One thing about analog tape (video and audio) is that you usually get the best playback on the same machine you recorded with, due to head alignment or tracking.

I have a couple hundred home-recorded cassettes from the 70's and 80's. Most were recorded on the best TDK and Maxell tapes available at the time (pre-metal), and a few later on metal tapes.

Many of them used to travel with me in hot cars, but for the most part, they've been in an air-conditioned house.

I've played a few of them back (after carefully hand-spinning them to avoid jams) on a different machine than they were recorded on, and the sound was actually pretty good.

Granted, the decline in my hearing over the last 40 years probably contributes to some of that!

Well, this thread is kinda drifting around through all audio stuff so 

just wanted to say probably missed a good deal here -

Klipshorns, locally, at an estate sale.

Not that I've really got a room big enough to justify,

but that doesn't mean I wouldn't try...

 

https://spacecoast.craigslist.org/gms/d/from-classic-to-modern/6198928067.html

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Yeah baby, those are some cool speakers. 

Hook those up to a couple McIntosh monoblocks, a Sansui stereo preamp, and a nice turntable and you would be rocking the vinyl.

i have a nice surround sound system for the TV with those small speakers that are made to sound big, but honestly they pale to a real speaker with 15" or 12" woofers and good crossovers to the midrange/tweeters. 

If those are all in one piece, that was probably a pretty good deal. 

 

 

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If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC - KV

Ya, I heard a set of some older ones,

driven by a pair of 120w tube (quad of KT-88s) monoblocks.

Pretty dang impressive.  

They're still made, but bring the big checkbook. 

$6k,

 each.  

http://www.klipsch.com/products/klipschorn-floorstanding-speaker

• Highly efficient: 105 dB 1W / 1M
• Fully horn-loaded, full range, three-way system with a patented folded-horn 15" woofer delivers powerful low frequencies
• 2" midrange and 1" tweeter compression drivers
• Capable of extreme output levels with ultra low distortion and astonishing dynamic range 
• Available in a high-quality Walnut, Cherry, or Black Ash wood veneer finish
• Made in USA

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Edited: 08/07/2017 at 12:23 PM by tom