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There is no doubt that reel-to-reel machines are expensive, Ken Kessler, a writer for Hi-Fi News magazine with a self-proclaimed obsession of Reel-to-Reel tape players recently wrote an article for the publication about his research for the top pre-owned and refurbished open-reel decks that are not only worth having but also affordable for now, the prices on all decks are soaring upwards as the trend for these open-reel tape machines become more popular with audiophiles.
Looking for a great player? See Our Post On Where To Find a New (or Nearly New) Reel-to-Reel Player Today
Kessler had 10 decks total he recommended including the Akai GX-4000D for a good basic deck between $150-$700 depending on condition.
He suggests the Otari MX5050 for an excellent all-in-one built to prosumer standards which brings between $700-$4000.
For the best sounding reel-to-reel player, he chose the easy-to-use, auto-reverse tape machine Pioneer RT-707 in the $800-$2100 range.
If you saw the movie Pulp Fiction you would have seen the TeacX-2000R, both the X-2000 and the X-1000 prices soared after the movie came out, however, Kessler writes the X-3 and the X-7 are affordable, robust, plentiful and sound great. The 10in spool models start at about $700 and are amazing open-reel decks.
These machines have 3-speeds: 3 3/4, 7 1/2 and 15ips with 7in/10in spool decks. The price of these NAB decks is going up due to high-end users wanting them and their popularity with refurbishing companies who are purchasing the donor machines.
Kessler says to allow at least $1700-$2100 for working machines with an added $300-$550 for the auto-reverse RS-1700. A completely rebuilt, customized deck can run you between $8000-$12,000 according to Kessler.
Kessler claims the RS-1500 “will never disappoint” if you want one machine that does it all. I personally own the RS-1506 and can vouch for how amazing my reel-to-reel deck is in sound and quality. Our beautiful carbon fiber RX Reels 10-inch reel spools are designed to complement the unique color of the Technics RS 1500 line up as well.
When shopping for a reel-to-reel tape player Kessler suggests:
We hope you found this post helpful for understanding more about pre-owned reel to reel players. For a guide on what goes into a reel for open reel tape decks check out our blog post here.
RX Reels prides ourselves on manufacturing the world's best carbon fiber reels. Learn more about us and why Martin Pipe from Hi-Fi World has said "Quite frankly, it's highly unlikely you'll find a better spool for your deck."
See RX Reels Carbon Fiber 10.5" and 7" reels here.
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This post delves into the topic of making enhancements to the actual recorded media on reel-to-reel tape. Numerous vinyl albums have been remastered, and indeed, several hundred tapes have undergone remastering from the master or near-master. These offer notable improvements in sound quality compared to the original recordings. Sonorus Audio offers a Holographic Imaging tape remastering service explored here.
Analog Audio Design's first product, the TP-1000 is wholly constructed from new components, utilizing technologies such as computer-aided design and advanced testing tools to augment tape transport and minimize distortion.
The all important heads are from AM Belgium, the same company that inherited the head technical specs directly from Studer / ReVox when they shut down.
The TP-1000 stands out as a three-motor machine using DC motors, all uniquely coupled by a belt and a flywheel to a modern design. Why? To reducing the cogging and flutter commonly associated with DC motors.
