Current R2R Tape Set-up

[337alant]

wOOw R2R porn ok. What's your turntable can I ask?

I've spotted a G36 for sale via gumtree for £400 but again it's probably too large for my rack, so I'm going to give up on this R2R purchase idea.

Strange things about R2R's is that you hardly ever see any photo's of the rear of the machine (showing it's depth or width) and how or where the interconnect cables hook up.

Here is the rear of a Tascam BR20 showing RCA or XLR input / output
IMG_2345 by Alan Towell, on Flickr

Alan

[Marco]

Hi Charlie,

That is just too cool for school - major respect!

Also owing a top-notch turntable, in the Verdier, you must've conducted many vinyl versus tape comparisons, perhaps even identical recordings on both vinyl and tape, so what are your impressions in that respect?

I've always considered that R2R, done well [top-notch machine playing the best audiophile recordings], as the ultimate in high-fidelity music reproduction, which I suspect you'd concur with, but in your opinion how close does vinyl, done well get, using the same parameters - and what, in your opinion, are the key presentational differences between both approaches?

Marco.

[topoxforddoc]

what, in your opinion, are the key presentational differences between both approaches?

Marco,

The short answer is that R2R is very significantly better than a high quality LP system, providing the source material is ok (s0me tapes haven't survived as well as others, for instance).

1) Speed stability - absolutely rock solid with tape - no wavering on piano notes etc.. Verdier is very good, but you can hear the (very subtle) knock from the knot in the linen thread on every platter rotation

2) Dynamic range - the Verdier with the battery PSU is pretty much inky black on the blank grooves in between tracks. No vinyl noise or mechanical noise. With tape, you can get a tiny bit of tape hiss, esp if the tape used is several generations down from the original; you can minimise this by using something like Dolby A or Dolby SR (I have 2 Dolby 363 machines with A and SR - I just haven't got round to plugging them in yet). However, the tape medium is able to capture and transmit a much greater dynamic range compared to the grooves of an LP. After all the mastering engineer has to apply compression and EQ to cut the lacquer. You can hear this difference very easily between a master tape and a good vinyl pressing.

3) Sound quality on tape is the same at the end as at the beginning - unlike records. Tape has a constants linear velocity of medium over the head (transducer). Records have a constant angular velocity, which means that the amount on information gets less and less with each rotation of the record; hence the inner grooves don't sound as good.

4) Microdynamics are much better on tape - subtleties of brush use on drums, additional bits (e.g. the crowd noise and applause on Sgt Pepper's). General dynamics are faster with tape i.e. drums, crescendos etc

5) Soundstage is uncompromised on tape (obviously this depends on the original recording).

I have been listening to hi-fi for 35 years now, and the last two years of R2R have been a complete revelation. I have heard some very good vinyl replay systems in my life, but none of them approach a 15 IPS master tape.

Charlie

[337alant]

Very interesting Charlie, I share your views on tape its the ultimate analogue sound for me but not having heard any master tapes I feel I haven't heard the best from my Studer yet

Alan

[topoxforddoc]

Alan,

You should try and get hold of a master tape - even a 4/5th generation copy. You will find it very illuminating

Charlie

[neskor]

Can you please comment Studer vs Sony sound quality.
Which one do you prefer?

[topoxforddoc]

Can you please comment Studer vs Sony sound quality.
Which one do you prefer?

I prefer the Sony APR 5000 series to the Studer A807/II for sound quality. The Studer is pretty good, but the Sony playback electronics are excellent. I think you might need to find something like a Studer A820 to better the Sony for sound quality.

The Sony is a bit more modern with excellent tape handling and software driven tape set up and alignment with 3 presets per speed (3 speeds - either 3.75/7.5/15 or 7.5/15/30 selectable on dip switches in tape head block).

[macvisual]

Charlie;

What source are you recording from onto your R2R that makes it sound sublime? And what other sources do you record from on a normal day say?

Regards;
Peter

[topoxforddoc]

Peter,

I buy master tapes from various sources. I duplicate them straightaway and play the copy. The master gets stored safely. I don't do any original recording and I don't record from LP. digital sources, or the radio.

Charlie

[337alant]

Peter
I tape from a computer stored digital FLAC files, directly from the output of my DAC.
My Tascam BR20 and Studer A810 are calibrated to be able to record directly without using the pots to set the levels, this produces superb results and IMO better than the digital playback. the main use for me is I like to make playlists from each artist copy it onto tape and play that.
I do also tape from Vinyl but output level from my Phono Stage is lower so I have to use the pots virtually flat out to get a decent result but noise levels rise. Its often better to record the LP to Digital using Audacity, you also have the advantage of being able to edit out clicks and pops

Alan