REEL TO REEL AUDIO MACHINES

THE TRUE AND HIGHLY EXPERIENCED AUDIOPHILE ENTHUSIASTS KNOW, THAT REEL TO REEL AUDIO MACHINES STILL GENERATE THE BEST AND ULTIMATE SOUND

Reel-to-reel audio tape recording, also called open-reel recording, is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel that is not permanently mounted in an enclosed cassette. In use, the supply reel (feed reel) containing the tape is placed on a spindle or hub; the end of the tape is manually pulled out of the reel, threaded through mechanical guides and a tape head assembly, and attached by friction to the hub of the second, initially empty take-up reel.

Reel-to-reel systems use tape that is 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, or 2 inches (6.35, 12.70, 25.40, or 50.80 mm) wide, which normally moves at 3 3⁄4, 7 1⁄2, 15 or 30 inches per second (9.5, 19.1, 38.1 or 76.2 cm/s). All standard tape speeds are derived as a binary submultiple of 30 inches per second. The tape in a compact cassette is 0.15 inches (3.8 mm) wide and normally moves at 1 7⁄8 inches per second (4.8 cm/s). By writing the same audio signal across more tape, reel-to-reel systems give much greater fidelity, at the cost of much larger tapes. In spite of the larger tapes, less convenience, and generally more expensive media, reel-to-reel systems, which first started in the early 1940s, remained popular in audiophile settings into the 1980s, and are filling a widening niche in the new millenium. To enjoy our very informative VIDEO about the "HISTORY OF REEL-TO-REEL TAPE RECORDING", please click (work in progress)

ENJOY SCROLLING DOWN TO SEE A SELECTION OF THOSE FINE MACHINES, WHICH ARE STILL DELIGHTING TRUE AUDIOPHILE ENTHUSIASTS

WE HIGHLIGHT OUR FAVOURITE

STUDER A820

Considered by many experts as the best machine

TECHNICAL DATA

2 tracks stereo master recorder, ¼ inch (6,35 mm).
Master recorder on trolley with VU meter bridge.
Tape speeds: 30 - 15 - 7.5 ips (76.2 - 38.1 - 19.05 cm/sec.).
Servo-controlled tape transport.
3 DC Processor-Controlled High-Torque DC Spooling Motors.
Processor-Controlled DC Capstan Motor with Low Rotor Mass.
Processor-Controlled Pinch Roller Unit.
Spooling motor control with pulse-width modulation.
Equalization: CCIR - NAB switch selectable.
Tape A and Tape B switch selectable with independent setting and memory storage.
Tape Reel: AEG-DIN (standard), CINE (EIA) -Trident (Optional).
Reel size: up to 14" (35,5 cm) for metal reels or plates.
Balanced XLR input and output.
Digital real time display for all 3 speeds; H, Min, Sec.
Edit mode with Jog and Shuttle function Zero locator; Locator Play, Locator 1; Locator

2, Master Safe-Rec Ready button; Service menu with digitally programmable audio and tape deck setup with non-volatile memory storage
Library wind button to select a reduced spooling speed; Varispeed; Auto-Mute during FF-REW mode.
VU Meters, with independent potentiometers for line-input and line-output.
VU Meters monitor of input or output signal switch selectable.
Rec-Play calibrated and uncalibrated mode, switch selectable.
Buillt-in monitor speaker and headphone output (jack 6,3mm), for input or output signal.
In Line or Butterfly heads.
Buillt-in monitor speaker
Spooling time: about 70 sec. for 760 mt. of tape.
Weight: about 91 Kg
Dimensions: H x W x D, 1330 (with VU meter bridge) x 700 x 660 mm.
Power absorption: about 80 W in Stop, 130W Play-Rec, 160W FF-Rew.
Voltage selector: from 100 to 240 Volt, 50-60 Hz.