|
General Audio Discussion All other Audio Q & A |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Real to Reel - looking to try and want to guidance
Everyone
I was looking to try reel to reel but don’t know where to start. I checked out some used decks on EBay and at Reel to Reel Heaven. I was hoping to find something in the $500-$1000 range for the deck. I’m not sure if this is a realistic price point or not. Are there any vendors or brands I should check out? Anything I should stay away from? What should I look for? What’s the best place to purchase tapes? Thanks in advance. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I would suggest the Revox B77 in that price range, worth paying a little more for a deck that's been recently serviced.
__________________
Sonus Faber Elipsa SE | REL S/812 | Goldmund Telos 280 | EAR Yoshino 912 | Merason DAC1 | Innuos ZENith Mk3 | Clearaudio Innovation Basic + TT5 + Lyra Delos | Studer A810+A807 | Nakamichi Dragon | RDacoustic Hybrid Acoustic Diffuser |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Old B77's most certainly need a full re-cap. Unless you trust your source and know you're buying a genuinely refirb'd deck I'd stay away.
OP. You need to tell us your intended use. If you're looking to spin those expensive master tapes you're going to need a 2-track deck that has IEC eq. If you just want a casual deck, sort of record your own music, then a 4-track deck would be in order. The main brands are going to be Pioneer, Teac, Tascam, Technics, Otari, probably a couple others. Stay away from Dokorder. Studer is just about out of everyone's league these days. There are a few new manufactures, but they are insanely expensive. I'd be very, very, very skeptical of the offerings on eBay. There are so many rip-off artists on that site. Now comes the hard part, your budget. For $500 to $1000 your going to get a deck with soo many issues and problems that it wouldn't be worth the trouble. Tape has become popular again, so those of us with good quality decks aren't selling, and those with good decks for sale want real $$$. Good luck.
__________________
McIntosh MA8000; McIntosh MC1502; Canton Vento Reference 1 DC; E.A.T. E-Flat; Soundsmith Paua Mk II; Technics SL 1210 MK5; Audio Technica AT-150 MLX; Tascam BR-20; Teac X1000R; Pioneer RT-707; Oppo UDP 205; Denon DCD A-100; HP All-In-One Touchscreen Server; JRiver MC 28; Woo Audio WA6; Shure SRH 1840; SVS SB 1000; Jolida 502BRC; Jolida JD9; VPI 16.5 RCM; Wireworld Oasis 8 Speaker Cables; Audoquest Columbia 72 DBS IC's; Panamax PM-5400 (source components only) |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
If you think vinyl is a deep hole just take a gander at the Grand Canyon of reel to reel.
I love the format but just can’t justify forking over the coin to make RtR a viable source for me. For $500 to $1000 you’ll get a low to mid range deck in need of a major overhaul, or a deck that has been ‘serviced’ by an amateur.
__________________
Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I’m looking for something for master tape listening. I will not be doing any recording. While I love digital for the simplicity. I love the audio sound quality of vinyl and tape. From everything I have read and heard, good reel to reel sounds awesome.
Any place people would recommend to pick up a used refirb’d unit? |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
McIntosh MA8000; McIntosh MC1502; Canton Vento Reference 1 DC; E.A.T. E-Flat; Soundsmith Paua Mk II; Technics SL 1210 MK5; Audio Technica AT-150 MLX; Tascam BR-20; Teac X1000R; Pioneer RT-707; Oppo UDP 205; Denon DCD A-100; HP All-In-One Touchscreen Server; JRiver MC 28; Woo Audio WA6; Shure SRH 1840; SVS SB 1000; Jolida 502BRC; Jolida JD9; VPI 16.5 RCM; Wireworld Oasis 8 Speaker Cables; Audoquest Columbia 72 DBS IC's; Panamax PM-5400 (source components only) |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
What would an appropriate budget need to be?
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
It’s been awhile since I last checked, but I would look for something like an Otari MX 5050BII, Revox B77mkII, or Technics RS-1520. There may be others I’m not familiar with. They are newer decks (bit still over 30 years old) and are available with 2 Track playback heads and 15 ips. You will find prices vary from $5000 to $15000 for fully refurbished decks, depending on the extent of the work and desirability of the deck Heads should be new or lapped, all belts and idlers replaced, repro electronics refreshed or replaced with new, etc.
__________________
Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
If you go the eBay route, a Tascam BR-20 is a great deck. Superb tape handler. I got mine for a grand 12 years ago. If you can score one for a sub 3K price grab it. You'll probably need to send it in for a full service, but we can talk about that when the time comes. The Otari's are really good decks too. There used to be a bunch of them for sale cheap a few years back, but like I said before, tape has become popular again, so prices have skyrocketed.
__________________
McIntosh MA8000; McIntosh MC1502; Canton Vento Reference 1 DC; E.A.T. E-Flat; Soundsmith Paua Mk II; Technics SL 1210 MK5; Audio Technica AT-150 MLX; Tascam BR-20; Teac X1000R; Pioneer RT-707; Oppo UDP 205; Denon DCD A-100; HP All-In-One Touchscreen Server; JRiver MC 28; Woo Audio WA6; Shure SRH 1840; SVS SB 1000; Jolida 502BRC; Jolida JD9; VPI 16.5 RCM; Wireworld Oasis 8 Speaker Cables; Audoquest Columbia 72 DBS IC's; Panamax PM-5400 (source components only) |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Everyone
Thanks for the info and responses. I didn’t realize the expense required to dip my toe in the pool. I keep seeing used decks for $500-2,000 so I thought I was in the right ball park. I will keep my eye out for some of the decks everyone recommended to see if I can find a deal. $5,000 to try it out is a little steep. |
|
|
Audio Aficionado Sponsors | |