TOP Reel to Reel Playback | The Occasional Podcast

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 6! This week on the Occasional Podcast, Reel to reel listening has been called the new vinyl and it also could be in smack-dab in the middle of its own analog renaissance. In this episode, we explore the R2R labor of love with expert-on-the-subject Greg Beron of United Home Audio.

In this podcast: R2R is a quick trip down a path that has no end for hardcore enthusiasts of the uber fidelity choice for playback. We consider some of the positives and negatives against the more popular vinyl options and take a hard look at some of the more extensive costs associated with maintenance, upkeep, and source material with the addition of reel-to-reel. Special thanks to Bryan Beasley in the co-host chair.

You can stream the latest Occasional Podcast direct from the embed below, or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, and more.

And don’t forget to check out the Part-Time Audiophile review of the UHA Phase 10 and Phase 1 tape machines!

From the review:

“How could analog tape be better than vinyl or high-resolution digital? There was just no way — or so I argued. But then I listened. And compared. And listened some more. And finally, in a blaze of pain and sheer outrage, I was forced to admit how wrong I’d been. Yes, high-res is great. Vinyl is awesome. But tape? Tape is just a whole different thing. We audiophiles keep on and on about the quality of the speakers, the amps, the power, even the cables — but we rarely do more than nod at the fact that the music itself is the engine that drives this entire train. But with analog tape, I cannot help but think that we are getting closer to the original than along any other path. And boy-howdy, it matters. It matters a whole lot. As for me, this is the closest that I’ve yet gotten to perfect.”