Part IV of our podcast series on vintage audio is focused this week on reel-to-reel. This episode is moderated by Mitch Anderson of Black Circle Radio with our vintage hi-fi experts Eric Pye and Jeremy Sikora.
Reel-to-Reel Tape Decks get a lot of attention on the used market and with new models and pre-recorded open reel tapes gaining traction with audiophiles once again, there are a lot of factors to consider before taking the plunge. The format can offer a superior sonic experience when done correctly, but you do need to learn the basics so you don’t end up with a very expensive paper weight on your rack. The eCoustics Vintage team discusses the various types of decks, maintenance, tapes, operation, and where to start your journey. The reel truth about R2R Tape Decks is that they are worth the effort. Let’s begin.
Sponsored by: Howard Products – Keep your audio equipment looking as good as it sounds!
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Click play above or watch this episode on YouTube.
Find the entire Vintage Audio Podcast Series on YouTube.
About Eric Pye
Eric’s journey into vintage audio began in 2015 when his mum gave him the old family Technics SA-500 Receiver that had been sitting under the living room sofa for over 20 years. Soon after, his brother gave him an old Sansui AU-555 Integrated Amplifier. Two services and full recaps later, he was sold on both the nostalgia and quality of vintage equipment, and down the rabbit hole he plunged.
His Instagram journey began a few years earlier as @headfiyyc (YYC the code for Calgary Airport), with a focus on headphones and portable audio. As he dove deeper into vintage, his account focus shifted to amps, speakers and eventually turntables, with a heavy dose of jazz, resulting in a name change to @audioloveyyc to more accurately capture his account vibe. He currently has over 45K jazz and gear-head followers, many of whom have also become friends.
- Follow Eric on Instagram @audioloveyyc
About Jeremy Sikora
Jeremy has always been a music lover, but his path into the vintage realm started with a gifted Technics SL-1700 Turntable which sat with a broken stylus until it was paired with Marantz 2245 and Jensen Model 4 Speakers in 2018. From there the curiosity of “what else can I play music on” within a budget took over. Jeremy remains a fan of all things vintage, anything with an Ohm emblem, vacuum tubes, and especially a love for the fringe equipment of the hobby… and Depeche Mode.
As he learned so much from others on IG he created his own page @budget_audiophiler and shares his hits and misses of his audio journey with his 100K followers. The vintage audio game on IG is strong, welcoming, and generous!
- Follow Jeremy on Instagram @budget_audiophiler
About Mitch Anderson
All-vinyl broadcaster since 2009 via Black Circle Radio. Avid musician since the age of 8. Active recording artist. Mitch performs, records, mixes, masters, and cuts records with a pretty darn eclectic hybrid of vintage and modern equipment. If it’s the right sound, then it’s the right equipment.
- Follow Mitch on Instagram @black_circle_radio
Credits:
- Original intro music by The Arc of All.
- Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
- Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.
Kamal Alyousef
January 12, 2023 at 7:57 pm
Great talk, guys. So good to see the resurgence of interest in R2R, made my decade, in spite of the bloating prices. I’ll wait for bubble to burst and start buying R2R decks and maybe again own a Teac and a Revox like I did so long ago.