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Looking into R2R tape decks for digital transfer project

D

dyscer

New Member
tldr: Is it worth investing in a nicer machine (such as the Pioneer RT-707) for digitization and the start of a larger hobby, or would it be smarter to get a cheaper machine (~$100-$300) at the moment? How much does the machine affect the digital file quality? (Also, any tape deck recommendations?)

Hello all! I've been doing research into what tape deck to buy for a digital transfer project. I'm entirely new to vintage audio, but have several years of experience working in college radio and digital audio engineering.

My main priority is digitizing and listening to my college station's reel collection (3" and 7"). However, I'd also like a tape deck that could get me into the hobby (hence why I'd like to do this myself instead of sending the tapes off for digitization).

My top pick at the moment is the Pioneer RT-707. However, I'm not sure if that's an unreasonable purchase for someone with little prior knowledge and whose main priority is digitization. I'm willing to spend up to ~$600, but I know that there are plenty of machines which are much cheaper.

The specific questions I have are listed above in the tldr. Thank you so much for reading!
 
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The Pioneer RT-707 is a good choice. In general, the cheaper machines are going to cost you more money.
Huh? Well, the cheaper machines are the mechanical, lever actuated decks with one motor to operate everything. Because of this they have several rubber tired idler wheels to transfer the power from the motor to the capstan and reels. These rubber tired idler wheels are now 40+ years old, the rubber is hardened and they need replaced. But parts are no longer available so you have to send them to Terry Witt to be rebuilt. He charges $35 per wheel, plus $6 shipping, and it will cost you $6 to ship the wheels to him. Most of these decks have 3 wheels plus the pinch roller which also has to be rebuilt. Do the math.
Then when the deck is done it will not have as good performance as the more expensive decks. There may be audible wow and flutter (speed variations.) The frequency response may not be as good, and there may be more noise.
These tapes are being transferred for posterity so you want them to sound as good as they can.
Other good machines are pretty much any TEAC. Stick to decks that are operated by soft touch switches, not levers.
 
+1 on the RT707.

A good one will consume your entire budget, maybe a bit more. Be sure the heads are not excessively worn.

If you stay with the hobby, you will have a good machine-great/gentle tape handling, and solid audio specs. If you finish the project, and decide that tape is not your thing, you should be able to sell it and recoup your cost, or even make a buck or two.
 
Sounds like a fun project
When a good working machine comes your way, jump on it!
Machines that cost hundreds a few years ago are thousands today.
I don't necessarily have my nose to the air, but something is in the wind.
 
Thanks for the helpful replies everyone! Did some more research and turns out I should be looking for a 1/2 track machine (apparently most radio stations used half track). It's probably one of the first criterion I should have set but I'm glad I found that out before purchasing the RT-707. I'd still consider the RT-707 in the future if this turns into more of a hobby.

I'm now considering the Sony TC650 since there seems to be one available, although if anyone has other recommendations for half track decks on the cheaper side, I'll gladly take them!
 
Some machines can do half or quarter track depending on the selector switch position. My Sony 777S-2 has a pair of buttons to change play mode. Doesn't look like the Pioneer does
 
Our company does substantial audio/video archiving for colleges, sports team, libraries and museums... Of all our open-reel audio customers none have been 1/2". I've seen 1/2" and 1" master tape decks we used at CBS to transfer 15ips masters to 7.5" duplication masters, but not just for standard play. Most of our open-reel players are 1/4" Studer A807, or A810, or Revox. I did convert a Studer A80 to 1/2" once. Not for playback, but to use as an open-reel tape cleaner for EIAJ tapes. The head block was removed and replaced with a pellon tissue unit. The player was just used to move tape across the tissue to remove loose oxide. The transport conversion was expensive, around $1500, for new guides and tensioners.
 
A quarter track machine (like the RT 707 and 100's of other low to high end R2R's), will play 1/2 track tapes. The alignment of the play head will only see a part of the track, so output will be lower with resulting increase in noise, but quite listenable. There will be a channel output imbalance as well-easy enough to correct with your balance knob.

If quality of playback is non critical, then I would go with a 1/4 track machine-it will likely be the format you will record and play most of the time. If the tape bug bites really bad, you may find yourself looking into 1/2 track machines.

I have some needle drops on 1/2 track recorded tapes I bought. They are very listenable, and I have never seriously sought out a 1/2 track machine. I have several 1/4 track machines, so I am not averse to buying R2R's, obviously. 1/4 track at 7.5 ips works well enough for me. The idea of doubling my tape cost per hour, is something I avoid with 1/4 track.
 
Thank you all! Since I'm looking to digitize, I'm prioritizing playback quality so I'm switching over to looking at a 1/2 track machine. I'm not sure if I should start a new thread, but do people know of any 1/2 track decks between 300-600 USD? I'm having trouble finding any good resources online for help.

A seller has offered me $400 for a Sony TC650 in good condition. Would anyone know if that's a reasonable price? Again, there are barely any listings for one online so I can't do an easy comparison.
 
The 650 looks to be about a decade newer than my 777. My 777 was "functional" when I picked it up but the bearings in the motors and capstan were dry, the capstan belt was stretched, and it had a number of bad contacts on relays and on the plug-in boards. It also desperately needed at least 1 cap on the playback amp boards, but I did a full rebuild just to make it as happy as possible. I'd expect anything from the 70s to need at least a basic clean and lube, but possibly it needs deeper work in order to be proper functional. Just something to be aware of when looking at any of this vintage stuff. There is always the purchase price and then the rehab costs to consider. Money-wise I'm into my 777 for about 60 bucks but a LOT of hours. Experience would have cut that time down considerably but its still greater than zero.
 
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