Reel to Reel, who uses one?

I've only had the chance once at an audio show this past summer to hear a reel to reel tape.  From what I remember, it sounded pretty good.  If you're an analog nut, reel to reel was supposed to be the pinnacle of analog sound.  All vinyl playback systems supposedly try to get as "close to the tape" as possible (if the original source recording was analog, of course).  You can still buy actual recordings on tape, which should sound even better than recoding vinyl to tape then playing it back.

I use one and have used it both for recording sessions and as a mastering "trick" to add some analog distortion to digital recordings.

They can be magical at times but can also be a real PITA.

I know.  I have to audience it one day.  But the 'disc' are sooo expensive I'm afraid I will only have a few in a lifetime.

But anyway, I will try to listen to it before making any judgement.

This was posted on Tone Audio's FB page today...

This NAGRA deck is in Claude Nobs home, he's the man behind the  Montreux Jazz Festival...

The stacks to the left are everything that has ever been recorded at the festival.

Nice home setup... Just had to share.

I don't think I have the space to store all those records.  But it's really amazing tho.

"if you have a record store near you an entire album usually goes for around $3-$5." - means? to record Vinyl to tape or?

DocB of Bottlehead has one.  To date, IMO, his reel-to-reel setup with his tube amps have been one of the best sounding setup to date.

I used to be in the advertising agency business. Radio creative was my thing. I created and produced radio commercials. From 1981 to 1992 it was all on reel to reel, everything, the music, s/x, v/o's, all mastered  eventually to 1/4 inch mono or stereo at 15 or 7.5 inches per second. I was in the studio every day then off to Federal Express to overnight the copies to radio stations in markets all over the place. No doubt, reel to reel can sound live. In the studio I quite often did not know live from recorded. But it was a hassle too, especially editing it. When professional DAT came out reel to reel disappeared overnight. I've been out of the advertising agency business for years but I still own a pair of Sony PCM-7010F DAT recorders and a Sony RM-D7200 dual remote controller which is essentially an automatic edit controller accurate within 3 frames. I use these units to record digital from the Internet  which cannot be downloaded. I also use the units to get digital to the computer. The sound is better than any other source component I have, that's to say, more life like. Only thing that's a problem are that these are professional units and are not easily integrated into a consumer system. I have had to purchase two M-Audio CO2's to make it all work and still input/output levels are in constant need of adjustment it seems. Nevertheless, these $7200.00 units can be found today on ebay for about $300.00, and, for what they can do make more sense than reel to reel. Once I transferred all of my commercials from reel to reel to DAT I sold my Sony reel to reel and have not regretted it.. .

Equipped with a good recording mic, reel to reel can be real fun. I don't think it would be used for editing or so forth however having an antique and recording and playing instrumentals is really a pleasure. Have heard and recorded from Revox B77 and Akai gx747 dbx and they're just awesome. To me the sound is more natural and how it;s intended when compared to digital recorders. 

Usedto have a Teac, used to have a turntable too. Ive grown up now!