US audio magazine The Absolute Sound’s annual Editors’ Choice Awards have been published in the March issue, and this year there are 6 tape decks that pick up a ‘gong’. Last year’s awards (5 of them) went to combination of new, vintage and hybrid decks and this year’s selection follows the same pattern (and actually features mostly … More 6 tape decks in The Absolute Sound’s Editors’ Choice Awards 2024
In January I posted a review of the brilliant Saturday Night In San Francisco from Horch House, and this is kind of a P.S. to that review. The review focused on the music and on the recording quality, but I also wanted to mention the format and packaging of the tapes. Horch House have recently upgraded … More Horch House’s new tape formats and packaging
Boy, are these good times for Miles Davis fans! The folks at Hemiolia Records just keep on keeping ‘em coming with their incredible copy-master tape releases, and the next title has just been announced. Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain was recorded in late 1959 / early 1960 at Colombia Records’ 30th Street Studio (aka ‘The … More Another iconic album release from Hemiolia Records: Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain
Wowzer, this is pretty significant move in the context of reel-to-reel becoming more ‘mainstream’. London and Tokyo-based Gearbox Records is now making a big chunk of its back catalogue available to buy on copy master tape! There’s a long list of tapes available, each one copied direct from the original master to ¼-inch tape. The … More Gearbox Records offering master tape copies of their catalogue
If you follow this blog you’ll have seen some really exciting stuff going down in the world of tape this year. It’s been a bumper (and for me, budget-busting!) year for tape. My bank balance is now groaning at the seams but my tape collection is looking pretty darned awesome! I thought it might be … More Looking back at 2023: a great year for new releases on tape!
The ReVox B77 was a real classic in the world of tape decks, and was also relatively recent compared to some tape vintages. The MkI version was manufactured between 1977-80 and the MkII between 1980-1998. You can still pick them up on eBay at a variety of prices – and in a variety of conditions, … More In the market for a mint condition ReVox deck? How about a B77 (MkI or MkII) refurbed by ReVox themselves
Gillian Welch’s 2011 album, the Grammy-nominated The Harrow & The Harvest, described by the Washington Post as “Welch…at her haunting, heart-aching best,” will be released for the first time ever on reel-to-reel tape via her own Acony Records. Welch’s long-time collaborator David Rawlings says about the release, “as someone who spends a lot of time … More Gillian Welch to release ‘The Harrow & The Harvest’ on reel-to-reel tape via Acony Records
Amazing news folks… 2023 is the 20th anniversary of The White Stripes’ critically acclaimed album Elephant and the team at Analogue Productions and Acoustic Sounds are celebrating in the kind of style we music-loving audiophiles dream of – with a special re-release on UHQR vinyl, SACD and…. (cue drum roll): reel-to-reel Ultra Tape! I’ve got … More Analogue Productions & Acoustic Sounds announce The White Stripes’ ‘Elephant’ UHQR vinyl and on Ultra Tape
Some cool news this month from US-based RX Reels. Remember back in the New Year when designer Kevin Root put out a call inviting readers to vote on some of his new reel design ideas? Well, the votes are in and the winning reel is going into production. The new EDGE design will roll out … More New EDGE reel design from RX Reels
I’ve had a pile of scribbled notes on bits of paper, Post-Its, old receipts etc for ages listing some of the many and varied places for us tape-heads to get our hands on good quality accessories – from blank tapes and reels, reel hubs and adapters, to tape splicing kit, storage boxes, cleaning kit, deck … More Where to source blank tapes, tape reels and the full gamut of R2R accessories
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 