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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 rickderuyter

rickderuyter
17 posts
 

I need an r2r rehab……

I tried to post a pic. Two otaris: mtr 10 and 12. The 12 is recent to copy and trade.

buying tape is like scoring drugs from a new dealer: its easy to get burned.

but once you do…..

i now have a friend teaching me long distance. Fluke meters, Oscilloscope, oscillator. A lot of learning but fun.

if you have a lot of disposable income it is easier with tapes at $500 a piece and techs and maintenance adding up quickly.

it is more hands on by a mile than vinyl.

The sound, call it a different coloration, call it what you will, i have compared mediums, and if the music was originally recorded to tape and you have a low generation numbered copy, then there is no better. Period. 
 

Self built, modified for nab and iec, phono preamps are a year or so away. 
sweet, sweet, madness it is.

 

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