Sony Reel to Reel

[M Havlen]

I was recently given a Sony TC 500 Reel to Reel. I'ts in great shape and seems to work fine. Did these things go by the wayside when CD's came along? I don't see to many of them around any more. I't's a great looking piece of equipment, but i wonder what use it will really be in my studio. I't's old..80's model i think, mabey even older, and the fidelity is no where near CD quality sound, even after a good cleaning. Can the Heads on this thing be upgraded? Is there better tape available these days? And where could i get these items? Thanks alot.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Wow!

One paragraph, 3000 questions!

Consumer reel to reels went by the wayside when decent cassette tape decks started to come out in the mid 70's.

Consumer reel to reels remained as a snob appeal type piece of equipment for many high end users who bought machines like the Revox B77's and PR99's or the Technics or Pioneer or TEAC high end machines of that golden era from the late 70's to the early 80's just before CD's came out and changed the way we listened to music.

As for your Sony TC500, I am not sure how high end that machine was to begin with but, changing heads is a radical and way over the top suggestion to try to improve the machine's performance.

Cleaning and demagnetizing the heads and putting on a fresh, new roll of Quantigy456 or 457 open reel tape might go much further toward getting the machine to sound it's best.

What did you have in mind to do with this machine as far as using it in your studio was concerned?

Cheers!

 

[M Havlen]

Thanks for the input Ghost, I doubt that i will actually use this thing in my studio. I just didn't know much about them. It looks cool though! Mabey i'l keep just keep it as a conversation piece...i can see it now, "jee mister, what kind of machine is that.." "well buckwheat those were used to record with before computers and CD's came along" Hmmm, that might date me, what the hell...I like the vintage appeal. Thanks again