Top 10 High-End Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder Brands

An audio TAPE RECORDER, tape deck or tape machine is an analog audio storage device that records and plays back sounds, including articulated voices, usually using magnetic tape, either wound on a reel or in a cassette, for storage. In its present-day form, it records a fluctuating signal by moving the tape across a tape head that polarizes the magnetic domains in the tape in proportion to the audio signal. Tape-recording devices include reel-to-reel tape deck and the cassette deck.

REEL-TO-REEL or open-reel audio tape recording is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel, rather than being securely contained within a cassette. In use, the supply reel or feed reel containing the tape is mounted on a spindle; the end of the tape is manually pulled out of the reel, threaded through mechanical guides and a tape head assembly, and attached by friction to the hub of a second, initially empty takeup reel.

Tape Recorder News, Reviews & Resources

• Ballfinger’s beautiful reel-to-reel tape decks are for nostalgia lovers - "Ballfinger says its tape decks are designed for professional use and made of high-strength aluminum. All the elements for recording are on the right, playback is on the left, and drive functions are arranged in the middle."
• Buying a used tape machine - "Advice on acquiring and maintaining reel-to-reel recorders."
• For reel? The return of the most delicate, but most considered, kind of audio - The Telegraph.
• Metaxas & Sins: the Ferrari of audio - "If there's a specialist audio company that better exemplifies the meeting point between high end audio performance and objet d'art aesthetic than Netherlands-based Metaxas & Sins,"
• museum of magnetic sound recording - since 2012. "Preserving the history of sound recording."
• Nagra - "Over 65 years of innovation. Please enjoy this selection of Nagra historical products."
• Nagra SN - "Precision miniature tape recorder."
• Reel-to-reel audio tape recording - Wikipedia.
• Reel-to-reel tape is the new vinyl - "A guide to the latest trend in retro audiophilia."
• Sound Devices Recorders - since 1998. "Manufacturer of specialized audio and video for production." Portable production sound products including audio mixers, digital audio recorders, wireless microphones and related equipment for sound professionals. All models.
• SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION - Wikipedia.
• Tape recorder - Wikipedia.
• These analog tape & record players look gorgeous, but are only for the fabulously wealthy - The Verge.

Top 10 Tape Recorder Brands - Past & Present

• Akai - Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording.
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• Ballfinger - since 2005. "The ultimate analog sound is back." The M 063 H5 represents the upper end of the M 063 H range and is equipped with all the currently available equipment features. In addition, the otherwise optionally available wooden side parts and the equipment feets for vertical operation are also part of the delivery. In addition to the standard 2.00 mm track width equipment, the machine can also be supplied with 2.75 mm track width tape heads. All models.
• Lyrec - (1950-2004).
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• Metaxas & Sins - since 1981. ‘GQT’ (Georges Quellet Tribute) is a portable analogue tape machine designed for on-location recording as well as for home or studio playback.
• NAGRA - since 1951. "Recorded moments that never die..." Portable professional audio recorders produced by Kudelski SA, based in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. All models.
• Pioneer - Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording.
• REVOX classics - since 1951. "Reel to reel machines. Experience true studio sound." The world turns. Revox tape machines. A success story.
• Stellavox - since 1955. "Professional Audio Equipment." Company based in Switzerland and is most noted for their compact portable reel-to-reel magnetic tape audio recorders used by radio and TV-stations and motion picture location sound mixers as an alternative to the Nagra recorders.
• Tandberg - Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording.
• Teac | Tascam - Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording.
• Technics - Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording.
• Uher - Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording.
• Wollensak - (1899-1972). Wollensak reel-to-reel tape recorders were prized for their robust construction and value.