I have seen those pictures before and one thing bothers me. If you look at an enlargement of those photos, the controls for the machine suggest that it is a playback-only machine (no record button, no controls for input or output volume, etc).
While not having a record or erase head, nor electronics for such functions, would greatly reduce cost, this would make the buyer entirely dependent on the supply of pre-recorded tapes. There really is not much in the way of high quality pre-recorded tapes out there, and some of those sell for $500 or more per album.
United Home Audio sells their premium reconditioned tape machines primarily on the basis of how good tapes made from playback of vinyl sound. If you go to their shop, they will play records on a really nice vinyl setup from which they make tapes. You can compare the vinyl playback with the tapes made from that same vinyl setup. It is quite an interesting demonstration. I actually did NOT prefer the tape playback (transients were blunted a little bit), but, I can see why some listeners might actually prefer the tape playback (very pleasant, smooth and remarkably close to the sound of the record). I cannot see buying a playback-only tape machine.
While not having a record or erase head, nor electronics for such functions, would greatly reduce cost, this would make the buyer entirely dependent on the supply of pre-recorded tapes. There really is not much in the way of high quality pre-recorded tapes out there, and some of those sell for $500 or more per album.
United Home Audio sells their premium reconditioned tape machines primarily on the basis of how good tapes made from playback of vinyl sound. If you go to their shop, they will play records on a really nice vinyl setup from which they make tapes. You can compare the vinyl playback with the tapes made from that same vinyl setup. It is quite an interesting demonstration. I actually did NOT prefer the tape playback (transients were blunted a little bit), but, I can see why some listeners might actually prefer the tape playback (very pleasant, smooth and remarkably close to the sound of the record). I cannot see buying a playback-only tape machine.