Reel to Reel Options

A friend who repairs and reconditions and calibrates reel to reel machines really likes the Otari machines because of their extremely rugged and durable build (and decent sound).  But, the problem with used Otari machines is that this is the brand most often used for commercial purposes so that many on the market have much more mileage on them than consumer oriented machines (the same probably goes for Teac/Tascam machines).  I know a young man who, as a teenager, bought about a dozen Otari 5050 machines from a former books on tape outfit.  He reconditioned and sold a few, uses a few for parts and still probably has a couple lying around.  I would also bet that Akai machines could be quite good; they had a reputation for having very good and durable heads.

Welcome back to open RTR! My preferred machine in the Studer A810. The transport is precise. It betters Otari and others in the <$10,000 range. I haven’t seen the new Revox. Open RTR with tubes is costly and a pain in the ass. But oh what fun and great sound for classical and jazz.

@zygat , I have owned or own most of the machines in your list. Most are 1/4 track consumer machines. The Otari 5050 can play 1/4 track and half track. The 5050 is the most robust machine in your list. With any of them you will need to be able to refurb them yourself or find a person who can do it. New caps, new pinch rollers, alignment, etc. But once you get through all that the sound is unbeatable. 

And you can go a step further and add an outboard tube tape head playback unit. 

From that list, Otari and Revox.  Those other may only be 7.5ips.  You want a maxhine that plays 15ips.  Also look at Technics, Tascam, Studer.  Please make sure it's at least 15ips.  So many Master tapes available for sale for the first time in history.  

I’ve brought back a couple of Technics RS-1500s and a Revox B77 MkII. From a tinkering perspective the Revox is definitely easier to open up, recap, and realign. The Technics takes more patience but makes up for it with playback flexibility, since it can handle both 2 and 4 track at 7.5 and 15 ips. For me 15 ips is where the magic really comes through.

Besides a full recap, another issue you’ll often run into with R2R decks is worn heads. The good news is most of them can be relapped to play like new, and this guide walks through the process: How To Relap Tape Heads in 4 Steps • Head Relapping Guide

If you’re curious about what’s available today in terms of new releases, there are actually quite a few labels still producing R2R albums. I keep a running directory here: Reel to Reel Tapes for Sale • Worldwide Label Directory

When it comes to choosing a deck, it really depends on what you want out of the format. If your goal is to enjoy modern master tape copies, it may be worth looking for a machine that runs at 15 ips, supports IEC equalization, and plays 2-track stereo. If you’re more interested in vintage pre-recorded tapes, then a 4-track machine at 7.5 ips with NAB equalization may be better.