Ready to Buy Your First Reel to Reel Player? Everything you need to know in 20 min.

I am from BANGALORE, INDIA. I have Tascam 32 reel to reel player, AKAI 630 D END AKAI 630 D SS, all working perfect, I enjoy listening to these machines.

Another important feature is the auto reverse. It allows playback in the reverse direction without having to manually take the tape reels off.

Some nice R to R machines there. I only have some mono machines and they need some servicing. Nice to see R to R getting more love these days.

I have the 2- track 7.5/15 IPS version of this model, that has had a good service/recapping. It's probably as good as any home prosumer unit made. It sounds fantastic. Have listened to the new "master tape" recordings (expensive). The late 50's/early 60's 2-track (7.5 IPS) pre-recorded 7" tapes sound remarkably great too.

I own a 1968 AKAI X-150D. Use to be my father's throughout all of my growing up. I've kept it running and gotten interchangeable parts for years off Ebay. Use to record vinyl on to it. Still purrs like a kitten.

Great video. I recently was gifted my first reel to reel, a Pioneer RT -707

Fantastic machine!

I once compared my Tandberg TD20A to a Studer machine I was restoring and the Tandberg sounded much better. This may be a consumer machine but it has very good sound quality.

this was really informative ,. glad i found this channel,

Don't forget Otari 5050BII and MTR 10 ...amazing machines built like tanks. Nice video and total operation you have here. 30 IPS half track (2 track one direction only) is the highest standard for RTR in the studio. No one needs 3&3/4 IPS unless they want to play background music or poor sounding old commercial tapes. Once you step up to machines that run at 71/2 and 15 ips, even using standerd commercial heads ( 4 track heads tape plays in both directions), you move up to ten inch reels that allow more tape to make up for the higher speed.

Informative video, thanks

Great video. You referred to the first head (on the left) as the "record" head. Isn't the "erase head first, then "record" head?

Got this love it best way to hear real musical audiophialic sound. Why? Human ears are made to listhen in this way

This model is one of the best R2R recorders to buy at the first time. Together with Philips 4520 and Sony 765/R7. Tandberg has a very-very good discrete preamp (in opposite to Revoxes, especially to models with op amps). It's reliable. It's silent. Looks good with 7" reels and can use 10". Has 15ips. Etc..

I have owned 20 reel to reels and my suggestions are 1. Get a 10" reel to reel and 2. dont bother getting an auto reverse unit at a premium when it rarely will be used .

Thank you for a very informative go-to video, SkyFi. A few quick questions from a newbie: 1. Can the tape be left in, from day-to day? (Not for long term storage, of course.) 2. Do these things require a dust cover? 3. For machines capable of both 7.5 and 15 ips, can they be calibrated for both, to be switched back and forth at a touch, or do you need to pick one speed and calibrate it to that and stick with it? Thank you

I really enjoy the Tandberg gear.

My Pioneer RT-1011L, still runs great 45+ years and counting! the only thing I had to replace (other than belts) is the AC power cord shorted out. I ended up wiring in a newer cord and back in business. Btw, the "L" and "H" designation on the RT-1000 series R2Rs tell whether the deck is low-speed (3-3/4 & 7-1/2 ips) or high speed (7-1/2 & 15 ips). I didn't know that until it was pointed out to me years ago.

Excellent video, what cable can you recommend (RCA) for a reasonable price? Thanks

lovely review on the tandeberg. always thought it would be cool to have one (since about 1985 I think) but my dream rig is a PR99 (MK2?) or a B77 MK2. you resell this gear? fix/recondition and resell?