Technics Reel to Reel ULTIMATE GUIDE

[@raythomas4812]

I have a Studer B67 (ex BBC ) - Just been serviced ( Cost a lot ) but sounds truly amazing

[@Zp00kie]

That custom rig is absolutely a work of art! Wow! ❤❤❤

[@frankhugh2052]

It’s $18k and worth every penny

[@frankierodriguez8661]

I's obviously made to match with a McIntosh system and the price goes hand in hand, I think it costs close to 19K

[@BobGeogeo]

This is really fascinating. Reel to reell decks are so close to the "REAL to reel" history in many major pre-digital recordings (yes, that's a generalization). Thanks for the video.

[@donjordan9444]

I have an RS-1500 that was restored a couple of months ago (recapped, brakes, etc.). I've been digitizing 2-track and 4-track stereo, prerecorded tapes from the 1950s and 1960s. Great sounding deck.

[@summersky77]

I have an RT-909 that I bought 25 years ago because I loved how it looked and how compact it was. But I must confess, most of my tape experience has been on cassette. Though it has nothing on reel to reel, when the cassette format is pushed to its limit, it's quite remarkable how good it can sound. I'm using a Nakamichi CR-7. However, I loved seeing these Technics units...almost makes me want to get one. :)

[@sa8die]

i love your videos, your attention to detail is amazing, and your passion for high quality audio is impossible to hide,lol

[@mr.george7687]

Excellent video. I still have my TEAC 3300S from the 70's. Still works!

[@musicatropicalismo8786]

I have the 1500 and the 1506. They're identical inside and outside, except for the head block and the little badge in the bottom left. If I swap the head blocks, which takes 5 minutes with an allen key, the 1500 becomes a 1506 and the 1506 becomes a 1500. The only difference is whether it's playing or recording two tracks or four tracks [head block], but that is independent of the same two track circuitry in both of the models.

[@donjordan9444]

I have a 1500 and I would like the option of recording 4-track stereo. After the heads are aligned on the block, can you switch between them without any issues?

[@arfer1470]

I have a TEAC X1000r that I bought as a restoration project. Can't wait to get it running, just need to make space to strip and rebuild it.

[@HMinot]

We had 1520s at WPKN/Bridgeport CT. Great sturdy machines. I still have the Revox A77 (half track, high speed) that I bought in 1971.

[@jensj.jensen5462]

Interesting video. These machines look fantastic but I am more interested in the Revox PR99 MKIII or a studer A807 for my home studio.I live in Copenhagen, Denmark so I need to find it here.

[@aetopus1228]

When I was a teenager, my dad purchased a 1506-US while stationed on Okinawa in the late 1970s, and I quickly commandeered it when he returned home (along with his Marantz receiver and Technics 1200). At the time, I had no idea how good I had it. I'd give a brand new LP one play, then record the second playthrough to tape at 15 ips in order to keep the record in near-mint condition. I had to move all this equipment on years ago, because I was a young adult on the move and couldn't afford to maintain the pieces, but for anyone getting into the hobby now, I can guarantee that the tactile and audio experience is well worth the money if your speakers and room are up to the task. If I could wave a magic wand, I'd want all that gear back today.

[@davidm4689]

Wow, I learnt so much about a format that always intrigued me. Thank you!!

[@SkyFiAudio]

You are so welcome!

[@SDsailor7]

@@SkyFiAudio Very interesting and informative video. 👍 Thank you

[@archiemacdonald553]

yes love the reel to rel had one many years ago .now it's cds oh well still nice to look at 😊

[@robertbrumbaugh4634]

I inherited a Tandberg 64X deck for free. Is it worth replacing the belts and whatever needs fixing? It hasn't been used since CDs came out--1985. It looks brand new without taking the back off. Very clean. The heads don't look too worn. It has 4 of them: 4-track record, playback, erase, and high bias head opposite the record head. The pressure pads might need replacement. I think it was bought new in 1968.

[@theonl1128]

Yes, you are so right, digital music recorded on tape at 19cm/sec or higher sound a lot warmer. 😊 I do that already for decade's. I use two Revox B77 mkII recorders, almost de same as the PR 99. Great Videos you are presenting, thank you for that from The Netherlands. ❤

[@jb.2986]

That technics 1520 is gorgeous with that McIntosh look. Surprised it’s not auto reverse capable. Love the Akai 747 too. We have a fully restored custom McIntosh look Akai G266D in our system. Love it! It has the glass heads. Any advice on those Fernando. Glass heads reliable? Thanks again for your vid’s.

[@gotham61]

Not much point is having auto reverse on a 2 track deck.

[@jb.2986]

@@gotham61 ahh. Good point. A 4 track auto reverse in that custom look for Technics would be the bomb.

[@Roskellan]

I found a RS-1506, heads are fine, plays and records really nicely. The counter does not work and the brakes need a little adjustment but hey I'm happy 🙂

[@pcbuilderlover4271]

Learned a lot. Thank you

[@mcgjohn22]

Nice overview of reel to reel. So many do not understand the difference between 2 track and 4 track vs. 2 channel and 4 channel. The only thing I would add is on the machine with the XLRs a user needs to check which pin is used as hot. On earlier machines, pin 3 was hot; later equipment has changed to pin 2 as hot. And if you really want to go nuts, you can get into half inch tape 2 track machines.

[@SkyFiAudio]

Oh good point on the XLR jacks, thanks for sharing. Took me a while to understand 2 vs 4 track so I thought there would be others out there with the same confusion. Glad you liked it.

[@SDsailor7]

@@SkyFiAudio I have the Technics 1500R-US and have replaced the brake pads and inverted the rubber valve on the accordeon dampers? and the reels when the tape ends the reels keep on spinning is the problem something else? maybe the stop switch that needs cleaning? i cleaned the switch about a year ago and i hardly use the machine. Thank you

[@tmdillon1969]

There's a 1700 in my neighborhood for $1500 on Marketplace. Very, very tempting. There's also a TEAC for X1000-R for $700 that isn't as pretty but the cost is better. Decisions, decisions.

[@keithlloyd5280]

I noticed the mains voltage is 120v on those R2R machines. Here in England I am presuming they are set for 220-240 volts. Enjoyed the Video. My Home system is a Kenwood M82 purchased in 1989 need a mtaching R2R if possible.

[@dalemettee1147]

If you notice the machines without th plate on the front panel (on the left is the newer version. I had one of each. (RS 1500's).

[@SkyFiAudio]

Oh great tip. Was that the only difference? I know some had voltage selection and others didn't.

[@dab7963]

Great video. I restore old dance reel to reels. I have a Revox MKii B77 4 track. I play one side and then flip it over and play side 2. On the Technics 1500 will it also play both sides like my B77 does now?

[@mandeepbhohi4288]

Very beautiful. Love it want to buy

[@antonyharding5360]

Enjoyed the vid, Thank you... Regards Antony, Warrington Cheshire England..

[@fmw63]

I had a Technics R&B Series R-R, the RS10A02. It looked just like the 1700 , but rack mount, 2-track and with calibration controls at the bottom.

[@rvt911]

Can you play 7 inch reels on this these Technics, is there a switch or button to indicate it’s a 10 inch reel or 7 inch reel?

[@bogdanisandu]

Nice video. Great job. I own the TEAC A 3300SX. Excelent deck.

[@manic_stewie]

I've gone through a few different machines where I've landed on the revox PR99 mk2 as the main machine.

[@gotham61]

I have a stock RS-1520. Awesome and versatile deck.

[@karijohartmann2649]

One thing you can do with these and the right turntable is make a half-speed mastered vinyl copy! If you have a perfect vinyl copy... And want to make that one perfect vinyl transfer... doing this at half speed will get you the best result you've ever heard from vinyl. For instance, there are some transients in vinyl. That really can't be reproduced at full speed! The pressing machine can make these sounds... But they are sounds that cannot be physically reproduced fully. There used to be the test of all great turntables, the cannons firing in the 1812 Overture. Most turntables couldn't track it. It was a ridiculous and huge groove with a nearly lateral-looking transient you could see with the naked eye! There were some turntables that could reproduce this with some tweaking, but not many. And those that could, had the problem of overmodulating every piece of gear in their system! But if you were to record this at half speed, It would be easy to track and you would get the entire signal with no tracking errors. And every vinyl disk has this potential for tracking problems on a smaller level, but also to have them eliminated through this method.

[@Madjed2024]

Hello Fernando I have an AKai GX77 in excellent condition. All of the sudden it stopped recording but still plays What do you think happened? Do you guys repair these ? I also have a full restoration kit Do you guys replace these components? Where are you guys located?

[@chrislj2890]

How many people will buy these just for the retro-cool factor and never really use them? I get a chuckle when almost every video on KZbin, whether music related or not, has a guitar in the background. That said, I'd like to have one myself even if I never used it, lol.

[@PorscheChile]

Hola…Fernando estoy curioso quería decirte o para que denuncies en Ebay que hay personas que están usando tus fotografías de algunos de tus reel to reel a la venta…ahora se ve mucho fraude en Ebay…,saludos excelentes tus vídeos..,

[@bryce1916]

I grew up in the age of real to real ,albums and record players and I ask why ? I can put a thousand songs on a USB stick and away I go . These things were a pain in the ass . Well there is my point but personally I have no intention of going back to these fossils .

[@FirstLast-gs8tt]

These are cool looking for sure but a Studer A810 will kick the pants off of these in performance!! So given the fact that we listen to Audio Vs. Looking at it, a Studer machine is highly more desirable.

[@ronaldmorris3197]

Not everyone has $20K to spend, and a forklift to move an A810. Plus they are not good looking. I love the look & sound of the Technics 1500 series.

[@FirstLast-gs8tt]

@@ronaldmorris3197 Definitely understandable. It took me several years to save up for an A810, so I can certainly respect that!

[@audio-vintage]

Это прекрасно It's beautiful!

[@johnroberts4571]

Awesome video

[@bobsbits5357]

hi it may be better to go to the eu for a deck i don't see alot in the uk all the decks i have had needed work i do love the one's i can fix up easy like the tascam 30 line i have a jazzed up suclly 280-14 with alot of parts from many model like tascam 38 and otari mtr 12 motors left over parts i have a killer 14 inch 2 sizes of tapes them otari mtr 12 motor are 1.6 amps each the deck in the video are under power for the home market place to be safe for the user if the servo speed wire in side a tascam 38 come out the servo motor goe's nuts i did it my miss take once them tascam 38 can do 30ips easy

[@chris-non-voter]

I have a Studer A807 Mk II 1/2 track 3-3/4" 7-1/2" and 15" speeds in excellent working and cosmetic condition. It is not an attractive looking machine because it was a studio work horse. In the UK its worth nothing. I also have about 70 10" NAB spools of tape - worthless. Very sad. I used/use it for recording live FM broadcasts of classical music concerts from the BBC.

[@edd2771]

Good interesting info but with the cost of the media and the vast majority of your machines selling over $5k, this is rarified stuff…

[@bobsbits5357]

hi have a RS1700 i got at a good price note i dropped a 14 inch x 1/4 tape on the right side as i look at it the thing that hold the nab on came right of lucky i am a tec with the right tool i d to pull the motor a part and drill the bad part of the reel table out and put a brass plug in with a M4 tap the deck runs ok i only use the deck with 1o inch only so beware it's so easy to lose alot of money after you have got a deck the best ok model is the soundcraft 381 - 8 4 track or the brenell mini 8 they are easy to jazz of repair

[@saint6563]

Now you're just showing off!! hahaha Actually a great vid. Congrats.

[@quangphuongbangcoiquangphu7330]

In Việt Nam love like play tape sounds

[@weeweed86]

Thank you for the education on high end reel to reels. I have inherited my grandmothers collection of reel to reel recordings of song she has written and recorded back in the 70's. Her reel to reel was a pretty simple one Realistic from radio shack if I remember correctly. Most tape is on 7 1/2" reels. I just need a machine to use so I can convert them to digital so they can be shared with the rest of the family. Any suggestions, I need one as cheap as possible.

[@kevinhamming4514]

I have a Denon cassette tape deck with HX pro, Dolby b,c, s, bias adjust, tape tune which calibrates for each tape, metal tape high bias. I have a Denon turntable with MC cartiridge For 730 dollars, and the same aprox for the turntable I don't believe spending $20,000 is going to give the same boost in quality. I have not even priced for blank reel to reel tapes, Masters and prerecorded are prohibitively expensive. I know the quality is good, but it doesnt makes sense to get a reel to reel deck. The cassette deck is refurbished and comes with a 1 year warranty. my first choice would be a teac for possible cheaper cost and better reliability, especially one without computerized tape functions.a bare bones 2 track machine would be best quality, with all machine manual controls, and no digital crap inside, preferably with a tube preamp. That would be better and more reliable, but still dont make sense unless Im buying master vinyl recordings. So tell me , what specifications really matter? I have 20-20khz freq response allready. Whats distortion spectra on a reel to reel?

[@johnnytoobad7785]

I used a REVOX A77 back in the 70's to copy LP's before they got "used". Never use it anymore. I should dust off that unit and sell it to SkyFi audio.☺

[@SkyFiAudio]

The A77 is a solid machine. I would keep it for sure.

[@TheGrantourismo]

Hard to name it "Ultimate guide". Also, cassette 4-track system is described incorrectly, both stereo tracks on cassette are adjacent.

[@turbomustang84]

I love the look of Technics reel to reels but they are overpriced and over complicated. I'll stick to my Teac A-3000 10" that will function perfectly well after I'm dead lol

[@sungjungro5444]

I’ve got techniques, the black one

[@johnsradios484]

A very expensive format!

[@LA-db9xj]

Great video! I have a mint condition Teac X-2000R. I bought it new in 1983 over in England at RAF Lakenheath. Still enjoying my R2R!

[@AudioFileZ]

Yes, reel to reel tape recorders are back...if your last name is Musk.

[@analoguecity3454]

If your going to use music as a "background" , why even bother! You'd be fine with mp3! Hi resolution digital and good analog is made to pay attention and get lost in the music!😊

[@analoguecity3454]

Niether tape nor LPs wear out! As long as you don't abuse them or play them back on a lousy playback system! Im 53 , you young folk got a misconception on analog when it comes to wear! Ive got a 50 year old LP that ive played personally hundreds(yes hundreds) of times and it still sounds fantastic, and who knows how much the previous owners had played it! The plasticizers on the vinyl "snaps back" into shape after 24hrs, so don't play one LP multiple times in one day! Tape is similar where if cared for, doesn't matter how many times you play it as long as care is taken! I just find it a damn shame young people have this misinformation and believe it to a point where they are afraid to play their music! Take it from an old fogie whos experienced this stuff for years!

[@ExplorationProject]

There is no such thing as a half track quarter track. You must have meant the tape size! There are two track, four track, eight track, sixteen track, twenty four track tape machines.

[@sanolivo6867]

Not sure what's the glorification of Technics Reel to reel machines, they don't sound as good as Akai or Teac. Not to mention they have no features. The Teac X1000R is a better machine. Loaded with features better sound and half the price or less.