gofar99 Messages: 1903 Registered: May 2010 Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi Everyone, I'm contemplating getting back into RR tape recording. I have many tapes and no machine. I don't need the absolute best unit, but want it to be pretty decent. There are numerous ones on the used market and likely many would do. Anyone have some thoughts on ones in the $200-400 range? Also ones to avoid.
gofar99 Messages: 1903 Registered: May 2010 Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi, The 909 was on my check it list but is currently more costly than I want to spend. Any thoughts on the 707 and 701? Saw a Revox 4track A77 at about the limits of what I wanted to pay as well.
gofar99 Messages: 1903 Registered: May 2010 Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
I just bought (ebay from a dealer) an Akai. Supposed to be a 9.5 on a 10 scale. Super clean and virtually like new. All serviced and guaranteed to meet spec. Probably cost me an extra about $50-75 to get it that way, but likely worth it. Time will tell.
Hopefully it will work as it is supposed to. Now I need a dolby unit as a number of my early tapes were encoded with one. They seem to be about $20-40. I have the calibration tapes for both R-R and cassette for them. A good thing to as the tapes are going for really nutty prices like $75 each.
gofar99 Messages: 1903 Registered: May 2010 Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi, The recorder came today is really nice. Near mint. No scratches, worn spots and only a tiny ding in the wood on one side. It plays and records fine. I tried a 20+ year old used Scotch 177AV tape I had and it was quiet and clean (a nice feature of three head machines is you can listen to the recording as it is being made. Now it is just a matter of getting some new tapes. There are about 3 suppliers now and I suspect that the actual quality is at least as good as it was back then. Now they mostly cater to pro recording studios that want a quality end product. Then I need a new splicer (mine is lost in the shed) and some leader tape. On thing that was a pleasant surprise was that all the tapes I made 20-25 years ago are in good shape and play well.
gofar99 Messages: 1903 Registered: May 2010 Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi Everyone, I finally got the blank tapes I ordered. NOS BASF ones. In the factory sealed box of 20 in individually sealed boxes with the tapes in plastic wrappers. I recorded the Diana Krall Very Best Of LP today (used the Sota with Origin Live arm, AT33PTG/II and Groove preamp prototype III). Really excellent. The noise level was suitably low enough for serious listening (about like a good clean LP) and the overall sound accurate and clean. I am now pondering using it at LSAF as a primarily source.
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