It’s good to see strong coverage of tape decks again in this month’s Editors’ Choice Awards 2025 in the March issue of US audio magazine The Absolute Sound. In 2024 we had six decks featured and this year it’s seven. The six are the same line-up as last year, which I guess isn’t too surprising … More Seven tape decks in The Absolute Sound’s Editors’ Choice Awards 2025
Greg Beron of United Home Audio’s Ultima5 tape player won in 2023 and in 2025 it’s the turn of his $55,000 Ultima Apollo deck. The Absolute Sound’s Jonathan Valin writes that it sounds completely different from any of his earlier Ultima decks, with its entirely new EQ circuit and a beefed-up gain stage. The Awards … More United Home Audio’s Ultima Apollo tape deck wins a Product of the Year Award 2025 from The Absolute Sound
The September issue of US audio magazine The Absolute Sound is out, featuring their annual Golden Ear Awards, in which each member of the editorial / review team selects a handful of their favourite hi-fi separates, whether longstanding references or brand new favourites. Jonathan Valin, who writes frequently about reel-to-reel tape, has included two tape … More Golden Ear Awards for United Home Audio and Analog Audio Design tape decks from The Absolute Sound
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
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!
Each November, US audiophile magazine The Absolute Sound showcases a selection of the world’s best hi-fi components in its annual Buyer’s Guide. In the just-published 2024 edition, five tape decks feature among the magazine’s top picks. The list pretty much mirrors the selections in The Absolute Sound Editors’ Choice Awards 2023, with the odd tweak … More The Absolute Sound’s annual Buyers’ Guide’s pick of the tape decks
Last year it was the Metaxas Tourbillon TR-X tape deck and now it’s the turn of United Home Audio’s (UHA) Ultima 5-OPS-DC to be awarded a Golden Ear by US audio magazine The Absolute Sound. Then again, UHA are no strangers to awards. Greg Beron’s SuperDeck 2 picked up The Absolute Sound’s Editor’s Choice Award … More “First rate”: United Home Audio’s Ultima 5-OPS-DC tape deck bags a Golden Ear Award from The Absolute Sound
US audio magazine The Absolute Sound’s annual Editors’ Choice Awards flag up a selection of the world’s best-sounding kit, and it’s great to see a category for tape decks again this year. In fact, the magazine has been a clear supporter of the revival of tape, with some pretty good coverage of decks etc. Last … More 5 tape decks in The Absolute Sound’s Editors’ Choice Awards 2023
“Alongside the UHA SuperDeck, the Metaxas Tourbillon T-RX is the highest fidelity audio component I’ve auditioned,” says US audio magazine The Absolute Sound’s Jonathan Valin. Considering Valin auditions the greatest hi-fi kit from around the world for a living, that’s high praise for sure! Each year, The Absolute Sound’s reviewers are asked to select those components … More Metaxas & Sins Tourbillon T-RX reel-to-reel tape deck gets a Golden Ear Award from The Absolute Sound
It’s great to see tape decks featuring in The Absolute Sound Editors’ Choice Awards again this year. Five decks have been singled out in 2022: one a vintage refurb, one a brand new design, and three hybrid designs – modern updates built using parts from vintage decks. Here’s a quick run-down of the five awarded … More Something old, new & borrowed: tape decks in The Absolute Sound Editors’ Choice Awards
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 