Tape Project Tapes

I am a charter subscriber to the Tape Project. I am playing them back on a Technics RS1500 modified and optimized for playing back the Tape Project releases. The Technics internal electronics have been bypassed so that the tape heads directly feed a Bottlehead Seduction tape head preamp.

The Tape Project tapes use the IEC equalization curve, not the NAB. They are two track, 15 ips. Each tape consists of two 10.5 inch reels packaged in beautiful slipcases, including cover art. All charter subscribers for the first set of 10 tapes are assigned a serial number so that all tapes arrive with the same number. The Tape Project has licensed the original masters and each copy is duped from slaves in real time.

To date, I have received Tapes 1 & 2, with 3-6 on their way shortly. I do not have the vinyl versions of the two I currently have so I have not been able to do a head to head comparison against my LP playback system. That said, they are damn fine analog listening. Dead quiet, big deep soundstage, and David Alvin's voice on tape 2 (Blackjack David) just hangs in the air between the speakers. Coming releases in the first set include "Saxophone Colossus" and "Waltz For Debbie".

To learn more, check out http://www.tapeproject.com

As a follow up, I just perused EBay and saw no mention of TTP tapes for sale. Mike, Paul and Dan are still busy getting charter subscribers orders taken care of. They have yet to start selling the individual tapes. I doubt that anyone who has invested in the project thus far would want to break up a set and sell them. I would think that should that be the case, you see them here first, rather than EBay.

I agree with Ken and Rush. The ideal behind this project is to get the listener as close to what is on the master tape. In order to do so, the playback machinery must be optimized to accommodate the effort. Tape project tapes are true 2nd generation copies of the master tapes. The tape quality must be high to accommodate this. This all comes at a price. Each tape is duplicated in real time at 15 ips on 10.5 inch reels on very expensive tape. The principals involved in the project are not trying to make a lot of money, they are trying to show what is possible in quality analog playback in 2008.

Compare this to vinyl playback: Yes it is true you could produce a product at a lower speed on less expensive tape that would sound quite good on most consumer decks, just the same way that there are many quality turntable/cartridge combinations available for a reasonable sum of money that allow the listener to enjoy LPs. There are also state of the art turntables on the market for those who are fortunate enough to be able to make that kind of investment. The Tape Project is aimed at those folks who wish to enjoy tape playback that approaches the same level the ne plus ultra in vinyl does, perhaps surpasses it.

The Tape Project is a specialized effort designed to ensure everything is as good as it can be from the machines, to the quality of the raw tape, the copying process, and the packaging. In time, perhaps there may be some effort to provide tapes at a lower price tier. Each master is licensed for a limited amount of time and copies, also at great expense. It is obviously turning out to be quite successful as the people involved are doing everything they can to keep up with filling the orders for the current group of charter subscribers, all of whom feel that the investment, paid up front by the way, is well worth it. I count myself as one of those.

I have to echo a lot of what Mike has just said. I did have Doc B modify my RS1500 (which had the cosmetics and transport fully restored by Jeff Jacobs at J-Corder). I use the Bottlehead Seduction tape head pre too.

I was a late charter subscriber to the Tape Project so to date have only got the first two releases. I am still in the break-in period on the Seduction at about 25 hours, so have a way to go.

Like Mike, my perceptions of what I am hearing on the TP tapes is somewhat skewed by the fact that I am trying to compare what I am hearing based on what I hear from "that other" world class turntable, my Walker Proscenium.
I think the Walker has the edge in my system.

The tapes are a different listening experience all together. They sound nothing like digital, yet they sound unlike my tt. It is analog for sure, very quiet, but lacking the sense of air and space around the instruments that the Walker does so well. The music on TP001 and TP002 were unfamiliar to me prior to getting them, and is not really my cup of tea so it's hard to make any hard and fast comments.

I expect to be getting the next four tapes within a week or so and may be able to comment further.

Like Mike, I am an analog format freak, and hope that the Tape Project continues to release 15ips tapes for sometime to come.

The Tape Project provides an alignment tape to all subscribers as part of the package.

I am partial to the "Arnold Overtures" and "Exotic Dances From the Opera", but really enjoy "Saxophone Colossus" and "John Coltrane and Kenny Burrell" (newest release) too.

It's kind of like my dogs: hard to pick a favorite. They each have merits unique to them.