[Minn Mark]

I'm interested in exploring RTR tape and would appreciate some advice: anyone suggest a good deck to start with? Sources for new/used tape?

For example, on Audiogon, there is a mint TEAC A-3300 SR, asking $450.  Is this a good deck to start with?


Any help or advice appreciated.  PS- I have cassette decks so am familiar with that; want to explore analog with reel tape.

Thanks,

Mark

[bacobits1]

I have had way back when they were popular, the TEAC A3300SR, TEAC X2000RB, Technics 1520US, all 10" R-R, all going up in price when new and probably used. I have had some 7" decks too. The TEAC A3300SR is a pretty good sounding deck. The "A" was the America designation if I recall. The "R" for auto reversing. I liked the Technics the best. The sound was pretty close to analog vinyl.
You also had Dolby and DBX noise reduction schemes. Some of the Poineer RT series and higher Akai  were better ones too. Nice to have any Tascam deck or an Otari too. How about a Revox B77?

I got out of R-R because of the tape deterioration problems. The tape would oxidize after time, even in normal storage, all brands especially 3M, and no matter what you did it would squeal passing the heads of course transferring that to the speakers. I don't know if this has been remedied at all. I also don't know where now to buy 10" reels of tape.

Not to discourage you, but are you sure you want to get into this? R-R's are big heavy and expensive, and expensive to fix. Big fun though, I enjoyed it until I had to replace all the vinyl that was on the bad tape. Approximately 20+ reels with 4-5 albums per reel at 71/2 speed. A 15ips speed deck would use too much tape, these were most of the time 1/2 track mastering decks.

D

[Wayner]

OK Mark. Some RTRs have made it thru the test of time, while others not so well. It seems that most decks that were belt driven or had lots of belts, where obviously troubled with worn/broken or stretched out belts. Tape head wear is another issue as well as the rubber pinch roller.

Decks that I think stand the best chance at being usable in this day an age are: ReVox, Technics direct drives, some Teacs, TASCAM, Tandbergs, and perhaps some Sony.

Marantz did make a couple models if memory serves me, but, like their cassette decks, didn't fare well.

If I were to get one, it would be either one of the 3 I listed, ReVox, Technics DD, or a Tascam.

Now there are 1/4 tracks and 1/2 tracks, some that are 3 3/4-7 1/2ips, some 7 1/2-15ips, some 15 ips.
Some with built in Dolby B, others without. 1 mil tape is recommended.

With a 1/4 track, you can record in stereo and get 1 album on each side of the tape. The tape heads usually use tracks 1 and 3 for one direction and 2 and 4 for the other. So, you can play one side thru, flip the tape around and play the other side.

1/2 tracks are only 2 tracks on the tape, so you can only get one LP on the tape. If you were to flip the tape around, the music would be backwards.

Hence, on the LP Face the Music, by Electric Light Orchestra, side 1, first song (Fire on High), you will hear backwards recorded spoken words. With a half track, simply flip the tape around and hear: "The music is reversable, but time is not, turn back, turn back, turn baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack", which is way cool.

Most audiophiles record at 7 1/2 ips, so on a 7" reel of tape, you will have about 45 minutes of recording time per side (one LP). If your machine is 3 3/4 ips, you can get 2 LPs per side, but the tape hiss will increase.

At 15 ips, you will get one side of an LP on it (7"), and usually those decks have the capacity of 10 1/2" reels (which you can get the full LP on one side).

You can still get new tape, but it's spendy.

As the other poster commented, are you sure you want to get into this?

Wayner 

[rofo]

I would look for a Revox B-77 or PR-99, the 99 being my 1st choice I see then on eBay. Be prepared to be able to do your own repairs and setup. Know how to demag and clean heads and tape path, set the head asmith and zenith, get a test tape (I just through a few out a couple of years ago) and everything else listed by the other posters.

Are you sure you reelly reelly want to do this? Perhaps just stay with your cassettes.

[SteveFord]

I have an Otari MX5050-BII which came out of a radio station and it sounds really nice.  If you can get a good tape at 7.5 ips the sound quality is better than vinyl (no pops) and makes CDs sound pretty cruddy by comparison.
That's the major downside - finding good tapes - plus they're a bit of a PITA to use.
If you do go this route, avoid the 3 3/4 ips tapes if you can.
Used tape?  I hate to say it but eBay which is a crap shoot for just about everything.

[midfi]

I have a X-1000 w. DBX and X-2000RB and I love them both.  I bought both when I was in Germany in the 80's and they are near and dear to my heart.  I'm trying to score a Akai 747 as we speak...

[midfi]

oh, and this is one of the places that I get my blanks from...   http://www.oaktreevintage.com/Reel-To-Reel_Tape.htm

[Listens2tubes]

I have an Otari MX5050BII-2 in my system. I chose this deck for it's versitility and reliability. It will record/play 2 track and play 4 track tapes at 3 3/4, 7 1/2 or 15 ips. It is a 3 motor machine - no belts. With a  digital counter. It is a great sounding machine and fun to use. 

[Soundminded]

I'm interested in exploring RTR tape and would appreciate some advice: anyone suggest a good deck to start with? Sources for new/used tape?

For example, on Audiogon, there is a mint TEAC A-3300 SR, asking $450.  Is this a good deck to start with?


Any help or advice appreciated.  PS- I have cassette decks so am familiar with that; want to explore analog with reel tape.

Thanks,

Mark

I have a 3300S2T which was converted from 2 to 4 track and it was an excellent tape deck. I haven't even taken it out of its box since 1985 so I don't know how well it stood up. These decks were produced in Japan and were among the best of their era for a consumer level. Teac was once called "American Concertone" which is where the AC in Teac comes from. They have a pro division called Tascam and it wouldn't surprise me if they sold similar decks for professional use. Some others to consider are Dokorder and Revox. But the king of them all was Crown. Believe it or not, before Crown made amplifiers, they made tape decks. The one you want is the 800 series which I think innovated solenoid controls. I think the SX electronics were preferable to the CX electronics but both were excellent. They were the best "prosumer" decks on the market by far. They were designed to military specifications and would survive a parachute drop in their own cases. Other top notch equipment came from Otari and Ampex professional line.

Consider your needs. Do you need 10 inch reel capabilities? 15ips as well as 7? 3 3/4ips? 4 track or 2? I haven't checked in awhile but I don't know whether or not it's easy to get open reel tape anymore.

[Wayner]

My 37 year old ReVox has been put into the studio as part of one of the AVA systems. It has never been serviced and operates like new.

 

Wayner

[edriz]

This is actually my first post. Personally, I love the Pioneer Decks. Either the RT-707 and RT-909 of which I have both. Pioneer built these decks like tanks and they sound stunning. Both are auto reverse. For me, I use 7" reels to record 2 vinyl LPs and the 10.5" to record 4, sometimes 5 LPs. The 707's can be found really reasonably prices and as for tape, they are easy to get, even NOS but do tend to be pricey. A little patience and you can and will find good deals. Nothing like the sound of a good tape.

Edriz

[Old timer]

I'd buy the best sounding professional use deck that you could afford.