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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 2 responses by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,224 posts
 

All I can say is that IMHE, with modern digital recordings, High Res digital is superior to analog R2R. I am being given an old Nagra portable deck. I expect it will be more of a display item than anything. It is a beautiful thing, precision to the max.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,224 posts
 

@mikelavigne 

Nice that we agree on something. I do not expect I will use the Nagra for anything but display.

I do not have any recent experience with tape machines. I did at one time own a Revox A77. However the outlet I was affiliated with did live recordings of classical and folk music with a Studer deck which I had loads of experience with and we used an HQD system to play the recordings back. Some of them were actually released. From a sonic perspective at the time you could do no better. A good digital recording on my current system is superior in every way. There is far less distortion and and superior bass. The biggest problem with modern digital recordings is the compression used which SUCKS. This is the main reason I like certain older vinyl recordings better and this might make certain prerecorded tapes better. But, with identical uncompressed recordings digital will win every time unless you like listening to distortion which many people do. Unfortunately, that distortion also produces a less vivid image. 

I am very comfortable with this assessment to the point where I have no plans to purchase another tape machine. The value in it is awful and I would rather spend the money on music. The best of them are wonderful machines but like Idler turntables are a thing of the past and IMHO belong in museums. On the other hand I drive an old 911 which in no way can keep up with a modern 911, but it has way more character and is much more fun to drive. So, I understand the attraction to old tape machines. If that is your thing and you have the room, Enjoy. He who dies with the most machines wins!

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