The $18k machine just looks good to me. It isn’t something I will pursue. My unit, without cables, cost the same $850 an Eversolo DMP-A6 cost. I bought that just hear it. I don’t think one would have to spend $1000 to get a Reel to Reel to get a taste. I didn’t.
Timm, the reel to reel tape is one quarter inch wide. If you divide that into two for two tracks that’s an eighth inch per track. If you divide it by four, plus gaps around each track, you end up using less than half the amount of tape for each track. Obviously two track should sound noticeably better. Higher speeds use much more tape and that sounds better still. 15ips (inches per second) means 15 inches of tape are used for each second of a recording. You don’t get into Reel to Reel to save money. Quite the contrary.
I think you might want to get over the fact that tape devices have output level controls. Every tape deck I have ever owned has them. It is a feature, not a bug.
Also, I believe it is extremely unlikely I will ever make my own recordings. Compilation tape perhaps, but Roon makes it much easier to do that so why bother?
I agree with what you say about me Al!! and yah before this thread started I didn’t understand 2 track from 4 track … what that meant. Was just wondering if anyone had any real world experience on 4 track recording vs 2. I’m all in on 2 track playback if I were to go in on a 500 dollar tape. But 90+% are equalized using NAB -while these analog sounds tapes are IEC. So going into it - a 2 track recording only gives you up to 48 min / tape at 15 ips. Maybe I can live w that or go down to 7ips. I agree w everything you say - I’m just talking out loud as these are the things I learned in the last week.
Then I read Xdeck is optimized for Scotch tape. Whaaa? There is obviously a lot I don’t understand here
The one I provide the link to is a one of a kind extreme machine. It has many, many, many custom parts. Much of it for appearance sake. It should be considered unusual.
I know Al. Just different leagues. Still fun to ogle at this stuff. If I get closer to a purchase and become suitably educated i could start a thread perhaps. My guess is there is a solid contingent of folks doing R2R. The majority of which are closer to 707 than full custom Revox. Your post about the 1k range looks pretty accurate. Thank you…
I had a friend in high school that bought an Akai deck (late 70s) just to record LPs so he could listen without having to flip the record (the Akai had auto reverse, which required an aluminum strip put on the tape).
He meticulously recorded a few dozen LPs and made detailed track notes for the tape boxes. Were he a scientist documenting an amazing discovery, he couldn’t have been more careful.
The result was that he’d degraded the LPs, because no transfer can be perfect, and listened to not a single one of them. Ever.
No interest in recording but did get a interesting response from a local shop whom ive used to help me with a previous McIntosh amp issue…
Hello Michael,
RT-707 is a good unit we have one for sale currently for $990. It is fully serviced and ready to go. Higher end three motor units are best with brands like Pioneer, Teac/Tascam, Akai, Revox, Technics are all good options. Stay away from Sony especially the cheap ones. Let me know what you decide.
So I used to tape a lot. Am I the only one here interested in that aspect? I’m curious as to what it does to a digital recording. Like everything - things will take on the attributes of the media. I’m wondering if the tape - might make digital better? Right I know the argument. But in practice… things are never quite so black n white.
So if he never listened to them…. Uhhh. Ok I get your drift. Look recording is a learned process. Tape makes a big difference in my experience. I could get cassettes ‘close’ to lp - to the point of I didn’t care. And that was at 1.75 ips I do believe??? I used Maxell XL UDII. I also used their metal tape. TDK were second …and the rest fahgetaboutit. Reel to reel was another level I could not afford at the time.
I could get cassette copies close, too. In the late 70s with a midrange Nakamichi deck, listening through a pioneer SA-6500 and New Advent speakers. Oh, and the turntable was rubbish as was the cartridge. Sounded good in my car vs pre-recorded though.
and yah before this thread started I didn’t understand 2 track from 4 track … what that meant. Was just wondering if anyone had any real world experience on 4 track recording vs 2. I’m all in on 2 track playback if I were to go in on a 500 dollar tape. But 90+% are equalized using NAB -while these analog sounds tapes are IEC. So going into it - a 2 track recording only gives you up to 48 min / tape at 15 ips. Maybe I can live w that or go down to 7ips. I agree w everything you say - I’m just talking out loud as these are the things I learned in the last week.