Favourite Reel To Reel player?

What’s your favourite reel to reel player?

I like Revox ‘36 series.

Others ..Budget consumer players Grundig.

 

I prefer ReVox A and B 77, ReVox PR 99, Crown 700 and 800, Otari MX 5050 B, Ampex 350, 440, and ATR 700/800.

 

I like 'primarily' anything 16 track and down.
Simpicity is something I find appealing.

I'll go a little further, Ampex Mono really makes me excited, considering how many great recordings
were made using that brand.

End of the day, anything that has reels, puts a smile on my face, even these:

 

I prefer Technics and Pioneer.

 

Don't ask me why, but I've always had a yearning for a Ferrograph.

Realistically, most any TEAC/Tascam should be on anyone's list.

 

Crown SX-724; Tapesonic 70; Revox A700; Teac 6300; Magnecord 1028; Akai GX-267.

 

Hey! I’ve got that metal cassette.

 

With all this in-time ( C19),maybe put a new belt on my Tascam 112B. Some early spring dusting. And my old favourite (not ) shifting stuff about, making more space for new stuff. Building new shelves etc. Have to find space ( don’t worry doable )..for new practice amps ( LG/Bass). There also the earthing to sort out with my Studer B62( very dangerous I’m told ).
Going to start using my fast speed Revox G36 for recording before the summer kicks in.

 

My current favorite is the one I own, Pioneer RT-909.

What I wish I owned going up the ladder in cost:
Otari MX5050 w meter bridge
Technics 1500 series
Studer A-820
Naira

All 1/4".

 

The one Format I never got into in the 70's.......

 

Missed out.

 

I don't have the patience for the format myself. I have had some nice decks however. I had a ReVox PR99 Mk2, which was excellent. I now have a Pioneer RT-909 and an Akai GX-4000D, both of which are for sale. The Pioneer is the nicer of the two, perhaps close in performance to the ReVox, and arguably the nicest looking of the lot.
-Bill

 

I use a Teac A-2300SX at work and my granddad had a Teac X-7r. They're really the only models I have lots of time on, so I guess they're my default favorites. In fantasy land, I like the Studer A-820. Purty.



The United Home Audio and J-Corder decks are pretty too.

 

If you like reel-to-reel and other tape formats, there is a good website called Tapeheads.Com
Lots of information .
Personally, I like my Pioneer RT-909 deck, tho I don't play with it nearly enough.

 

Studer A820

Nagra IV-S QGB


I own neither of them

 

I owned a G36 and loved it! I now have only a Teac A-3440 and a very good sounding Pioneer RT-1050... formerly had the beautiful Revox PR-99 MkII. Of course I drool over the Studer A-820 and similar models.. maybe an old Ampex full track mono.
The G36 I restored myself. The seller claimed it was serviced by a former Revox tech.. must have been lying since nothing operated correctly. After completion, I was rewarded by its legendary sound, and when up to spec it's amazing.

 

Mmmmmmm!
Lucky You!

 

The Otari MTR 10 sounds so good to me that I sold my Studer and got two MTR 1o's!!!

 

I own:

Technics RS 1500 U
Technics RS 1520

Used to own;
Akai GX 747 dbx
Akai GX 636


Would like to own:

Tascam BR 20
Revox PR 99 mk ii
Studer A80 mk ii

Crown 800

And many more.

 

Ive got a Crown 844 that might interest you

 

Congrats on your Technics acquisitions! Barely missed out on a couple over the years. Would love to own one someday.

 

My first R2R was the Akai X-1800SD, this had built in amp, speakers and 8-track deck. It made decent tapes and had an capstan adapter to go 15ips, SNR was not great, I used it to make FM radio tapes. I had this deck as a teenager in HS.
I also owned a Pioneer RT909, really loved that deck.........About 10yrs ago got a hold of a Teac X-2000R, I wanted a pro'sumer deck and its very easy to operate and makes excellent tapes. It operates perfectly and I doubt I will own another, I don't have the need to buy decks that need rebuilds and all that stuff.

 

Otari MTR-12



Fully overauled: recapped (audio path with Elna and Nichicon premium grade caps), op-amp upgrade, heads relapped, transport overhauled.

Great machine, from design to build quality to superb sound! Very underrated.

 

Studer A810


Ampex ATR-102

Nagra T


Or to put it another way, buy the best and never think about it again.

 

Only had two, since the mid-1970s, so difficult to pick a "favourite" ... Akai 4000DS and Revox B77, both 4-track machines.

At one point, I hankered after a Ferrograph, which had a feature that seemed eminently sensible; a single fast-wind button, with a potentiometer which not only changed the direction of fast-wind, but also regulated its speed.

Would have loved to accumulate studio-grade 2-track machines, and acquire copy master tapes, but that wasn't to be...