The claim of the best reel to reel player

[iamhifi]

Hello Matt and others,
Check this link out.
http://www.unitedhomeaudio.com/reel_to_reel_hq_tape_decks.htm

Angel

[Web Police]

Interesting re-build. Maybe it is just the picture or my eyes, but IMHO that carbon fiber face plate isn't very good looking. :-?:

I like the original face plates better.

[niklasthedolphin]

Still just a mock-up on a consumers deck.

But a good one of the kind.

"dolph"

[Fast Forward]

Loan Me some Money

[Des-Lab]

If anything, it can certainly claim to be the worlds most expensive deck. At least as far as quarter inch machines go. I saw that deck (or one very similar to it) on Audiogon recently and the asking price was something like $6000 or something absurd like that. I was later informed that at least part of that price was due to the custom boutique carbon face plate.

No question that those decks are nice and those Technics decks are much sought after.

But for anyone to be able to stake an end-all, be-all claim with finality that one deck is "the best and that's that"?

I don't really think anyone can. For starters, what defines the "best" deck?

Looks?

Construction/durability?

Price/cost?

S/N ratio?

Frequency response?

Recording/playback and trueness to original?

Ergonomics/ease of use?

Flexibility/features?

Ease of servicing (although this begs the question of if a deck is "so" good, why would it need to be [easily] servicable in the first place?)

Pretty much anyone with a deck can probably make a solid argument in favor of their choice based on at least one of the parameters above. But still. That takes us back to square one. I don't see how anyone can define best "overall" deck simply because there are too many variables. So ultimately, the "best" deck is probably no more and not one bit less than what YOU think is "the best", based on YOUR needs, wants, and preferences.

[iamhifi]

I also think that price is overboard. Also check out a guy selling those on ebay with fancy faceplapes.
Angel

[iamhifi]

How does technics 1500, 1506, and 1700 compares to Teac X2000R, M?
In sound quality , built quality, and durability.
Angel