try to get sober from tape. 

128x128jbhiller

Showing 1 response by daveyf

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daveyf
2,835 posts
 

Some of the best sound I have heard came from a well restored Studer A820. There really is no other source besides tape that I have heard that can bring that level of realism. Problem is, and this is why I have not gone down the 'rabbit hole', the price of entry and to play is extremely high these days. If one is into vinyl ( like I am) to add tape and do an ongoing justice to vinyl as well is almost prohibitive, cost wise.

For those who can, I say you have the best of all worlds. Tape is the best source from a SQ perspective.

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