To the OP’s question...I was not an “audiophile” as a teenager in the 70’s but became a big cassette fan that continues to this day. Almost all recording at that point was vinyl that was played on a Pioneer Supertuner in my car or on my home system. I didn’t have enough money to buy all vinyl in high school or college but benefited from taping LPs of my friends. Today I own a Nak CR7-A and a Nak BX-300, both beautifully rebuilt by Willy Hermann. Tapes recorded literally 40+ years ago and certainly the ones recorded in the late ‘80s thru today on metal tapes sound fabulous. Not quite as good as vinyl but awfully darn good. Case in point...I recently recorded 40+ of the Blue Note Jazz reissues (many at 45 RPM) that sound great on metal tapes that were new 30+ years ago. No way I would invest the $ to buy all the vinyl but still enjoy via recording my friend’s collection. With 1000+ cassettes and 3000+ LPs, I am very content.
