R2R is the new vinyl?

[Dpod4]

If I wanted to jump in who can guide me?

 

[Mike]

If I wanted to jump in who can guide me?

I can help. Myles is definitely very knowledgable and will hopefully chime in too.

What's your budget?

I would recommend emailing Jeff Jacobs and looking at a J-Corder Modded Technics 1500 (that's what I have and I believe that's what Myles has - although I'm sure he's done even more mods to it!). You will want it wired for an external tape preamp and you will want all the upgrades Jeff offers, including the flux heads. --probably looking at $8-10K tops. Do it all now, rather than in bits later on. Shipping a R2R is NOT fun.

For a tape preamp, thanks to Myles, I'm likely going with the King Cello (Charlie is the guy who builds them). - $4500. I really wanted a tube tape pre - but the King Cello gets high remarks in many other areas.

As for tapes, there are some good sites like The Tape Project.

 

[tunes]

Several great tape guys here - Myles, Larry, Ki, and Mike for a start.
If you head towards a Nagra deck, I can give you plenty of advice from my experience with TAudios and IVS/QGB setups. As Mike suggests, there are great tape pre amps available. The most discussed being the Bottlehead, King Cello, and Doshi.

 

[rbbert]

I can help. Myles is definitely very knowledgable and will hopefully chime in too.

What's your budget?

I would recommend emailing Jeff Jacobs and looking at a J-Corder Modded Technics 1500 (that's what I have and I believe that's what Myles has - although I'm sure he's done even more mods to it!). You will want it wired for an external tape preamp and you will want all the upgrades Jeff offers, including the flux heads. --probably looking at $8-10K tops. Do it all now, rather than in bits later on. Shipping a R2R is NOT fun.

For a tape preamp, thanks to Myles, I'm likely going with the King Cello (Charlie is the guy who builds them). - $4500. I really wanted a tube tape pre - but the King Cello gets high remarks in many other areas.

As for tapes, there are some good sites like The Tape Project.

I like all kinds of things about the Technics decks, but why recommend them over UHA's decks?

 

[Mike]

I like all kinds of things about the Technics decks, but why recommend them over UHA's decks?

Cost is a big factor. Sonically they are very close and I actually prefer the sound of my 1500, but I've never heard the UHA in my system - just other systems - so hard to say 100%. I've heard the UHA decks at shows and at a friends place and they are very good and I love their EQ adjustments capabilities. But pimped out, they are about $25k I believe. The Technics is $8-10k pimped out.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mike]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dpod4]

I like 8-10k a lot better than 25k

 

[Steve]

If you want the holy grail in pro level, there is a mint Studer A820 on sale at Audiogon. Price $62,200.

Price of the Studer A820 over the past 5 years has appreciated big time! My dream R2R. :heart::Bow: But you need the room as it is a big machine.

Finding a good Studer is difficult but parts are still OK to come by for the A810 and even A820.

There is also an A80 currently for sale as well for $30K.

Studer A820:

 

[Garth]

When TT are selling at very high prices tone arms at 10 to 40k cartridges 1 to 15k why is a Studer A820 at 62,200 seem so high other than it is very old for electronic gear . The bigger stumbling block as I see it is the amount of selection in tapes is not that big. R2R is a great sound a bit more fussy to play and look after than other formats but new tapes are not a dime a dozen they are few and far between and not cheap. I think it is tape cost and selection that holds the format back not cost of R2R.

 

[socfan12]

Al, you can swing for R2R. when the CH Precision sells buy the Horch and the rest can go to tapes and a cheaper DAC. Lets be honest, how many digital files have you recommended versus LPs and you know how tape sounds:heart:

I hear ya, Rob. The CH s sold but the money is already spoken for. Let's see how the middle to end of year looks. Certainly listening at Mike's has piqued my interest more than just a little bit!

Allen, are those AV speakers incredible or what ???

Mark, Mike's whole system is awesome! Transparent and involving. I definitely liked the AVs at Mike's more than what I heard at RMAF. While that was good, Mike's setup took it to another level of transparency IMO.:tup:

 

[rbbert]

Cost is a big factor. Sonically they are very close and I actually prefer the sound of my 1500, but I've never heard the UHA in my system - just other systems - so hard to say 100%. I've heard the UHA decks at shows and at a friends place and they are very good and I love their EQ adjustments capabilities. But pimped out, they are about $25k I believe. The Technics is $8-10k pimped out.

I know there is a UHA model for about $11k; how it compares sonically I don't know. I do know Greg is a true audiophile and for that reason alone is likely to offer more useful customer support. Personally, my main reason to go the J-corder route would be that I already have Technics decks; if I were starting from scratch, I think UHA would be the way to go, although if the Horch comes in anywhere close to $5k it's a no-brainer.

 

[rbbert]

When TT are selling at very high prices tone arms at 10 to 40k cartridges 1 to 15k why is a Studer A820 at 62,200 seem so high other than it is very old for electronic gear . The bigger stumbling block as I see it is the amount of selection in tapes is not that big. R2R is a great sound a bit more fussy to play and look after than other formats but new tapes are not a dime a dozen they are few and far between and not cheap. I think it is tape cost and selection that holds the format back not cost of R2R.

And this is really what it's all about; the 10-15 albums I might convince myself I "need" (none are truly essential) will likely run $5-7k total if they are even available.

 

[mep]

Ok who can guide me if i wanted to jump in?

What kind of guidance do you need? Myles has posted lots of information on decks, repros, and sources of tapes. Other than a deck in good condition, you need to make sure it can playback 2 track tapes at 15 ips with IEC equalization. It's nice if you can switch between NAB and IEC as some tapes are recorded using NAB, but the majority are IEC.

 

[mep]

I know there is a UHA model for about $11k; how it compares sonically I don't know. I do know Greg is a true audiophile and for that reason alone is likely to offer more useful customer support. Personally, my main reason to go the J-corder route would be that I already have Technics decks; if I were starting from scratch, I think UHA would be the way to go, although if the Horch comes in anywhere close to $5k it's a no-brainer.

That deck will sell like hotcakes if they bring it in at $5k.

 

[Steve]

When TT are selling at very high prices tone arms at 10 to 40k cartridges 1 to 15k why is a Studer A820 at 62,200 seem so high other than it is very old for electronic gear . The bigger stumbling block as I see it is the amount of selection in tapes is not that big. R2R is a great sound a bit more fussy to play and look after than other formats but new tapes are not a dime a dozen they are few and far between and not cheap. I think it is tape cost and selection that holds the format back not cost of R2R.

Yes cost of software and vintage hardware is an issue especially given that getting into tape hinges on faith in decades old vintage electronics that has been restored back to working specification or better. There is no denying that tape transfer can sonically outperform all other mediums including the best digital with the right equipment.

But....getting into tape is not really about the music is it? Quite frankly, choice of music is very slim pickings. A major driver for those getting into tape is that they love the elegant mechanics of the format and get enjoyment out of operating a tape deck! That includes all of the tactile sensations like pushing and listening to vintage mechanical buttons and turning dials. Hearing the clicks and clunks and watching the precision movements.

For those looking at getting into tape, IMO should be setting up to record as well.

I would also love to see a true tape revival that goes beyond feeding the nostalgic desires of the esoteric tape head fringe groups.

Tape sounds fabulous and probably too good for the big music companies to open up their paying catalogues to the format in this day and age.

 

[mep]

Yes cost of software and vintage hardware is an issue especially given that getting into tape hinges on faith in decades old vintage electronics that has been restored back to working specification or better. There is no denying that tape transfer can sonically outperform all other mediums including the best digital with the right equipment.

But....getting into tape is not really about the music is it? Quite frankly, choice of music is very slim pickings. A major driver for those getting into tape is that they love the elegant mechanics of the format and get enjoyment out of operating a tape deck! That includes all of the tactile sensations like pushing and listening to vintage mechanical buttons and turning dials. Hearing the clicks and clunks and watching the precision movements.

For those looking at getting into tape, IMO should be setting up to record as well.

I would also love to see a true tape revival that goes beyond feeding the nostalgic desires of the esoteric tape head fringe groups.

Tape sounds fabulous and probably too good for the big music companies to open up their paying catalogues to the format in this day and age.

But they swear the digital files they are selling you sound just like being in the studio right? And everyone and their brother and their Great Aunt Matilda can make digital copies of those files. Tape would bring things more under their control in some ways.