Reel to reel deck -Talk me in or out of buying


I can't help myself. I feel like an addict. I really, REALLY want to buy a reel to reel tape deck. But why? I don't own any reels. Can a case be made for buying a deck in this digital age? I'm salivating over a Revox g36 tube unit.

I'm tearing myself to pieces over here. HELP!
kublakhan

Showing 1 response by mario_b

Kublakhan,
Go-4-it. And Go-2-it. I’ve been playing Reel-to-Reel tapes for 40 years. My playing time is 5% cd, 45% vinyl and 50% RtR tape. I buy decks, fix ‘em and get my friends reeling. TEAC as a company actually still supports its decks in the field. I have 50-year-old tapes that are in excellent shape. I’ve had 20-year-old (acetate) tapes fall apart in my hands. There’s a huge base of RtR users on Audio Karma.

Years before vinyl went stereo, studios were producing what some say were the pinnacle of analog – the two-track stereo tape. These gems were recorded at playing speed (no high speed duping) directly from masters to banks of recorders on an excellent media base. They are luxuriant in their richness. You hear everything in all frequency ranges. If you’re a patient buyer you can snag ‘em occasionally for under $15. (2-track King & I went for $207 two weeks ago – sheeesh!)