Otari Owners, please describe the sound

[iamhifi]

Hello To all with knowledge,
I currently I have a Teac X2000-R and I can describe the sound as being sweet and detail, very close to the source. What I will like to know if an Otari MX 5050 BIII the new one is just as warm in sound and detail, if it outperformes a Teac X2000-R. I need to know before I persue a new Otari.
Thanks,
Angel

[kevinkr]

Hopefully you will get the answer you seek, I can't imagine though that there are many who have both machines you wish to compare. I have an Otari, it is not the model you refer to, but an MX-55-T-M. What I can tell you is at 15ips it definitely makes fine dubs (almost indistinguishable from my source) and sounds quite good. I think you would probably have to purchase the 5050 and do the comparison yourself to know the answer... Once upon a time you purchased a Teac X200-R presumably blind, and that worked out well.

Either be willing to take the risk directly or take a risk based on the opinions of a total stranger.. Either way it is pretty much the same risk...

Perhaps purchase a much less expensive used BII version of the Otari 5050 and see if you like that, then risk the money on a new and rather more expensive BIII. Or?

[iamhifi]

Kevin,
I wonder what an Otary sounds but I don't know if the use route is the correct one. I really don't want to deal with having to fix it. And the fact that Otari is the only company that is making a deck I have to assume that technology for this deck has had to advance some. I also saw in this forum that Otary owners compare the 5050 with the best Studers. I understand that when new they cost an arm and a leg, but I don't want to end up really with more than one deck. I like the Teac but I wonder if the Otary will take it to the next level. Also I read somewhere that the Otari has test tones, I guess they behave as the cassette test tone, 400 Hz which is a good tool for different tapes. I hope that someone that has or heard both can tell me what they know.
Thanks,
Angel

[kevinkr]

Hard to know, I wouldn't bet on the Otari sounding a whole lot better than what you have. Perhaps you can get a deck through the fellows recommended at the Tape Project and know that you are getting pretty close to SOTA and in good running order.

Yes the Otari has a test oscillator 100Hz/1kHz/10kHz.. Not sure for normal use this is any great advantage.