Tape Trail Reel to reel, cassette and other analogue tape formats.

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RE: Reel to Reel: Best sounding format ever?!??!??!!!!!!!!!

Posted by joeljoel1947 (A) on February 28, 2008 at 10:46:38

In Reply to: RE: Reel to Reel: Best sounding format ever?!??!??!!!!!!!!! posted by mikel on February 27, 2008 at 21:53:23:

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your great reply. I guess I was trying to convey exactly what you said: I too am trying to find what format "at its best" is best. Based on what I heard last night, I am extremely excited that I **may** have found the answer: R2R.

Like you, I have done every format as it's come out (and can still do them all): Redbook cd, upsampled 24/192 cd, HDCD, SACD (both multichannel and stereo), DVD-Audio (both multichannel and stereo), LP (33 and 45), and now reel to reel (my Otari goes up to 15 ips).

Now, taking out of the equation botched mastering jobs on certain formats releases, I also found just as you did that: "the best of LP" has beat every other format mentioned when comparing the same releases in real time. There are some exceptions once in a while, but GENERALLY the LP version would win no contest. Also, the best sound I've ever gotten OVERALL until now has been on the LP format. So until last night, I thought for sure that LP was the "best of the best".

I must say (as an aside) I do like multichannel as well, but I have separate systems to run that material (I even can do LP in surround in 1 system!). If the engineers could avoid their over-zealous use of the rear channels, I think multichannel would have something that no other format could touch.

That said, my results last night have gotten me quite excited about what reel to reel has to offer. If a "standard" 7.5 IPS tape (mine was a 4-track release BTW too) can take down an LP or SACD, I am encouraged! I can only imagine how much better a 15 IPS release would sound like. I am getting ready to subscribe to the tape project, what have you heard so far that @ 15 IPS was not better then your 45's?

I do not own the 45 of Brubeck, but based on your comment I may track one down out of curiosity sake. I have NO DOUBT the re-issue at 45 would smoke the original release I own. Those classic and analogue productions 45's are simply AMAZING. I bought quite a few at CES a month and a half back and have simply never heard these releases sound better!

Anyhow, like you, I am wading gingerly into this thing but I was really encouraged by what I witnessed last night!!




Regards,
Joel

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