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A Guide to Buying Used Tape Machines

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  • A Guide to Buying Used Tape Machines

    Click on top line of the link below.

    Quick guide on buying your first reel-to-reel tape machine.

    null
    The sound of analogue tape is still revered, but acquiring and maintaining your own machine presents a unique set of challenges.
    Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
    Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
    ________________________________________

    -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
    -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
    -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
    -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
    -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
    -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
    -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
    -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
    -Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
    -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

  • #2
    Thanks, Myles, useful for me!
    Kronos Sparta -> Trinity Phono -> Trinity Pre -> CH Precision A1 -> Magico S7s

    Comment


    • #3
      One can also ask many tapeheads reeling around here.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Ki Choi View Post
        One can also ask many tapeheads reeling around here.
        And hopefully more to come!
        Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
        Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
        ________________________________________

        -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
        -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
        -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
        -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
        -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
        -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
        -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
        -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
        -Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
        -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by MylesBAstor View Post

          And hopefully more to come!
          Where's Andre?

          Comment


          • #6
            I have a Technics 1506 which I bought modified from Bottlehead, including a BH Prepro and a neat wireless remote, bought in 2009 for the Tape Project tapes. I later bought used a very nice Otari MX5050 BIII which I found locally on the internet - so I got a chance to try it out before buying. I had the heads relapped by JRF. I still have my old Akai GX747dbx machine I bought new 35+ years ago. It is a reversing machine, but only 1/4 track and 7.5/3.75 ips - with not so great solid state electronics of that era.

            Larry
            Analog- VPIClassic3-3DArm,Lyra Skala+MiyajimaZeroMono, 2xAmpex ATR-102,Otari MX5050B2,Merrill Trident Master Tape Pre,Herron VTPH-2A
            Dig Rip-Pyramix,IzotopeRX3Adv,Mykerinos,PacMicroModel2
            Dig Play-mchNADAC, LampiHorizon, Roon, HQP, Oppo105
            Electronics-Doshi Pre,CJ MET1mchPre, Cary2A3monoamps
            Speakers-AvantgardeDuosLR,3SolosC,LR,RR
            Other-2x512Engineer/Marutani Symmetrical Power, AudioDiskVinylCleaner, Scott Rust Interconnects,
            Music-2000R2Rtapes,50TBrips

            Comment


            • #7
              An interesting article, but it can give an amateur a false idea he can pick a tape recorder just looking around based on visual inspection. IMHO, the most critical part of the machine is just the mechanics, responsible for wow and flutter and very difficult to check properly without the appropriate tools. Problems in this zone can be very hard to service. Most of the time the heads can be relapped and aligned for for little money - a much easier job than the mechanics.

              The reel to reel tape is a precision machine, not a decorative instrument that plays tunes. In order to justify its existence in a system it must be performing excellently - people who do not have the expertise to check them should buy from a knowledgeable and serious dealer.
              My opinions rely on listening mainly to acoustical, non amplified music. I do not care about electronic music or listening to rock at stadium levels, but I enjoy Mahler and Shostakovitch.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by microstrip View Post
                An interesting article, but it can give an amateur a false idea he can pick a tape recorder just looking around based on visual inspection. IMHO, the most critical part of the machine is just the mechanics, responsible for wow and flutter and very difficult to check properly without the appropriate tools. Problems in this zone can be very hard to service. Most of the time the heads can be relapped and aligned for for little money - a much easier job than the mechanics.

                The reel to reel tape is a precision machine, not a decorative instrument that plays tunes. In order to justify its existence in a system it must be performing excellently - people who do not have the expertise to check them should buy from a knowledgeable and serious dealer.
                An excellent reason why it's better to spend a little more up front and get a deck that has been checked out and serviced by a reputable dealer. Otherwise as Jonathan Tinn pointed out at one of our tape seminars at Axpona, a deck can become a black hole.

                Or get a turnkey deck like one of Greg Beron's UHA decks that come with a warranty. Know Christian has been very happy with his UHA deck.
                Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
                Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
                ________________________________________

                -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
                -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
                -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
                -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
                -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
                -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
                -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
                -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
                -Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
                -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

                Comment

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