On 13/06/2012, Mark Donahue wrote:

> I just want to make one quick comment about this idea that playing
> back 60 year old tapes is best realized through playing them back on
> 60 year old machines.
> The reality here is that the ability to get the signal on to tape is a
> much easier task than getting it back off and the recorders of the day
> were much better at recording than playback. I remastered the entire
> Living Stereo series and was stunned as to how much information I
> could get off these tapes using state of the art modern analog
> playback. I then compared these to the transfers that were made with
> an Ampex 300 that was restored for the CD reissue project at RCA in
> the late 1980's and the differences were nothing less than astounding.
> Modern playback with low wow and flutter and an order of magnitude
> better performance in frequency response, noise and distortion
> revealed information that was on the tapes that had never actually
> been heard.
> As always, YMMV.
> All the best,
> Mark Donahue
> 
This is the same question as "Should acoustic recordings be played back
on an acoustic player or by using a modern electrical cartridge and
arm?"

My vote is for the modern equipment, assuming it is first class.

Regards
-- 
Don Cox
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