THE BEST SOUNDING FORMAT (part I): 4 Track Reel to Reel Tape & Recorders

TAPE! The best sounding format in hi-fi music / audio reproduction. Period. Nothing is better than tape. This is the first video on a series dedicated to reel to reel tape and tape recorders. This first video is dedicated to the lower section in terms of quality and fidelity, 4 tracks tapes at 3.3/4 or 7.1/2 inches per second (IPS) or centimeters per second (CM/S) speed. We also explore how to correctly reproduce these tapes and how to pick the best recorders.
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[TheTruth-dmwd]

Great video. As I entered my 40's, I started to revisit the music formats I enjoyed in the past. Within the last 2 years got the vinyl setup, cassette tape and looking into reel to reel. I really enjoy the interactive experience with those formats that are not available with digital formats.

Thanks again for the information!

[lazycalm]

I still have my 1974 Akai 4000DS and it still works perfectly even in 2020. The sound quality is outstanding! and the reliability speaks for itself. Did Akai imagine it would last well over 40 years in 1974? Built like a tank and to a standard not a price!

[dudleyrathborne]

Love your walk down memory lane . In 1978 I bought a TEAC - 2300SD . In 1979 I bought a TEAC - 3340 -S . They served me well until 2013 when the motor bearings dried up and seized . In between those years I had worn out the gaps on a few channels .So all 4 heads were replaced . The Memorex, Basf, TDK, Sony, Maxell and Scotch 3M tapes where the ones I used and still have . When you buy the best tapes the binder never wears out . I can't say the same for the 456 Grand Masters of Ampex . Those binders turned to glue and properly buggered everything up . I had invested heavily due to the claims made by Ampex Corporation . In the end I lost my shirt in that fiasco . I now use Teac cassette decks . Not the same band for the buck, but pretty fine sound for a 68 year old . Yours truly Rathborne

[bobzwol]

Thanks for taking the time to put this together! I was an avid reel-to-reel collector in the 70's.I have plenty of Ampex & Columbia tapes at 7 1/2. I still have 2 TEAC & 1 Dokorder machines which I haven't touched in years. It's time for eBay. Thanks again for putting this together!

[realjaxon]

I was gifted a 1966 Teac A-1500 Reel to Reel a few decades ago. It was gathering dust in my garage until recently. I'm cleaning it up, and I'm planning to use it again.

[rusticagenerica]

Paper never died. Vinyl is coming back. REEL 2 REEL WILL BE BACK !!!! Calligraphy is back. Woodworking is back. Screw the fake new trends that only are designed with planned obscolescence in mind !!!

[mukeshparmar]

Its a great joy and suprise to so many reel to reel tapes to gather, never seen such a collection in my life, must thanks to the people who has done this

[fredmccarroll]

I have a Pioneer RT-1020L machine that works beautifully! Back in the mid70s I owned a Pioneer RT-1050 two track. I miss that machine.

[nomorebushz]

I have a Technics 2-Track, AND an Otari MX-5050, AND a TEAC A3340S.
I’m an Oboist/Guitarist.
Dad was a professional Pianist.
Tape! What a big warm beautiful sound!!!!

[larryshaver]

I agree, reel to reel is much more like a live performance than nearly every other format

[TheSoundrookie]

It's worth mentioning that the continued development of cassette decks was imperative, but even at it's peak the format still never became as good as reel to reel.

[swinde]

I have a Revox A-77 that still works beautifully, purchased in 1974.

[TB]

It always makes me smile when you say typology. Love it 💗

[tiberiu_nicolae]

You sure love the word "typology". Very educative video btw.

[bruceallen]

When I was a kid a friend of mine introduced me to Reel to Reel. His brother was in Vietnam and had brought home a couple of machines from Japan. He still has them and they have been treated very well. I don't remember brands or capabilities.

[jeremytravis]

I used to be the buyer and general manager of a store in central London called Teletape. We specialised it tape recorders and tapes.
We used to import prerecorded reel to reel tapes from America and we also sold the machines to play them.
Over time prerecorded reel to reel tapes fell out of favour with the introduction of high end cassette recorders like Nakamichi.
A lot of people would buy the vinyl records and make cassette tapes from the records and settle for that.

[TaylorBlack]

I recently got a TEAC A-2300SX for next to nothing. It's in almost perfect condition! It came with a NOS sealed reel, BASF LP35. I swear, unwrapping the cellophane on a 40+ year old tape is surreal.

[Abruzzo]

Lots of great decks out there. Tandberg makes some great ones.

[blackwaterdogs]

I am also a fan of tape....I currently have 2 Pioneer RT-1020s, a Pioneer RT-707, and a TEAC X-1000R (w/dbx). Also a couple of high-end cassette decks, a Pioneer CT-F1250, and a TEAC R888-X. Love `em all ! :-) The best-quality pre-recorded R2R tape in my collection is "Vivaldi`s Four Seasons", with Lorin Mazel directing the Orchestra National de France, Sound quality is incredible. Thanks for sharing your videos !

[jmfloyd]

I have 12 machines in my stable. Yes... I love tape!