Anyone Still Listening to Prerecorded Tape?

saemark30

I picked up a few of my favorites like Moody Blues Days of Future Passed on LP but the ticks and pops annoy me and forget about lower rate digital.

Is there anyone using reel to reel or cassettes for hi fi listening?
I saw some reel to reel on that auction site but 3 3/4 ips speed is not very good.

It may be worst than latter generation cassettes using chrome and Dolby HX.

I'd be using Nakamichi tape machine so that should get the most out of cassettes.

cnh

Yeah, 7 1/2 is preferred. I have my father's old Voice of Music Reel-to-Reel and a few tapes. I also play the occasional tape or record an LP onto metal tape on an old Japanese made Technics cassette player.

But mainly I listen to CDs on a Jolida tube stage CDP for more critical listening.

cnh

[Deleted User]

Hello,
Yes, I do, quite frequently. Just like records they can run the gamut from okay to excellent. Some of the rock tapes even though recorded at 3 3/4ips can sound very good. The best sounding are the earlier 2 track tapes that were duplicated at lower speeds and very carefully made. Those tend to be classical and some jazz.
Cheers, Ken

saemark30

Which rock ones sound very good at 3 3/4?
I'm interested in buying Moody Blues and Beatles although the latter may be too expensive to try.
i have a jazz one but 4 tracks,stereo on both sides.

[Deleted User]

Well, let's see. Neil Young's "Harvest" made by Magtec in Hollywood (this is found on the rear of the box) sounds very good. While it's recorded at 7 1/2ips The Doors, "L.A. Woman" recorded by Ampex in Elk Grove Village, IL sound very good. Another one to look for is Janis Joplin's "Pearl" at 3 3/4ips sounds good.
I've heard from other collectors that the Moody Blues sounds quite nice. But to really experience what tape can offer some classical choices and jazz are recommended.
Cheers, Ken

saemark30

Which tape machine are you using Kenneth?
Do the reel recordings sound significantly better than cassettes?
I would like to pick up some Miles Davis on reel.

There are the MoFi cassettes but I have not heard or seen any.

[Deleted User]

Ah, well it depends upon the specific tape. For four track I use a recently refurbished Revox A77 that is pretty sweet sounding. For two track I switch between a Stellavox SP7, Revox PR99 and A77 HS. For the Tape Project tapes the SP7 and A77 can be used.
Well, I've not heard many of the better made cassettes (and there are some produced by Nakamichi and Advent that are excellent!) but, in general terms, pre-recorded open reel tape duplication probably had less compromises involved with mass production than cassettes. By the time cassettes became available the ultra high speed duplication process, that was being used, robbed the fidelity of the original recording.
The exception to this may have been the Deutsche Grammophon cassettes where Herbert von Karajan was involved. Also some of the L'Oiseau Lyre cassettes and the Musical Heritage Society cassettes have good reputations.
Wow, this makes me want to dust off the NAD 6300 and search eBay for some cassettes! I love the surprises that hunting for good audio can bring!
Cheers, Ken

ps, there are rare two track tapes of Miles' "Kind of Blue" that sell for upwards of $600.00 that sometimes surface. I have a nice master tape copy that sounds pretty good.

cnh

That's interesting. Most of my old R-T-R tapes are 'classical', I also have Aqualung on a reel somewhere? Voice of Music machines--not exactly high end...but consumer grade.

Does anyone know if these units, which came in two pieces, used tube amplification? I guess, I could just trek to the basement and open up the amp section. Now that my father is gone, I have most of his music equipment down there. He used it for recording his own songs.

I do remember hearing some of the tapes Ken mentions on a much nicer R-T-R back in the day and they were quite good, actually.

Thanks for the info.

cnh

BtrSound

Yes, they are remarkable. The slight hiss in the tapes really addds something to them. I am just kidding by the way. I am making fun of those people that swear records are better.

[Deleted User]

Hello cnh,
The VM-730 is a vacuum tubed deck, using 6EU7, 12AU7 (bias oscillator) 6FG6 and 6CA4 as rectifier. There is a pretty active group of VM enthusiasts who do all kinds of repair and refurbishing of those. It was probably how most people experienced stereo playback in the very early 60's.
Cheers, Ken

[Deleted User]

The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction.

cnh

Thanks for the info Ken. I might look into that, I'm pretty sure it's the model you mention and it has sentimental value, heck, it might still work!

cnh

gimpod

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction.

My new sig. Sorry Ken.

And for those that care open reel tape can be even a bigger rabbit hole than tubes. :eek:

headrott

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction.

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

I agree completely Ken! Excellent!

I own Yes' "Tales From Topographic Oceans" at 7 1/2 IPS that sounds very very nice played on my Teac X-2000R deck.

Also, I've heard the quadraphonic mix of Moody Blues' "Days Of Future Past" at 7 1/2 IPS played on my brother's RTR deck and it sounded phenominal. Absolutely stellar.

There are a few more very nice sounding ones, but I'll have to think about which ones they are......Give me a bit to think about it.

Greg

[Deleted User]

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

Well, let's see. Neil Young's "Harvest" made by Magtec in Hollywood (this is found on the rear of the box) sounds very good. While it's recorded at 7 1/2ips The Doors, "L.A. Woman" recorded by Ampex in Elk Grove Village, IL sound very good. Another one to look for is Janis Joplin's "Pearl" at 3 3/4ips sounds good.
I've heard from other collectors that the Moody Blues sounds quite nice. But to really experience what tape can offer some classical choices and jazz are recommended.
Cheers, Ken

What about Mad Dogs and Englishmen ? :cool:

[Deleted User]

Hey NAP,
That one didn't turn out too dynamic, not bad but not up with the Joplin. The "Oh, Lord!" cut sounds like she's in the room, I can even smell the Southern Comfort.
I just did some work on a Teac X2000, put in some blue LEDs and checked all the specs. It had a record/playback response flat out to 24kHz, very low distortion and low wow and flutter. The dbx circuit improved S/N results by about 10dB over the already 59dB measurement. Very impressive, to say the least.
Everybody stay dry!
Ken

schwarcw

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

I just did some work on a Teac X2000, put in some blue LEDs and checked all the specs. It had a record/playback response flat out to 24kHz, very low distortion and low wow and flutter. The dbx circuit improved S/N results by about 10dB over the already 59dB measurement. Very impressive, to say the least.

Ken

I can't wait to get the Teac back home. Here is a pic of Ken's work to install the blue LEDs.



I enjoy RTR. I have some pre-recorded tapes and as Ken noted some are better than others. I love to watch those reels turn!!

headrott

Wow, I like the way the X-2000R looks with blue LED's. I may need to install some when I get the time. Enjoy that machine Carl.

Greg

[Deleted User]

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

Hey NAP,
The "Oh, Lord!" cut sounds like she's in the room, I can even smell the Southern Comfort.
Ken

LOL, a very distinctive smell indeed. :cool: