Sorry i'm late to the party here; i am a Charter subscriber to 'The Tape Project'......and have 6 of their releases so far.
i am a format junkie; i had always heard that however much i thought vinyl was the best format that master tapes could go to another level. up till now; there had been no way for one to 'legally' aquire top level 15ips master dubs. finally; 'The Tape Project' offered top level RTR software......which then motivated me to finally jump in.
back in High School; my first 'stereo' was a Wollensack RTR machine.....which i very much enjoyed. i think RTR machines are very cool, however they sound.
i've now purchased 4 RTR machines; i possess 2 of them; a completely refurbished ATR-102 which is stock; and a Technics RS-1500; which is very good condition but still stock.
i also own a Studer A-820; which has been fully gone thru by Studer guru Fred Thal; Fred is installing some custom output electronics on this and 'hopefully' he will deliver it to me and set it up in my room 'shortly'. i have never seen this deck.
i intended to have Doc B. rework the stock RS-1500 and add his Bottlehead repro electroinics. then a couple of weeks ago i was offered a Tim deParavincini modified RS-1500; so i purchased it. it is in route from the U.K. now. i still want Doc B. to do the work on my stock RS-1500; but i blew my budget with the dPv deck; so i am in negotialtions with SWMBO.
the Tape Project tapes are very very good. played thru the stock RS-1500 they are on a performance level likely slightly below my tt; maybe equal to a good tt. played thru the stock ATR-102 they are a few levels better; now they are different but more similar to my tt. they don't have the dynamics or do space as well; but the world class rock solid transport of the ATR does yeild a rock solid base to the music which approaches the Rockport if not quite as good. RTR tape has a continuousness which is very special; and no clicks or tics. overall; the Rockport is better......but then the Rockport pretty much kills most other tt's too.
i own about 100 7 1/2ips commercially recorded RTR tapes, of which 10 or so are 2-track, and another 10--3 and 3/4 ips tapes. a few of the 7 and 1/2 ips tapes are pretty good; but none approach the Rockport tt level of performance. personally; i would have zero interest in any 7 and 1/2 ips tapes as they can't reach 'very good' vinyl performance and would cost more with far fewer software choices. the 15ips tapes have the potential to be as good as there is. not to say that others may not desire 7 and 1/2ips.
i must qualify my RTR perceptions by saying that stock output electronics on these RTR decks is a serious drawback compared to what is used by my vinyl. i plan on upgrading the ATR and RS-1500 output electronics; and the Studer and dPv will both have top level output electronics; so until i have those units and the other's upgraded my take on the performance comparisons is preliminary.
my agenda is to eventually choose which of my 4 RTR decks i prefer and then likely sell the others; i want tape in my system permanently but there will never be enough top level software. hopefully; 'The Tape Project' will continue for 4 or 5 years and i will end up with 40 or 50 wonderful 15ips tapes.....but i have 4000 shiney digital discs and 8000 Lps.
i am a format junkie; i had always heard that however much i thought vinyl was the best format that master tapes could go to another level. up till now; there had been no way for one to 'legally' aquire top level 15ips master dubs. finally; 'The Tape Project' offered top level RTR software......which then motivated me to finally jump in.
back in High School; my first 'stereo' was a Wollensack RTR machine.....which i very much enjoyed. i think RTR machines are very cool, however they sound.
i've now purchased 4 RTR machines; i possess 2 of them; a completely refurbished ATR-102 which is stock; and a Technics RS-1500; which is very good condition but still stock.
i also own a Studer A-820; which has been fully gone thru by Studer guru Fred Thal; Fred is installing some custom output electronics on this and 'hopefully' he will deliver it to me and set it up in my room 'shortly'. i have never seen this deck.
i intended to have Doc B. rework the stock RS-1500 and add his Bottlehead repro electroinics. then a couple of weeks ago i was offered a Tim deParavincini modified RS-1500; so i purchased it. it is in route from the U.K. now. i still want Doc B. to do the work on my stock RS-1500; but i blew my budget with the dPv deck; so i am in negotialtions with SWMBO.
the Tape Project tapes are very very good. played thru the stock RS-1500 they are on a performance level likely slightly below my tt; maybe equal to a good tt. played thru the stock ATR-102 they are a few levels better; now they are different but more similar to my tt. they don't have the dynamics or do space as well; but the world class rock solid transport of the ATR does yeild a rock solid base to the music which approaches the Rockport if not quite as good. RTR tape has a continuousness which is very special; and no clicks or tics. overall; the Rockport is better......but then the Rockport pretty much kills most other tt's too.
i own about 100 7 1/2ips commercially recorded RTR tapes, of which 10 or so are 2-track, and another 10--3 and 3/4 ips tapes. a few of the 7 and 1/2 ips tapes are pretty good; but none approach the Rockport tt level of performance. personally; i would have zero interest in any 7 and 1/2 ips tapes as they can't reach 'very good' vinyl performance and would cost more with far fewer software choices. the 15ips tapes have the potential to be as good as there is. not to say that others may not desire 7 and 1/2ips.
i must qualify my RTR perceptions by saying that stock output electronics on these RTR decks is a serious drawback compared to what is used by my vinyl. i plan on upgrading the ATR and RS-1500 output electronics; and the Studer and dPv will both have top level output electronics; so until i have those units and the other's upgraded my take on the performance comparisons is preliminary.
my agenda is to eventually choose which of my 4 RTR decks i prefer and then likely sell the others; i want tape in my system permanently but there will never be enough top level software. hopefully; 'The Tape Project' will continue for 4 or 5 years and i will end up with 40 or 50 wonderful 15ips tapes.....but i have 4000 shiney digital discs and 8000 Lps.