Reel News

HiFi Journalist Ken Kessler is one of the most respected reel to reel aficionados in the world and not one easily impressed. Here are just a few of his findings after taking two RX Reels for review spin; 

...the RX reels are among the mechanically best I’ve ever seen. When you remove them from the box, you sense the flatness, the precision, and—lo and behold!—in use they provide the most even take-up I’ve experienced

..the tape spooled to the same flat perfection you usually only see when you open up a factory-fresh blank tape. This is particularly reassuring with irreplaceable tapes.

...As a Lieutenant stationed in England, Jack Mullin's job was improving the performance of electronic equipment, which included Allied radar. From 1943-1944 while stationed at the Royal Airforce base in Farnborough England Jack worked late into the night while listening to classical music broadcast by the Germans in the early morning hours after the BBC had gone off air at midnight. The sounds he heard coming from the German recordings sounded like live performances from amazing musicians such as the Berlin Philharmonic, no matter how hard he tried he could not detect the usual noises typically associated with recordings on the radio...

RX Reels has recently gained attention by the industry press, and if you’re new to the site, you might be wondering what we’re all about.

Check out my interview with StereoNet.co.uk below, where I go into details about why I believe in my product, and how it came to be. What started as a personal journey to get the best sound quality possible while creating a visually beautiful product has turned into something so much more, and I’m excited to share that with others who feel the same way.

Before you spend hundreds of dollars on eBay for a used machine from the 70s that may or may not work, though, consider this; new reel-to-reel are on the market right now, and available for you to buy and use right out of the box. Nearly new refurbished systems are also available for a fraction of the price, and will involve no hassle, stress, or worry.

Ken Kessler, a writer for Hi-Fi magazine wrote an article about his research for the top ten pre-owned and refurbished open-reel decks that are not only worth having but also affordable for now. It’s a great overview for anyone jumping into the hobby.

Anyone can go to one of the numerous used record stores and grab some great discs, however, it is not the same quality of sound as with reel-to-reel tapes that audiophiles crave.

Here is a look at both reel-to-reel audio tape recording decks and the tape reels themselves.