By writing the exact same audio signal across more tape, reel-to-reel systems provide a greater fidelity than audio cassette. But to take this audio debate even further, reel-to-reel is often considered an even better audio alternative than vinyl when played at 7½ inches per second versus vinyl at 45 rpm.
Q. Why is reel to reel so expensive?
Reel-to-reel tapes are preferred by some music enthusiasts for a variety of reasons, most notably, they are much closer to the original master tapes than a vinyl record. Reel-to-reel is also more difficult and expensive to produce.
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Q. Can you still buy reel to reel tape recorders?
Studer, Stellavox, Tascam, and Denon still produced reel to reel tape recorders in the 1990s, but as of 2017, only Mechlabor continues to manufacture analog reel-to-reel recorders.
Q. Why do cassettes sound bad?
Cassettes don’t sound as good as CDs, Vinyl records,etc. because the cassette frequency range normally doesn’t go any higher than 15khz, so the highs don’t sound as good.
Q. Are cassettes high quality?
The cassette format was never a perfect media though and allowances need to be made in comparison to CDs or high quality digital files, however on a high quality cassette deck the sound can still be very good and the sound from cassettes (like with vinyl) is embraced by many artists and audio genres for helping give …
Q. Why are cassettes better?
Cassette are inherently noisier than CDs due to the nature of magnetic tape; however, noise reduction can greatly improve SNR. The SNR of CDs is about the same as the dynamic range — 96 dB. The SNR of a good-quality cassette deck can range as high as 80 dB with noise reduction.
Q. Can you still buy cassette tapes?
People still buy cassette tapes. Not many, granted, but a niche industry has formed around the decades-old music format. The sole refining factory that makes tape material is apparently facing renovations. That means a shortage has hit manufacturers.