April 11, 2023 3 min read

Hi-Fi Choice Recommends our new 7-inch reel in 5-star review

We're thrilled that Hi-Fi Choice magazine is head over heels with our new 7-inch reel. 

For almost 50 years, Hi-Fi Choice has sought out the latest and greatest audio products on the market. The magazine features in-depth reviews from some of the UK's leading audio journalists.

Read the full review of our 7-inch High Fiber Tape Reel below.

7in Carbon Fibre Tape Reel

Posted in the  issue 

"RX Reels has always been a manufacturer of very high-quality professional 10.5in NAB spools and has now started to make a 7in version with the standard trident centre aimed at the domestic market.

The spool flanges are made from upcycled aviation-grade carbon fibre combining high strength and durability with light weight. Also, the reels will neither warp nor bend, unlike conventional aluminium or plastic options. Normally, the cost of aviation-grade carbon fibre is very expensive, but the company's location in the US' Pacific Northwest gives it access to offcuts that have been discarded by local military and aviation manufacturing industries.

RX Reels 7-inch carbon fiber reel

To complement the carbon fibre flanges there are hubs precision-made from solid aluminium. Each flange is individually joined to the hub with three screws, as opposed to conventional metal spools that use screws that pass through the hub to secure the flange on both sides. The RX Reels' flanges are separately fixed with screws on each side so six screws are used per spool to give a very secure fit. The hub also features a nano-machined surface, which is designed to grip the end of the tape, making it far less prone to slipping and aiding the threading of the tape.

The reel deal

In use, the precision-made spool shows no signs of rattling or scraping the edges of the tape. A spool that is even slightly out of balance can negatively affect the tension on the tape as it is playing, and this can result in tiny amounts of wow and flutter, which can have an adverse effect on the overall sound. The RDX Reels spool ensures a consistent tension and this is evident with all the tapes that I play on my machine during testing.

Bearing in mind that you will be using it with every tape you play, I consider that the high price tag is fully justified. Not only do these reels look great, they additionally help to bring out the best performance from your tape deck."

Rating: 5 stars, Hi-Fi Choice Recommended

The original article appeared in HiFi Choice magazine. You can subscribe digitally here.

RX Reels prides ourselves on manufacturing the world's best carbon fiber reels. Learn more about us and see RX Reels Carbon Fiber 10.5" and 7" reels here.

Have questions about reel-to-reel players?

 For helpful tips and suggestions from our customer community and notable industry experts, see our article Pro-Tips: Reel to Reel Buying, Playing & Optimizing the Tape Experience

PEOPLE FOUND THIS POST BY SEARCHING:

  • 7-inch carbon fiber reels for sale
  • Carbon fiber reel for home audio
  • Audio reels sizes and types
  • Who makes the best audio reels?
  • What are reel to reel player reels made of?
  • Metal vs plastic vs carbon fiber flanges
  • Music on reel to reel tape 
  • Reel to reel tape 
  • Pre recorded reel to reel tapes 
  • Reel to reel tape
  • 7 inch take up reel
  • 7 inch reel for open reel players   
  • 10.5 inch take up reel
  • Take up reel
Kevin Root
Kevin Root



Also in Reel News

Hi-Fi Journalist Alan McIntosh reviews our new 7-inch Carbon Fiber Reel
Hi-Fi Journalist Alan McIntosh reviews our new 7-inch Carbon Fiber Reel

April 12, 2023 6 min read

Reel-to-reel fan and audio journalist Alan McIntosh gave our new 7-inch reel a spin and ranked it very highly in his Hi-Fi Pig review on March 17, 2023. 
Reel-to-Reel Players for Sale: The Best Websites To Buy New, Refurbished & Used Decks
Reel-to-Reel Players for Sale: The Best Websites To Buy New, Refurbished & Used Decks

January 24, 2023 13 min read

Learn where to find new, refurbished and used reel to reel players for sale. Plus the best restoration services for R2R players and tape decks.
RX Reels’ 10-inch and 7-inch reels on a Denon DH-710F tape deck
Part Two: Ken Kessler's Review of RX Reels 7 inch Production Reel

January 18, 2023 5 min read

Part Two: Ken's original article in PS-Copper Magazine in September 11, 2022 was of our 7" pre-production reels. This is Ken's review of the production spools we recently released for purchase.