Amir Joins the club. Finally!

amirm · Aug 10, 2011

Yes it is true. Some of you may have seen me put up a mark levinson CD player up for sale. When Ki expressed interest, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to use that to get into this part of the hobby. I suggested a swap for a deck and Ki agreed. Today we did the exchange for an Otari MKIII.

Ki was kind enough to bundle a tape with it. We hooked it up to our Mark Levinson/Revel gear and my, what sound. Everyone was amazed at work at the fidelity of what we ere hearing. I must say, it has been 30+ years since I have been this excited about an audio equipment purchase. The sound combined with those wheels turning and meters bouncing is mesmerizing.

Of course, now we have to figure out how to explain that a company called "Madrona Digital" has analog tape in it.

MylesBAstor · Aug 10, 2011

amirm said:
Yes it is true. Some of you may have seen me put up a mark levinson CD player up for sale. When Ki expressed interest, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to use that to get into this part of the hobby. I suggested a swap for a deck and Ki agreed. Today we did the exchange for an Otari MKIII.

Ki was kind enough to bundle a tape with it. We hooked it up to our Mark Levinson/Revel gear and my, what sound. Everyone was amazed at work at the fidelity of what we ere hearing. I must say, it has been 30+ years since I have been this excited about an audio equipment purchase. The sound combined with those wheels turning and meters bouncing is mesmerizing.

Of course, now we have to figure out how to explain that a company called "Madrona Digital" has analog tape in it.

Did Ki weave any of his magic on the deck?

Congrats and as they say, once you've heard tape, there's no going back

Haven't stopped playing my deck since Charlie put the new heads in. What has been shocking is just how much bass was left off records, and esp. rock recordings.

RogerD · Aug 10, 2011

Amir Congrats!! Soon to be "Madrona Digital and Tape"

Steve Williams · Aug 10, 2011

Welcome to the "Dark Side" Amir

Indeed there is no going back

Tom B. · Aug 10, 2011

Amir-

Looks like you're off to a very good start, picking up a nice machine from a knowledgeable tape enthusiast. But be careful, these little machines are evil...they tend to multiply.......

Tom

mep · Aug 10, 2011

Congrats Amir. I was wondering if you were going to pull the trigger on a tape deck. Did hearing tape at MikeL's place help push you over the edge?

amirm · Aug 10, 2011

Thanks guys. No, it wasn't ML's session. I thought about getting one when I heard Steve's a year ago. The real reasons are much deeper than that though. When I was in my teens, I got into hifi and my dream was to get a reel to reel. I pestered my Dad forever but he would not give me $1,000 to buy a deck then (imagine that!

). We are talking 1975 dollars here. So my brother and I searched and found a low-end Akai I think. It never sounded as good as my friend's Sony. Fast forward 30-40 years later and here I am with the money but couldn't find the right deck to get. Searched on ebay for months and tried to buy a few but didn't work out. Tried to import one from UK even but that was a dead end too. Then came this chance. Having looked at the bigger machines I did not expect this one to sound this good but it did.

NorthStar · Aug 10, 2011

But where do you get the recordings?

amirm · Aug 10, 2011

That is the tough part

. Fortunately I am close to a bunch of tape addicts and I hope they can guide me.

NorthStar · Aug 10, 2011

Yeah, but to what genre of music, and is it suiting you?

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 10, 2011

Change the name to Madrona Media. It has a nice ring to it.

I miss tape. I owned a big Teac 3440 for many years. I love the meters, the big aluminum reels and, at 15 ips, the sound. To me, that's analog.

Tim

amirm · Aug 10, 2011

LordoftheRingsEE said:
Yeah, but to what genre of music, and is it suiting you?

Some of it such as the collection tape I got most definitely. It is true however that if you are not a fan of classic music and older recordings it is much harder to find items of interest.

NorthStar · Aug 10, 2011

You can always record some from LPs and CDs.

Or from Internet Streaming? Or...

naturephoto1 · Aug 10, 2011

RogerD said:
Amir Congrats!! Soon to be "Madrona Digital and Tape"

Amir,

Congrats on the new acquisition. You beat me; I have been waiting for 2 1/2 months for my upgraded hybrid Ampex R2R tape deck to be built as Roger knows. Maybe though you should reconsider the name Madrona Digital and Analog.

Rich

c1ferrari · Aug 10, 2011

Hahaha

amirm said:
Yes it is true...Of course, now we have to figure out how to explain that a company called "Madrona Digital" has analog tape in it.

I fully expect a clever solution, Amir
Seriously -- CONGRATS

DonH50 · Aug 11, 2011

Electrons have discrete spin states/Fermi levels, yes? And thus discrete magnetic field levels... It's all digital!

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 11, 2011

LordoftheRingsEE said:
You can always record some from LPs and CDs.

Or from Internet Streaming? Or...

You laugh, but I suspect the best way to create multiple copies of a great-sounding tape and preserve its magic would be to make a digital file of the closest thing you can get to the original master, then copy multiple tapes from there. Not to open the can, but that would make a very interesting blind listening test.

Tim

tony ky ma · Aug 11, 2011

LordoftheRingsEE said:
You can always record some from LPs and CDs.

Or from Internet Streaming? Or...

Back in 60 to 70, we put a R2R in our system, mainly for LP's or radio program's recording. saving money from copy right, sound quality can't be better than the original, but today copy right's value is not same as before and can be much easier in digital recording, those who want to step in again in R2R is looking for the highest sound quality and the machines are in pro or semi pro too, so the source has to be from master tape ( make live record by ourselves) or master dub to show the different quality of analog sound, otherwise it is wast to step in
tony ma

jazdoc · Aug 11, 2011

Welcome to the dark side Amir!

amirm · Aug 11, 2011

jazdoc said:
Welcome to the dark side Amir!

I rather think it is the "light" side.

BTW, the tape I have is the second generation from master tape. I need to hit Bruce B to hear more of the original masters (this tape was not from him).

Amir Joins the club. Finally!

Banned

Well-Known Member

VIP/Donor

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator

Member Sponsor

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

Banned

Member

Banned

Member

New Member

Banned

Member

Member

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor & WBF Technical Expert

New Member

Industry Expert

Member Sponsor

Banned

Similar threads