Author: Dave Denyer

David Denyer PR & the reel-to-reel rambler

“A new standard in source components” – The Absolute Sound on the Metaxas Papillon tape deck

December 23, 2025

US audio magazine The Absolute Sound’s coverage of, and support for, reel-to-reel currently beats that of all other hi-fi magazines and webzines that I’m aware of, largely thanks to reviewer Jonathan Valin’s passion for all things tape – and indeed his ear for excellent sound in general, which he rightly identifies as reaching its pinnacle … More “A new standard in source components” – The Absolute Sound on the Metaxas Papillon tape deck

Oscar Peterson’s ‘My Favorite Instrument’ on tape reviewed by Neville Roberts

December 19, 2025

Big thanks to hi-fi journalist Neville Roberts, who reports here on Oscar Peterson’s My Favorite Instrument from Horch House / Revox. Horch House is a supplier of high quality copy-master tapes made directly from legendary analogue recordings. These recordings include classical works, jazz, blues and easy listening music. Horch House is now part of Revox … More Oscar Peterson’s ‘My Favorite Instrument’ on tape reviewed by Neville Roberts

Rhino High Fidelity reel-to-reel review #2: T. Rex’s ‘Electric Warrior’

December 16, 2025

This is the second of my Rhino High Fidelity Reel-To-Reel tape reviews, and this time it’s a band I’ve known and loved even longer than Yes – the subject of my first Rhino review. Here we have T. Rex’s Electric Warrior – widely considered to be Marc Bolan’s defining work. Back in my Celestion sales … More Rhino High Fidelity reel-to-reel review #2: T. Rex’s ‘Electric Warrior’

Hell, YES…! ‘The Yes Album’ from Rhino High Fidelity Reel-To-Reel – a review

November 7, 2025

Well, folks, this is the moment! Having championed the resurgence of reel-to-reel tape, with a particular leaning towards ¼” 15ips R2R master copies, for around a decade now, it seems that my Holy Grail has finally materialised… Not that I’ve been starved of incredible choices, mind. The past ten years have seen some very significant … More Hell, YES…! ‘The Yes Album’ from Rhino High Fidelity Reel-To-Reel – a review

Rhino High Fidelity announces brand new R2R series – opening with Yes’ ‘The Yes Album’ & T Rex’s ‘Electric Warrior’!

October 13, 2025

MASSIVE master tape news here folks!! LA-based Rhino High Fidelity announced on Friday that they’re launching a new Reel-to-Reel (R2R) series of releases, “reviving the legendary reel-to-reel tape format”. Rhino is a major outfit – basically the archive division of Warner Music Group, so it manages the back catalogue of labels such as Atlantic, Elektra, Parlophone … More Rhino High Fidelity announces brand new R2R series – opening with Yes’ ‘The Yes Album’ & T Rex’s ‘Electric Warrior’!

New from Hemiolia: Sonny Rollins Quartet – ‘Saxophone Colossus’

August 8, 2025

Regular readers here will know that Hemiolia Records, based in Italy, has an impressive catalogue of master tapes from which they’re releasing some really excellent quality titles over time. (Otherwise, if you’re new here and this is news to you, you can read my back-stories and reviews at https://thereeltoreelrambler.com/category/hemiolia-records.) Their latest release is another treat for … More New from Hemiolia: Sonny Rollins Quartet – ‘Saxophone Colossus’

New release from IPI – Stan Getz Quintet II

August 8, 2025

US-based International Phonograph Inc. (IPI) specializes in recording and producing “great jazz at the highest sound quality”. I got a heads-up from them last week that they’ve added a new, special Stan Getz recording to their master tape collection, which is from the same period as their earlier Stan Getz Quintet, January 1980 – New … More New release from IPI – Stan Getz Quintet II

Tape deck servicing & refurbs: what makes a good engineer and how to find one

August 4, 2025

If you’re the lucky owner of a tape deck, then at some point you’re going to need a good engineer in your address book (unless of course you happen to be one!). Similarly, if you’re browsing the marketplace for a vintage or used deck that’s going to need restoring or even a full refurb then, … More Tape deck servicing & refurbs: what makes a good engineer and how to find one

Bob Marley & The Wailers’ ‘Rastaman Vibration’ on Ultra Tape from Analogue Productions: a 4-way listening test

June 10, 2025

Amid the limited but ever-expanding catalogue of music available on reel-to-reel ‘copy master tape’, the recent announcement by Analogue Productions of releasing five albums by an artist such as Bob Marley was extremely big news! For me personally, this is something of a holy grail moment. I’ve been massively into Bob Marley since way back … More Bob Marley & The Wailers’ ‘Rastaman Vibration’ on Ultra Tape from Analogue Productions: a 4-way listening test

Review: Dave Brubeck Quartet’s seminal ‘Time Out’ on copy master tape from Hemiolia Records

May 30, 2025

The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Time Out is one of those absolute essential jazz classics. I’d personally rate it right up there alongside Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue as one of those albums that even non-jazz fans are likely to know, listen to and enjoy, if not have in their collection. Released in 1959 (as was … More Review: Dave Brubeck Quartet’s seminal ‘Time Out’ on copy master tape from Hemiolia Records