Reel to reel sound quality

How's the sound quality on 3.75 ips reel to reel tapes? 3.75 reel to
reel has the same width and the same speed as 8 track so theoretically
the sound quality should be about the same. Is this correct? thanks

Rusty

On 20 Sep 2006 21:14:56 -0700, "Rusty"
wrote:

How's the sound quality on 3.75 ips reel to reel tapes? 3.75 reel to
reel has the same width and the same speed as 8 track so theoretically
the sound quality should be about the same. Is this correct? thanks snip

Wrong. The track width of 8 tracks is less than half that of 4 track
3¾ RTR, so the sound quality is better on RTR. Dolby B improves
things a bit for 8 track noise-wise, and any RTR will sounds worse on
a bad RTR deck. Theoretically, 3¾ IPS RTR is 6 to 8 dB quieter in
noise floor than is 8 track at the same speed, and that gets boosted
up somewhat because the wider tracks in 4 track can take a higher flux
density than can the skinny tracks on 8 track, which is limited to 185
nanoWebers/meter.

The sound quality on 3¾ IPS RTR vis à vis 7½ IPS in the same format (4
track, 2 track, full track, whatever, as long as they're both the
same) is pretty inferior, with about half the top end response
(usually) and less bass headroom. Among track configurations, 8 track
is worse than 4, 4 is worse than 2, 2 is worse than full, ¼" is worse
than ½", etc. It's all about tape speed (to a certain point) and
track width in analog tape that makes for fidelity. Tape speed of 15
IPS is considered to be the best overall compromise, while 30 is
ideal. With width, the greater, the better, always.

Among collectors, 3¾ IPS reels are generally "gimmies," while 7½ IPS 2
tracks (Westminster, Capitol, Omega, Columbia, HIFITapes, etc.) are
the Holy Grail, if not demagnetized or otherwise degraded. However,
any 7½ IPS tape sounds like crap when compared to the same format at
15 IPS, the commercial standard. Figure this way: Top end at 3¾ will
be around 8-10 KHz and max levels will be low, at 7½ IPS the top end
can go out to 20 KHz and levels be somewhat hotter, and at 15 IPS,
levels can be at full "Ampex level" with top end out to ultrasonic
frequencies. 30 and 60 IPS are generally only for special uses, 60
having been obsolete since the '50s except in instrumentation and high
speed duplication. 30 was still used in both multi tracking and on
mastering machines until the end of the analog recording era, but only
on very special and/or complex projects.

Now, we expect some nonsensical, stupid post from Charlie Nudo in the
morning with lots of fabrications and outright lies on this topic, as
he knows nothing about analog tape technology and uses his asshole to
think. Just click delete.

Rusty wrote:
How's the sound quality on 3.75 ips reel to reel tapes? 3.75 reel to
reel has the same width and the same speed as 8 track so theoretically
the sound quality should be about the same. Is this correct? thanks

Rusty

Actually this is not true- reel to reel tape, although the same 1/4"
width, it 4-track. So the tracks are twice as wide as 8-track tape.
So the reel tape will have a stronger signal theoretically, due to the
wider track width per channel.

I've found they are about the same in practice- and the 8-track is much
more convenient to play.

If you are going to play reels, you may as well be sure to use the 7.5
IPS speed and get the full advantage of the wider track and faster tape
speed.

ps- don't listen to DeserTBoob, he's a poser !

On 21 Sep 2006 04:09:19 -0700, "duty-honor-country"
wrote:

Actually this is not true- reel to reel tape, although the same 1/4"
width, it 4-track. So the tracks are twice as wide as 8-track tape.
So the reel tape will have a stronger signal theoretically snip

Not "theoretically," moron...it's fact!

ps- don't listen to DeserTBoob, he's a poser ! snip

Quit plagierizing my posts, dimwit!