Whats your favourite manufacturer of Reel to Reel Machine

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What is your favourite manufacturer of reel to reel tape recorder

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I haven't yet had the pleasure to work with one of his machines, but you have to give John Stephens a lot of credit. His machines had several significant innovations:

1) capstanless transports introduced in the early '70s,
2) transformerless, unbalanced I/O, and
3) very compact channel electronics.

All of these innovations led to machines with superb transport performance and superb audio performance while at the same time offering machines that were much lighter and more compact than other competing machines. Even 2" machines were easily installed in compact, portable cases and his machines were very popular for live and remote recording gigs.

Cheers,

Otto
 
I like the Tascams, they look cool to me, and have a feel that they are built well. However, the little Fostex is nice too, because it is little, and light, and easier on the back.

But I also have an Otari 2 track, which is nice because it can select 3 different operating levels and has bias adjust on the front panel.

So it is hard to say a "favorite" because it depends on the application and mood.
 
I have to admit I'm really starting to like My Otari decks. The more I learn about my MTR-10 the more I like it.
 
I have Otari, Tascam and Revox decks on hand here..... hands down sound and build quality the Tascam wins. Of course the 42B was also far and away in the best condition when I got it..... but it's built like a tank, is completely modular (unlike the guts of the Revox PR99 - 4000 miles of wires in there!)and sounds really, really nice.

AK
 
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Lyrec here.
But I also like Studer, Stellavox, Nagra, Telefunken and Ampex.

"dolph"
 
Have an Otari MX 50/50 8 Track machine here, been using it for about 15 years.........just went over to the dark side though and have been learning ProTools
 
For flat out balls it tough to beat 3M machines, particularly a M56 2" 16 track

I owned a Stephens 2" 24-track for 5 years. Flat out gorgeous design and sound. More headroom than your console could throw at it. Only machine in my opinion where 15ips can sound like 30ips.
 
For home studio useFostex. Small, light, great sound, phenominal sync capabilities, light on the tape budget, built in dolby and in its day a much more friendly and ACCESIBLE service dept. Thats my story and Im sticking to it
 
It's criminal that Fostex, MCI, Ampex, Stephens aren't on here...I'm calling the Analog Police and filing a report :D
 
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