2. analog
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Why no interest in reel to reel if you're looking for the ultimate sound?

Wondering why more people aren't into reel to reel if they're looking for the ultimate analog experience? I know title selection is limited and tapes are really expensive, but there are more good tapes available now than ever before.
People refer to a recording as having "master tape quality",  well you can actually hear that master tape sound through your own system and the point of entry to reel to reel is so much more affordable than getting into vinyl.  Thoughts? 
scar972

Showing 6 responses by sdrsdrsdr

sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
@kgbspy 

Analog, whether tape or vinyl,  has a flaw of noise or hiss. Digital is quiet but  has the flaw that it doesn’t sound as good as analog. So many of us accept the noise and learn to tune it out to have the more superior sound quality.
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
If I could buy those $500 tapes for $100, I’d be all over this. Even though that’s way more than I’d pay for a record. I do own a B77 but no prerecorded tape so it’s not used much.
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
I have a Mcintosh mx100z preamp. It has a tape head input. I assume this could be used. But I’m confused as what it was meant for in its day. Were people going direct out of their decks back in the 60’s. And did they have direct output option back then?
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
@terry9 


I have read that this is a tape pre head amp input  and not just a labelled line input. It is also labeled tape head and not tape input. It is also positioned along with the mm input. I think the Marantz 7 preamp might have this too. Watch the “PNWAS  tape meeting with Ki Choi” on YouTube. He talks of this. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TY6V5AahDU0

This guy probably knows as much as anyone about reel to reel.
 
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
@orpheus10 

Not sure how this is relevant here but I must say  that I fully agree. 
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
I never thought about the AC being cleaner. No wonder my system has sounded so good the last couple of months. 
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