'New' musical format. reel-to-reel
Posted by: Ron Toolsie on 05 February 2005
Well, I have recently purchased a very good condition reel-to-reel tape deck (Akai GX 646) with an outboard dbx noise reduction box. I had it professionally serviced and re-biased for Ampex Grand Master tape. The recordings I have done at 7.5 ips (19 cm/s)are nearly indistinguishable from the straight CDS3 into the 552 with the exception of a barely perceptible added richness that some may say is even 'better' than the original. With the dbx the S/N is circa 100dB (i.e. totally silent) with none of the fabled noise pumping (I also had the dbx unit calibrated).
Now I have to decide what to actually DO with this unit. And I have been looking on e-bay for pre-recorded reel-to-reel tapes, which are pretty reasonably priced (circa $10-20). My question is.... does anybody know how these original issues (especially the 7.5 ips ones) would compare to a similarly vintaged LP release?
I suppose in a few days I will be able to answer my own questions since I have gone ahead and ordered a few tapes. But in the meantime....has any body else recently compared them to a high spec turntable/CD player?
Ron
Now I have to decide what to actually DO with this unit. And I have been looking on e-bay for pre-recorded reel-to-reel tapes, which are pretty reasonably priced (circa $10-20). My question is.... does anybody know how these original issues (especially the 7.5 ips ones) would compare to a similarly vintaged LP release?
I suppose in a few days I will be able to answer my own questions since I have gone ahead and ordered a few tapes. But in the meantime....has any body else recently compared them to a high spec turntable/CD player?
Ron