Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Stereo Sources

Oh my goodness, that's a lot of music. 2 track or 4? This Otari will only play 2 track.

4 track. The Akai GX-270D could play both forward and backward without having to flip the reels.

I've noticed that vintage audio gear is worth a fortune nowadays. Too bad that all of mine went south by the 80's and 90's. But the Akai was still going strong by 2004. I threw away my tape splicing kit around the same time, that's a skill I never want to use again.

Akais are beautiful R2Rs. I think they used glass heads. Should last a lifetime.

Good looking unit. Nice job on the wood, it’s a nice touch. I know nothing about r2r but can appreciate the interest. My kids think I’m crazy for playing cds. But then again they seem to think playing records is cool. So who knows. Point is, old can be great and appreciated.

I agree, "old can be great and appreciated." My favorite audio gear has tubes, Reels or tone arms. My golf clubs are blades and woods are persimmons. If I could find balata golf balls, I'd play 'em. I figure, if I'm not shifting, I'm not really driving. Hence, the S2000. I'm getting there myself.

By the way, your Hafler 9505 is one of the great all-time amplifiers! Very sweet. You chose wisely.

Mr. Hambrabi, I bet you wish you still had your wonderful Akai R2R. They are hypnotizing, you know.

I love the look of vintage audio gear and a library of physical media, but they'd sit unused as a minimalist such as myself gravitates towards more convenient and compact formats. And it doesn't get more convenient and compact than an app.

Wow thanks 2x6, the hafler 9505 has an interesting history of its development as well. I don’t have anything to compare it to but it really makes my m60s just sound fantastic. I’d like to try the hafler 9505 with a tube pre and see if that ups the quality further. I’m not sure what to get really, tube pres are not cheap. The pre I have is ok I think, based on nothing more than what I’ve read about jfet and more specifically the 915 class A jfet and bit I have. But I wonder if I tube pre would be an improvement, I think yes. I could getting a schiit freya or something but I suspect the next tier up ( in the used vintage market ) like a CJ Pv5 or something is the better move…
Not sure, this is new territory for me.

Regardless, I really enjoy hunting for good deals on used quality gear. Like I said, I get to enjoy and get more experience listening and learning vs waiting until “ I have more money”. .

Hambrabi, the minimalist concept is very intriguing to me, I feel I have a vein of it in me but at the same time I feel like a really organized and prepared specific hoarder. However I do subscribe to the “ easy come easy go “ thinking. I dont stress about letting go of things. In fact I like giving things away to friends and family that could use or need something I have.

Physical media really does bring me joy for the right medium and time. But the streaming and apps are awesome for in the truck, on the go, travelling ( especially work travel ) , and in the home office. It’s great.

The Otari MX50n sounds terrific. I can't bring myself to buy an audiophile 1/4" album as they go for $300-600 each!

I record new records on the Feikert turntable with the Koetsu cartridge into a EAR pb88 tube phono stage and then directly into the Otari with XLR interconnects. They sound terrific at 15 ips. I can get an album and a half on a single 10" reel at 15 ips.

The Otari does both NAB and IEC equalization. The Tascam 32-2 only does NAB. Almost all the prerecorded music is in IEC. Both the Otari and Tascam sound great.

And ... the reel to reel cool factor is off the charts.

Tascam 32-2 2 track R2R. I don't know what to do with it. I don't think I'll put it in the Harbeth/Line Magnetic system. Hate to sell it. I think I'll wait and make sure the Otari passes its checkup before parting with this beauty.

Correction. I can get 1 1/2 albums on the R2R at 7.5 inches per minute, not at 15 ips.