Messages

46

General Discussion / Re: CES reports

« on: January 12, 2009, 08:11:39 PM »

Well I am back from CES and semi-recovering from a red eye flight.  It was a great show overall, lots of enthusiasm.  Even though attendence was down, it was much more fun this year then last.  We got to talk more to the manufacturers and get better seating in the rooms for demos!

I got to spend some time in both the EAR and TAD rooms, which were both proudly playing the TP tapes.  The sound in both rooms was excellent!  Matter of fact, I was sitting right next to David Chesky on the last day in the TAD room and overheard him say he thought it was the best sounding room in the whole place! 

I got to bother DocB a bit at the TAD room and met "The Pauls".  Great bunch of guys.  I'm really glad that they are now modding the Otaris (I got to see the smashed modded one at least) because I think its a great deck with lots of potential (I'm biased though as I have 5 of them).  They are also hoping to offer kits for these mods down the road.

Finally, in the EAR room I was able to hear some cuts from the new series and also a cut from Waltz for Debbi, which is one I haven't received yet.  Oh my God!  The Waltz is unbelievable!!

Anyhow, just wanted to share some quick thoughts.  I'm sure glowing reviews for the TP stuff from CES is just days and weeks ahead.

Joel

47

General Discussion / Re: Wow! Thank you!

« on: January 07, 2009, 08:19:30 PM »

Hi Doc,
Does that offer go for us of the "selective subscription" variety as well?

48

General Discussion / Re: CES tape machine - Heeelp!

« on: January 07, 2009, 08:17:26 PM »

Well that news stinks.  I really wanted to see what you guys did to the stock Otari.  I have a bunch of them here but I don't know how I can drag it on the plane tomorrow if you know what I mean.  ;)

49

General Discussion / Re: CES 2009

« on: December 23, 2008, 09:15:55 PM »

If he doesn't have the Otari running by now, I can help him perhaps on site.  I have 6 of them on-hand and will be there!  Yuk-yuk!  :)

50

General Discussion / Re: Decent mention in 1/09 Stereophile

« on: December 19, 2008, 05:13:38 PM »

Saw it too.  Cool!

51

General Discussion / Re: ANYONE MADE 15 ips 2 TRACK COPIES OF LPs?

« on: December 18, 2008, 03:54:30 PM »

I have compared my LP's to 2-track 15ips dupes I've made of them.  Played back against each other they sound the same (and sometimes the tapes actually sound slightly better to me as do SACD's when I record them to tape even though many state this is not "possible") as long as your at 2-track, 15 ips or greater and your machine is calibrated properly.  

I use my open reel decks all the time to record from vinyl so that when I make a change to the turntable I can hear "before and after" the change.  For example, I make a recording from LP to reel with cartridge "a" on the turntable and then switch to cartridge "b" on the table and compare that back against the open reel recording I made of cartridge "a" in real time, levels matched to hear the differences between the 2 carts.

Comes in handy!!

As for comparing pre-recorded 7.5 ips tapes to their vinyl counterparts, well thats another story.  Usually, the LP will "win" because IMHO of the crappy Ampex tape they used way back then---little better then voice grade?  Still, there are pre-recorded 7.5 ips gems that beat the snot out of their LP counterparts.  Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" and Dave Brubecks "Time Out" are two famous examples that come to mind off the top of my head.  There are several others....

Joel

52

General Discussion / Re: The Audio Gods Speak......?

« on: December 16, 2008, 03:41:45 PM »

Hi Larry,
With regards to HRx and getting it to "go" on a PC, you certainly do not need 9k!  That's crazy talk there, IMHO.  All you need is a modern PC or laptop with firewire and a pro external DAC that does BOTH the A/D and D/A conversion at 24/192 will work.  Plus, as you say, lots of storage.

There are plenty of DAC's out there now that decode up to 24/192, but thats just the D to A side.  You need the A to D side too.  There are some cheap options out there that do the 24/192 both ways, like for example the TC Electronic Konnekt 8 at about $500 or better yet an Apogee Rosetta 200 (used ~$1200).  These have firewire, go 24/192 "both ways" and can interface with your PC and do the HRx stuff either straight from the PC or IMHO better yet, spit them out to high speed open reel and listen from that instead. 

I'm no expert on the subject, but my friend is, if you have any more questions email me offline and I can hook you up with him. 

Joel

53

General Discussion / Re: The Audio Gods Speak......?

« on: December 16, 2008, 10:21:41 AM »

Well, I got two comments.

First, why does everyone want a shoot out? What's wrong with having digital and analog sources in your system? We have never tried to push The Tape Project as the only and best kind of music source to listen to, just as one that we love and would like to share with folks.

Second, I suspect that TAS was maybe figuring we would park a machine, electronics and tapes with them for an extended stay as a lot of manufacturers do. As you guys who are waiting for your tapes know, we are plenty busy keeping up with orders right now. It could be a while before we can free up the resources to loan out a machine and tapes for review.

Well, I think the answer to the first question is pretty simple:  its human nature to want to compare things to find out which is "better".  Especially for audiophiles (cable a vs. cable b/dac a versus dac b/cd vs. lp/pressing of lp a vs. pressing of LP b etc.).  I'm not saying its right or wrong, but its just what we do.  The debate on "analog versus digital" has been brewing since the inception of cd, and I don't see the debate EVER ending with a clear "winner".  It's fun to debate and fun to compare the very best out there though, like the Exotic Dances example before us.  Certainly such a comparison will not declare a "winner" or make any kind of statement in the debate of analog versus digital.  All it will really say is that at that performance, what captured the event better and sounded better---Prof. Johnsons analog or digital setup.

I have heard first hand a piano/cello professional performance captured in 24/192 digital in one take and then direct to high speed open reel in the next take.  Comparing the "masters" against one another (playing back in real time the high resolution digital to the direct to reel recording) was very interesting and I can tell you in no uncertain terms the completely analog reel master sounded superior.  Thats PERSONALLY all I needed to know on the subject of "analog versus digital".

Of course I agree with you Doc that anyone serious about music MUST have both analog and digital setups in their systems.  The bottom line is that certain performances, certain material is available in either one format OR the other.  Relying solely on just TP tapes, or just 45 rpm LP's or just SACD's would be very difficult to do as you would run out of musical content of your liking VERY quickly! If you don't have both analog and digital, you're missing out on something (or you are simply buying on sound quality alone)!

As for TAS, I guess their loss is our gain.  It would have been neat to see a writeup though, to give open reel more "exposure" and that was all I was hoping that would happen.  The more exposure it gets, the better for us all!!

Joel

54

General Discussion / Cords.

« on: December 15, 2008, 09:01:38 PM »

$100 power cords???  No such thing exists to an "audiophile" who reads TAS except the PS Audio Power Punch power cord and the Audioquest NRG-1.  I should know, I have a few of both of them.

  $100 for a power cord is considered scum of the earth in the world of "audiophile accepted" power cords!!  A "good" one is typically in the $500-2k range for a meter!  See here:

http://www.thecableco.com/prodListing.php?cat=18
;)

55

General Discussion / Re: The Audio Gods Speak......?

« on: December 15, 2008, 10:24:39 AM »

Mr. Harley in an article extolling the virtues of all things digital; DACs/music servers/HRx media (from Reference Recordings) said this about tape....."even real-time copies of analog tapes suffer from generation loss.'

That's it folks.  In one dismissive phrase in an article which spans 4 pages of text and 4 pages of advertising the voice of TAS has given us the the roadsign for the future and it is not us.

Well, I don't think what he says is anything we don't already know.  BUT---doesn't ANY transfer from ANYTHING also going to suffer a "generational loss"?  To say that is just applying to open reel tape is a load of crap!  The transfer from say a 1" master tape of anything is going to suffer a small "loss" whether transferred to another tape, an LP, an SACD, whatever.  The only way you would not have ANY loss (at least that a consumer could get) is if something was recorded in pure digital and then downloaded directly to a music server or say the HRx stuff.  Even then, now you are relying on the music server DAC, or HRx data disc and its conversion to your PC to not have ANY loss (??) eventually spitting it out to your system.  In other words--not likely and there will be a "loss" somewhere anyhow.  No?

Hopefully those reading the article are smart enough to know this?

TAS promised in September of LAST YEAR to do an open reel shootout versus the other formats.  I find it odd that they are now (at least RH) taking a pot shot at it!

Joel

56

General Discussion / Re: The Audio Gods Speak......?

« on: December 15, 2008, 10:14:02 AM »

I read RH's article about the Reference Recording HRx format music. What I found most interesting was some of the language that RH used for the HRx was very similar to the experience I have had and written in TPF about the tapes that have been issued. Particularly the "spatial and timbral detail" and the "ease and grace."  Unfortunately, the source material for HRx is going to be quite limited at the highest resolution (176.4kHz/24 bit) if it was or will be originally recorded that way. We will not have the vast catalogue of great analogue tapes that the TP has access to and those great performances of the past. However, by coincidence, there are at least two points of comparison. THe RR Exotic Dances has been released on HRx and the Arnold Overtures is scheduled for release. So if someone who has the TP tapes also gets an HRx system, there can be a direct comparison of the two. It would be very interesting to hear a comparison of an end user version of Keith Johnson's analogue system and his digital system, side by side. Larry

I plan on doing just what you say as I have the ability to compare them (see here):
http://www.tapeproject.com/smf/index.php/topic,643.0.html

All I need now is my Exotic Dances TP tape and I'm ready to go.  I can compare this then to the Exotic dances HRx release.  The HRx releases sound EXACTLY as RH said above, and I would also use the terms "exceptionally smooth and silky".  They sound as close to the TP tapes of anything I have heard so far--SACD/DVD-A/LP @ 45/Blu Ray Audio/ etc.  The Dynamics are there in spades---just like the TP releases!!  I can't wait to compare them, though I THINK I know which one will "win"  ;)

Joel

57

General Discussion / Re: CES 2009

« on: December 15, 2008, 10:02:53 AM »

Thanks Doc!  See you there.....

Joel

58

General Discussion / Glorious!

« on: December 12, 2008, 05:28:54 PM »

Doc,
This is some GREAT news.  Just what I was hoping to hear.  I will be at CES this year, with bells on.  Last year I was there, but didn't even know about the Tape Project.  I "discovered" it while I was there in Winston Ma's FIM room last January. 

Hopefully, I will get to meet some of you guys finally in person.

Wow, if you get that Otari together there, that would be AWESOME!  I am up to 6 of them myself, and would like to see what type of mods you have come up with for them.  My stock Otari with head out wiring through the Seduction is very nice indeed.

Are you guys going to be at the Venetian again?  Any insider tips on what other rooms may be having open reel decks or TP tapes?  FIM again?

Thanks, Joel

59

General Discussion / Re: Anyone know what's going on at Otari USA?

« on: December 12, 2008, 05:15:46 PM »

Thank you ironbut for the advice.  I found out today the very sad news.  Sign of the times, I guess.  Mitch if your reading this---we Otari fans will miss you!!!:

Hi Joel,
>
> I'm so sorry for my late reply. Unfortunately, Mitch is no longer 
> with us. Without a parts specialist like him, we are having trouble 
> locating correct part numbers, suppliers, getting quote from them, 
> etc... I apologize for taking so much time giving you a quote. 
> Anyway, I just found out that we have the VU meter lamp here, so 
> here is a quote.
>
> LU2049  Lamp (for VU Meter ME11005), $3.04ea  in stock
>
> We are still trying to figure out the correct part numbers for reel 
> adjusting disc and NAB hub you requested. I will get back to you as 
> soon as we find out about them. Meanwhile, if you would like to 
> order the VU Meter lamps, please let me know. If you have purchase order, please 
> email/fax it to me. If not, you can just let me know how many you 
> would like to order.
>
> Thank you.
> Taka

60

General Discussion / Re: Anyone know what's going on at Otari USA?

« on: December 09, 2008, 12:20:08 PM »

Thanks Doc.  Hopefully Mitch is just on vacation or something!!!