What stereo(s) do you listen to? What do you want?

[chobochobo]

I'm going in the other direction. Thinking of getting an Akai R2R.

 

[Girardian]

R2Rs can be amazing but man the high end recordings are top dollar — like the Tape Project. Then again, you can probably find stockpiles of older tapes that are inexpensive — not audiophile grade but that sound great

 

[chobochobo]

I'm thinking about it still. I'm looking at an Akai GX-646 but seems rather questionable because of the lack of content.

I've somehow accumulated 5 compact cassette decks (4 nakamichis) when a year ago I was just listening to digital content. And I've added three (working thankfully) turntables in additional to the pile of LP12 parts (there is one working beginners model there that I just recently refurbished). Never mind the amps etc. To top it all off, I'm probably not that fussy - my listening environment is hardly what you call optimal. I just enjoy the music as it were, particularly when there's a big dose of nostalgia too.

 

[chobochobo]

Currently I'm listening to Bessie Smith. An album I recorded onto Maxell XLII-S about 30 years ago, but I can't remember what the source was. Probably a CD but I don't have it anymore (which is odd, because I don't sell/ get rid of CDs - I've loaded them up onto a few of those Sony 400disc machines). Given the original material is approaching 100 years old, and the limtis of my student-budget hifi back then, I'm still enjoying listening to it whilst working on my computer desk.

 

[Jr Mouse]

Any recommendations for bookshelf speaker stands that are not just black monoliths?

 

[poorsod]

I think this looks quite good for speaker stands.

SolidSteel - SS-Series Speaker Stands (Pr) | Shop Music Direct

www.musicdirect.com

 

[chobochobo]

I know the answer already, but is it stupid to spend big bucks on a restored Garrard 301 on a 2 level slate deck and 2 tone arms - SME 3012 and a Micro Seiki MA-505?

 

[habitant]

Depends on how much I guess. Is the slate plinth from a special maker?

 

[habitant]

Anything less than $6k would be a no brainer

 

[chobochobo]

Not less. It's fully restored by Audio Grail UK, plinth was a 30mm thick Welsh slate double level thing from SlateDeck now defunct.

I've always been intrigued by two arm systems, and since I'm getting into mono vinyl, it'll be convenient but then I could do that with 2 separate decks now. It's all non-essential of course, and I'm sure I'll love the music even though I probably won't fully appreciate it. In the end, these things don't really depreciate.

 

[habitant]

You should look into the Goldnote PH10 phono stage. It’s excellent and it has two inputs.

 

[chobochobo]

Right, I'm diving into R2R. Probably going to ease myself in gently with an Akai GX-4000D.

Anyone here in Arizona by the way?

 

[Biggskip]

Decided to pull the trigger on a pair of Klipsch Heresy III's Pairing them with my Peachtree iNova, but am playing around with the idea of getting a pair of Decware Mono Tube amps to "round off the harshness".

 

[chobochobo]

My R2R arrived but one spindle is bent, apparently a common consequence of optimistic packaging and a vengeful postal system. I've tried to straighten it out the best that I can, so that I can play tapes with less tape scraping problems though the take up reel/ spindle is not rotating centrally on the spindle axis, but instead it wobbles. I've been through a few tapes that came with the machine and a lot of this stuff is 30-40 years ago. I have a tape with the UK Top 40 charts from 1983 that unfortunately ends before the top 6. And turning over to the other side, I find not the continuation but the owner had recorded a radio play that was broadcast 6 days later (as far as I can tell from my sleuthing). I went through a whole 7" tape at 3 1/4 ips filled front and back with Johnny Cash - I probably haven't listened to so much JC in my life. Just started another one where it began with a few Cat Stevens tracks at 7 1/2ips, fairly decent quality but then it cuts out midsong to probably was something changing radio channels, to some news program, and then suddenly some organ music. It was only after the organ music had finished (Festival of 9 lessons and Carols apparently) that I realised it'd been playing at double speed! And the rest of the tape is silent.

Anyway, I'd requested a return/ refund from the seller, although I'd already bought some replacement reel table/ spindles.I'd like to see if I can fix it depending on how the case goes with eBay (you never know). It's a nice compact machine that plays up to 7" reels and 7 1/2ips. I'm toying with the idea of a full size machine that takes 10" reels and 15ipsd, but then there isn't any prerecorded material at this spec - except for the new stuff that 'boutiques' are churing out at about 300-400 a pop. I don't think I'll be doing much recording to fully make use of such a machine.

Having said that, I was tempted to make my own recording when I found that the first R2R tape I bought even before I had a machine (Getz/Gilberto) was actually missing the first 35 seconds of the first track, which to those familiar with this album is the 'Girl from Ipanema'. And then there are a couple of splice repairs. Sold 'as is' indeed. Anyway, I have this album on original Mono, reissued 45RPM stereo as well as SACD, so I'm tempted to 'replace' the faulty tape with my own recording. But then I probably wouldn't bother.

It's fun, but I wouldn't recommend it to everybody.

 

[poorsod]

I toyed with the idea of getting R2R. Otari MX5050 are often available on craigslist. I even found a specialist in NJ that renovate the tapeheads. I even bought some 7.5 ips tape recordings. My dealer convinced me otherwise. We played 15 ips Tape on a Studer, vinyl on TechDas and streaming music. Tape > vinyl > streaming but the difference was not enough for me to justify the expense and effort. I still think about making the jump just to try something different.