A lifelong reel obsession: Neville Roberts recalls the tape decks he’s known and loved over the years – and celebrates the R2R revival

August 15, 2018

Audio journalist and regular Hi-Fi Choice contributor, Neville Roberts, has been fascinated by open reel tape for most of his life. Here, he casts his mind back over the many and varied tape decks he’s shared his life with to date. If you’re in the market for a vintage machine, there’s some great pointers here. … More A lifelong reel obsession: Neville Roberts recalls the tape decks he’s known and loved over the years – and celebrates the R2R revival

Review: ‘The World of Heavy Percussion and Large Japanese Drums’ from STS Analog

July 30, 2018

Back in May, as I was making my way around the Munich Hi-End Show, I spotted something that piqued my interest. Well, lots of things actually, but here I’m talking about a newly-released open reel tape from the confusingly-named STS Digital/Analog. (STS Digital is the original company name since they make digital as well as … More Review: ‘The World of Heavy Percussion and Large Japanese Drums’ from STS Analog

Spotlight on the new Ballfinger M 063 tape machines – x 4!

July 11, 2018

In early 2017 I hopped on a plane to Germany to visit the Hamburg Hi-Fi Show (Norddeutsche HiFi-Tage / Hörtest), having heard that a brand new tape machine was about to be previewed. The machine in question was the Ballfinger M 063. Fast forward to the Munich High-End Show in May 2018 and the M … More Spotlight on the new Ballfinger M 063 tape machines – x 4!

Metaxas & Sins will launch brand new open reel tape recorder at 2018 Munich High End Show

May 4, 2018

You’ve no doubt heard the rumours. You may have read a few teasers. Perhaps you wondered whether it would actually happen. It’s happening. In May 2018, high-end audio brand Metaxas & Sins will launch one of the world’s first modern day open reel tape recorders. If you’re familiar with the unique work of creator Kostas … More Metaxas & Sins will launch brand new open reel tape recorder at 2018 Munich High End Show

Open Reel Records does it again: the pure joy of discovering yet more world-class musicians I hadn’t heard of

February 21, 2018

You know that feeling when you discover a new musician, band, singer or orchestra… or, even better, a long-standing one that’s new to you but since they’re not actually new, there’s already a back-catalogue of treats to look forward to? Oh boy, is that a good feeling! Here’s what makes it even better: when the … More Open Reel Records does it again: the pure joy of discovering yet more world-class musicians I hadn’t heard of

Got an audio ailment? Need some hi-fi healing or reel-to-reel rehab? Allow me to introduce you to The Audiophile’s Clinic

February 16, 2018

Do you live, breathe, eat, sleep and dream music and sound? Then, dear reader, I’m delighted to report that I’ve discovered something that can help: The Audiophile’s Clinic. Don’t worry, this isn’t a rehab clinic. Nobody’s going to try to cure you of your addiction. On the contrary, the aim of The Audiophile’s Clinic is … More Got an audio ailment? Need some hi-fi healing or reel-to-reel rehab? Allow me to introduce you to The Audiophile’s Clinic

Will 2018 be the year of reel-to-reel, as Metaxas & Sins announces the creation of new ‘GQT’ Portable Analogue Tape Recorder, and the Ballfinger M-063 comes to market?

January 9, 2018

Here’s a new year brain teaser: what was first attempted in Austria, shortly thereafter taken up in Germany and is now being hotly pursued by a Greek? The answer (of course, given the above title) is the development of a brand new reel-to-reel tape deck. And whoever gets there first will have quite the world … More Will 2018 be the year of reel-to-reel, as Metaxas & Sins announces the creation of new ‘GQT’ Portable Analogue Tape Recorder, and the Ballfinger M-063 comes to market?

“Mike Valentine is to blame”: falling in love again or how I came to be a reel-to-reel rambler

September 20, 2017

In my previous ramble I introduced you to Mike Valentine. Then again, chances are you knew of him already. To some, he’s a renowned underwater film cameraman credited on an enviable list of A-list movies. To others, he’s the owner of the excellent UK audiophile record label, Chasing the Dragon, with quite a reputation for … More “Mike Valentine is to blame”: falling in love again or how I came to be a reel-to-reel rambler

Open reel tape versus direct-cut vinyl: two versions of Chasing the Dragon’s superb ‘A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald’ go head to head

August 18, 2017

Audiophile record label Chasing the Dragon has been causing quite a stir with its superb quality direct-cut vinyl albums. Earlier this year, the label also began to release master tape versions of those albums, taken from simultaneous recordings of the exact same live studio performances. As a lover of both vinyl and tape, I couldn’t … More Open reel tape versus direct-cut vinyl: two versions of Chasing the Dragon’s superb ‘A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald’ go head to head