Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorders: a passion that started in high school

I spent my high school and pre-university education on scholarship at the Lenin Vocational School. The recreation day was special for everyone, because after lunch time, we did not have to go to study in the classrooms like every day of the week, it was a day to listen to good music, dance, enjoy with friends and give us our escapades of passion with a girl who attracted us.

But despite all this, there is something that from that moment on, touched my soul to always be shuttered among my passions. I am referring to everything related to music emitted by High Fidelity equipment.

I will never forget how I used to stay close to the audio equipment, consisting of Pioneer amplifiers receivers and baffles, and Akai and Sony reel-to-reel tape recorders.

The songs reached my ears with a quality I had never heard before. At that time having such high end equipment was not affordable for what most of our parents could afford to give us.

The album On the Radio by Donna Summer, A Night at the Opera by Queen, the song Telephone Line by Electric Light Orchestra, among others, still throb in my memory.

Once we graduated from that school that was our second home in 1983, I went off to medical school.

I was no longer content to listen to the sound of a Selena radio so I wouldn't miss American Top 40 with Casey Kasem with his hits of the week.

So I had my first component audio system, thanks to my mother, who bought me a Sanyo brand mini-system, consisting of a cassette deck, amplifier, tuner and speakers.

After a while, I sold it and bought another one but of medium size, and so little by little I improved the quality of the equipment, to be able to enjoy listening to the hits of the Pop music of the 80's in English, which is my favorite.

My journey through the career of medicine and my specialty, was embraced by my love of Audiophilia, especially vintage analog equipment, which are those that for me have a distinct value, and those that tie me that sentimental bond to my school years, and the beautiful experiences we had there.

Audio equipment has gone through many changes throughout its history, but among the lovers of High Fidelity we can never overlook the open reel-to-reel tape recorders. That's why today I want to share with you my collection and let you know something about them.

This type of component provides us with a great dynamic contrast that makes the music warmly perceived in our ears with a wide soundstage.

Although the sound of an acetate disc is very good, it does not surpass the reproduction of a matrix recording made on a professional reel-to-reel tape recorder.
Acetate discs were made from the tape matrices recorded on these analog machines.

Technics model RS-1500

Technics, a world-renowned brand, part of the Japanese giant Panasonic Corporation.

This Direct Drive model records at 2 tracks and plays back at 2 and 4 tracks. It uses three speed modes, with 15 fps being the one used at the Professional level.

It is a beautiful reel to reel that has been with me for years, that I love for its visual harmony, great durable construction, VU meters that dance with class, metal control knobs. Its crystal clear and warm sound caresses the most sensitive eardrums.

Audiophiles who know this model well, detailed in some photos published some time ago in a magazine and on the internet, that during a breakfast shared by the former president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, at his presidential home, together with Vladimir Putin, they had the company of a High Fidelity equipment. Precisely the tape deck they enjoy in their audio chain is a Technics RS-1500.

It is a very demanded equipment but its quality is worth its price.

Tascam model 42B

This 1985 unit was designed for professional use. It has 3 Direct Drive motors for the reel drive and capstan. It provides up to 15 fps speed for pristine sound quality.

Its large construction and its 32 kg weight are striking, making it a war tank. Its colors denote a military style, and the type of rear connections make clear the essence of its use.

It has 2 tracks, and 3 large heads with dust cover that lifts for better cleaning and renewal, with a digital counter.

Two beautiful vu meters that are illuminated in yellow and denote the seriousness of its design; with hands that dance with that majesty that characterizes this model.

Akai model GX-646

Akai is a well known Japanese brand that in this type of components marked a good legacy. It is a deck that was released between 1983 to 1985 and has a fresh look.

It brings some thin horizontal VU meters with needles that dance with a certain nervousness. A logic knob controls its correct operation.
It incorporates several automatic functions such as: timers, tape bias adjustment, memory for the tape position, etc.

It is an autoreverse equipment, with 4 tracks and 2 channels. With GX crystal heads that improve the dynamic range. It comes with 2 motors: one for the capstan and one for the reel drive.

Pioneer RT-707

Considered a pedestal among Pioneer tape recorders, due to its solid construction. It was manufactured from 1977 to 1984. Uses 7-inch open reels; superior to its sister model, the RT-701, which has no autoreverse function.

Great design, with vertical VU meters, which make Vintage equipment collectors prefer this model to models that have blue Fluroscan meters.

Although I almost always like to alternate analog audio sources, when it's my turn to give these old reel-to-reel tape recorders a power bath, and I listen to the same audio tracks that I once knew when I went to that school, I vibrate with emotion and once again cherish the fondest memories of my adolescence.

Thanks to those who read me. Have a good Thursday.

Own photos. Camera: Panasonic Lumix model DMC-ZS100 and cell phone Pixel 6A

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Text by Andrés Brunet

@abrunet

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