joessportster Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Recently picked up Bobby's Otari 5050 2hd and a lot of tapes as well. I am frankly shocked at the SQ, I cleaned the heads with Q-tip and head cleaner and WOW. The tapes are all the record on type not pre-recorded. Several appear to be stock from an 80's POP radio station. A good mix of music but what strikes me is its dead quiet analog sound. Have to wonder why they ever moved away from reel to reel. Now I have to go investigate all the best ways to use this deck and keep the Tape in good shape etc... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Tape is awesome. I just found vintage tape brittle and the rest of it just wasn't what I wanted to listen to. I'm not sure sound quality gets much better than tape. It is astounding. I drove three hours to pick up an Otari and they sold it out from under me for $50 more than I offered.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Yes; love R2R. Have a Teac X-1000R and it sounds great. Unfortunately I only use it maybe twice a year 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted August 10, 2019 Author Share Posted August 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Emile said: Yes; love R2R. Have a Teac X-1000R and it sounds great. Unfortunately I only use it maybe twice a year Just opened up the Otari and it has no doubt been serviced, VERY clean inside no dust nothing. My understanding is Bobby got this deck from Cigarbum when he liquidated his system. As memory serves it was mentioned. I had a Teac a few years ago as well as a pioneer 909 & 707 none sounded as good as this deck but I suspect that has to do with service and the recordings. 7.5 IPS radio station recordings (Recordings made for air by the station) are superb. Im not much on 80's pop but its fun to put on a tape and walk away for 2 hours and just see whats on there. Rather large assortment of music 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 4 hours ago, joessportster said: Otari 5050 Those are excellent decks. Otari made decks to handle all the way up to 2" tape. Always wanted one of their 16 track machines... Never, never could afford one. I'm a little jealous, but I can record more tacks on my computer now, with a higher quality. Just the way things go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkwa1959 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Oops looks like you’re hooked , I am glad you are enjoying the reel to reel and the tapes.I have met some nice people on this forum and all of my dealings with members have been nothing but positive.Joe enjoy your deckand tapes,thanks again . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmi Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Otari has a good reputation as a dependable deck. What type of heads on it, 2 track or 4 track? I have 4 decks (2 Ampex and 2 Pioneer) and they are all 2 track. You lose half of your recording time, but the sound is much better. Watch out for older tapes, there is something called sticky tape syndrome. The coating on the tape will be sticky and gum up your deck in a hurry. You will know right away if you run into one. They're are a couple of companies making brand new quality blank tapes, and the prices are often comparable to what people are selling vintage tapes for. Old Maxell and TDK tapes hold up good. Ampex tapes not so much. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1290 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 I recorded a tape once on my high $ Sony deck in stereo of this dude I knew. I bought the deck just to record him. The ONLY reel I ever cherished and held close to my heart. He did it just for me and now he's gone. I went back years later to listen to it for the third time and it was a total waste. No sticky tape. More like glued together. Heartbreaking to say the least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 My Otari plays either 4 or 2 track, I Bought several tapes from Bobby as well 20 of the Maxell UD 35-180 all in the black & Blue Boxes, 6 of them seem to be unused the rest appear to be from a radio station They have a sticker stating for air play only & can not be sold etc... Its incredibly well recorded zero noise and a varied selection of 80's pop / rock as though they would play a few tracks pause the tape make announcements etc.... restart the tape. they are all recorded at 7.5 IPS as well 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkwa1959 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Joe, looks nice and I have been playing with the Aric Audio amp today ,I put a pair of Telefunken 12at7 tubes in the amp and they really matched up well with the amp.I was getting ready to list it for sale.I can’t play everything,but after today I may hold off on trying to sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 3 hours ago, kevinmi said: Otari has a good reputation as a dependable deck. What type of heads on it, 2 track or 4 track? I have 4 decks (2 Ampex and 2 Pioneer) and they are all 2 track. You lose half of your recording time, but the sound is much better. Watch out for older tapes, there is something called sticky tape syndrome. The coating on the tape will be sticky and gum up your deck in a hurry. You will know right away if you run into one. They're are a couple of companies making brand new quality blank tapes, and the prices are often comparable to what people are selling vintage tapes for. Old Maxell and TDK tapes hold up good. Ampex tapes not so much. Nice, but aren't the orange reels a bit ostentatious? JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 You can buy brand new tape if you are interested... No need to buy someones new in the box 30 year old tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 I have a Teac A-2340-R...with DBX II model 124 (quad) noise-reduction unit for it...ever since 1975 when I bought them new...along with a pair of Soundcraftsman 20-12-A equalizers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmi Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 14 hours ago, JJkizak said: Nice, but aren't the orange reels a bit ostentatious? They're actually more of a tomato soup red color in person. I've got blue ones, too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Yes the sticky tape issue is real. I bought a bunch of old radio station ampex tapes and they instantly gummed up my Otari. Cleaning it was a PITA. Only new tapes for me now. Some folks have has success "baking" sticky tapes in a food dehydrator. But using tapes is a big enough production as is without the added work that would be involved in baking tape! Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 22 hours ago, kevinmi said: Otari has a good reputation as a dependable deck. What type of heads on it, 2 track or 4 track? I have 4 decks (2 Ampex and 2 Pioneer) and they are all 2 track. You lose half of your recording time, but the sound is much better. Watch out for older tapes, there is something called sticky tape syndrome. The coating on the tape will be sticky and gum up your deck in a hurry. You will know right away if you run into one. They're are a couple of companies making brand new quality blank tapes, and the prices are often comparable to what people are selling vintage tapes for. Old Maxell and TDK tapes hold up good. Ampex tapes not so much. Those are nice decks. The Ampex ATR-700 was made by TEAC. Great machine 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Once I had a fly land (or attempt to land) on my pinch roller while the TEAC R2R was running...gave a whole new meaning to the term "sticky tape"...by the time I got the deck stopped it was way too late to save the tape...and I had to hurry-up with the Q-tips and rubbing alcohol to get the deck cleaned before "squashed fly" residue dried-up on everything it had spread to on the deck, itself!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmi Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 20 hours ago, Marvel said: Ampex ATR-700 was made by TEAC. Great machine I've got 2 of them, one is 3 3/4-7.5 speed two track, one is 7.5 -15ips speed two track. Both have 4 track playback heads as well. The Teac branded one is the A7300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmi Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 19 hours ago, HDBRbuilder said: Once I had a fly land (or attempt to land) on my pinch roller while the TEAC R2R was running...gave a whole new meaning to the term "sticky tape"...by the time I got the deck stopped it was way too late to save the tape...and I had to hurry-up with the Q-tips and rubbing alcohol to get the deck cleaned before "squashed fly" residue dried-up on everything it had spread to on the deck, itself!! That's why you should only play tapes in a "no fly zone"! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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