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RE: Tape Preamps...why?

If you don't have an outboard tape head preamp, you're probably stuck with listening through the 1970/1980s-era solid state one built into the tape deck. These can vary from pretty awful to pretty good. My Otari definitely falls into the pretty good category compared with the (then) top-line Teac deck it replaced.

But the deHavilland 222 tubed tape head preamp I now use is in a whole different category, sonically. I know this because when I had the Otari wired to acommodate the deHavilland I had it done so as to be reversible, making the comparison easy, if not exactly lightning fast.

Given the pigmy tape renaissance we tape fans are currently enjoying and the newfound availability of really great-sounding tapes, I think an outboard preamp is just about mandatory. If you're really into the medium, that is.


Edits: 09/25/14
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