Factory recorded reel to reel tapes

[MacGeek]

Hi all,

I have a few factory reel tapes I need to part with.  These were either part of a larger purchase, or some how came to me over the years and are either duplicates or the music is of no interest to me.  In no particular order:

1) Santana - Abraxas 3 3/4 ips  Columbia
2) Bye Bye Birdie -  Original cast Album 7 1/2  Columbia
3) The Association - Good Bye Columbus 3 3/4  Bell and Howell
4) Simon and Garfunkle - Bridge Over Troubled Water 3 3/4  Columbia
5) Roger miller - Golden Hits 3 3/4  Ampex
6) Mitch Miller - Sing Along With Mitch 7 1/2 Requires stacked heads, whatever that means (two track maybe?)  Columbia
7) Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant 7 1/2  Bell and Howell

These all appear to be in good cosmetic shape, but I have not tested or listened to any of them, so no guarantees on the condition of the tape (ends broken, splices, etc).

I prefer a trade for other factory recorded reel tapes; if anyone is interested in a swap, please let me know.  Otherwise, I will consider selling them.

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

I already have the Roger Miller.   Could be interested in the Arlo.   I'll have to look and see what I may want to part with and put up a trade list.

[Slim-Shaddy]

How do the factory recorded tapes compare to home-made recordings done well?

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

IMHO not as well.   There is a big difference between high speed duplication and real time recording.

[papabearjew]

In general carefully done home brew on good tape with a properly calibrated deck the home brew normally wins, and usually by a good margin.  Most pre-recorded tapes were recorded at 3.75 ips on average quality tape on high speed duplication equipment.  I do have some that are surprisingly good...especially those that are recorded at 7.5 ips.  I rarely buy pre-recorded RTR tapes anymore, but if I do I will only consider those that are recorded at 7.5 ips.

[MacGeek]

I tend to agree about home brew recording quality and think there is more to add to the matter.

First, I have to consider storage space, so having duplicate copies of most things is just not practical. Especially when considering the space consumed by open reel tapes.
Second, even though a well made tape on a properly set up deck sounds better than a factory tape, no recording sounds better than the source (I will agree some are close, including my own open reel decks).
Therefore, I tend to not copy my own stuff, with occasional exceptions for archiving a particularly rare or expensive LP (I used to copy to cassettes, when I played them in my car, but those days are over).  I mostly record material for which I do not have another source, such as the radio, or something borrowed from a friend, plus an occasional mix tape. Recording on open reels also tends to be expensive, at least compared to digital or cassettes (machine and tape cost considered).

With respect to factory recorded tapes, in almost every case where I have been able to compare a factory reel tape to the LP version of an album, the tape wins.  The tape is mass produced; however, in most cases, so is the vinyl.  I regularly shop for factory reel tapes of things I don't have, or play often and want to upgrade.  Likely exceptions to the tape vs LP debate are hi-end records, some of which are superior to tape IMHO.

The value in any recorder is dependent on what you need it to do.  I prefer to use mine as another source to play music rather than purely for the sake of recording (exceptions for live recording noted).  If your questions is driven by an interest in duplicating what you have, it makes more sense to make your own tape than to buy factory versions of the same thing on open reels.  However, if you want the best possible source material, I recommend consideration be given to replacing your vinyl with a factory tape when you can.

Sorry for the diatribe, but for as long as I have been in this hobby, the ultimate goal for me has been to find the best possible source material (be it the quality of the copy, mastering and engineering or even the performance).  Obtaining relatively good electronics and speakers, IMO, is the easy part (there is so much from which to choose), even if not cheap.

Now, with all of that being said, there is nothing as much fun as watching and listening to two big ass open reels spinning on an open reel tape deck, lights blazing an meters moving:)

[OldiesButGoodies]

My experience echoes PBJs. Factory recordings (at least the ones I have purchased) are or lesser quality than what I can achieve on my own.  My next scheduled recording is of an Audiophile SACD playlist than Rev has on the Turd server. I doubt that any prerecorded tape can approach that if I record 2T at 15ips on good newer Maxell tape.. 

MacG - what is your rec'd source for prerecorded tapes of high quality?

[MacGeek]

I shop factory reels on epay and occasionally come across them in yard sales. 

Did some recording tonight-Tandberg 10x vs Revox A77 mk III.  I am comparing the decks and used a decent CD as a source to keep things simple.  Ran both decks at 7 1/2 with 7" reels of Maxell UD tape.  It's a tough call.  I think the Revox may be biased for a different type tape.  The Tandberg recording sounded a bit more like the source when played back on either machine.  The Revox recording was just a bit brighter.  All recording and playback volumes were set to match, so no volume bias.

I have Sony and TDK tapes around and will try them to see what changes.  Also, neither machine is at it's recording potential.  The Tandberg will do 15 ips and the Revox has dolby. 

On factory recorded tapes at 7 1/2 ips the machines sound spooky close to the same.

I also have a Tandberg 9200 xd on the bench.  Once it's running, I'll compare it to the winner of the 10x/A77 shootout.  Ultimately, one is likely to have to go - too much domestic pressure.  They are all rather large and multiple big decks (especially the 10x) stacked on the equipment cabinet in the living room don't look good, even to me.  On the other hand, maybe I can find a nice, larger cabinet:)