OK, so I promised to keep quiet about the "set" but I'm compelled to get going on my initial impressions with respect to performance:
First off, Nando's tape sounds absolutely freaking amazing on my ES rigs!
(and this is after a run through only using my cans; I've come to the realization now that if a recording sounds mind-blowing on cans that it will sound killer open air...) I've received many a mix tape from associates but never have I auditioned one produced on an Esoteric deck, so this mix tape experience is multifaceted to say the least. What a treat!
Nando used Dolby C and it tracks perfectly. I'm almost speechless how outstanding this recording is from a fidelity standpoint. Nando used a Sony XR and this is the second
XR mix tape I've received; JaeTee sent me a phenomenal DJ inspired compilation over the Christmas holidays that sounded very good as well.
These tapes are beyond description and damn near replicate what Metal Masters
can do at a fraction of the cost. I'm sold!
It appears Nando kept the levels lower than what most folks would tend to do and it didn't matter one iota; gain, dynamics, noise-floor, channel separation and spacial presence are all solid at levels averaging between
0 and barely eclipsing 2 dB. This speaks volumes about the head-block and channel circuitry in that beast of a deck. I've always been pleased how well my various ES rigs would track tapes made by other people's decks but there seems to be some type of mystical marriage between Esoteric and Sony. Or I'm stoned.
Incidentally, I've backed off recording with peaks pushing the limit lines for several years now and have realized that leaving
room for dynamics is "key". Nando's approach only goes to further my new found beliefs..
Today my stack is configured TC-K870ES with only a CD Direct input connected so I auditioned through the on-board headphone jack.
My TC-K950ES is looped through my processor to my Maverick tube headphone amp.
On the TC-K870ES the tape sounded so damn spot-on I thought it was a tape I made myself. Phenomenal!
On the TC-K950ES set up the tape sounded almost vinyl like, warm and vibrant. Since I am well acquainted with the
Side A's first track, critical listening was easy simply due to familiarity with every subtle nuance of the song at hand;
one of my all-time favorite acoustic prog-rock tunes btw!
Thanks Nando!!!!
(more to come...)
First off, Nando's tape sounds absolutely freaking amazing on my ES rigs!
(and this is after a run through only using my cans; I've come to the realization now that if a recording sounds mind-blowing on cans that it will sound killer open air...) I've received many a mix tape from associates but never have I auditioned one produced on an Esoteric deck, so this mix tape experience is multifaceted to say the least. What a treat! Nando used Dolby C and it tracks perfectly. I'm almost speechless how outstanding this recording is from a fidelity standpoint. Nando used a Sony XR and this is the second
XR mix tape I've received; JaeTee sent me a phenomenal DJ inspired compilation over the Christmas holidays that sounded very good as well.
These tapes are beyond description and damn near replicate what Metal Masters
can do at a fraction of the cost. I'm sold!
It appears Nando kept the levels lower than what most folks would tend to do and it didn't matter one iota; gain, dynamics, noise-floor, channel separation and spacial presence are all solid at levels averaging between
0 and barely eclipsing 2 dB. This speaks volumes about the head-block and channel circuitry in that beast of a deck. I've always been pleased how well my various ES rigs would track tapes made by other people's decks but there seems to be some type of mystical marriage between Esoteric and Sony. Or I'm stoned.
Incidentally, I've backed off recording with peaks pushing the limit lines for several years now and have realized that leaving
room for dynamics is "key". Nando's approach only goes to further my new found beliefs..
Today my stack is configured TC-K870ES with only a CD Direct input connected so I auditioned through the on-board headphone jack.
My TC-K950ES is looped through my processor to my Maverick tube headphone amp.
On the TC-K870ES the tape sounded so damn spot-on I thought it was a tape I made myself. Phenomenal!
On the TC-K950ES set up the tape sounded almost vinyl like, warm and vibrant. Since I am well acquainted with the
Side A's first track, critical listening was easy simply due to familiarity with every subtle nuance of the song at hand;
one of my all-time favorite acoustic prog-rock tunes btw!
Thanks Nando!!!!
(more to come...)
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And would only add that some decks handle level "push" better than others not to mention that finding the balance between recording TOO low and hitting the wall, so-to-speak, is half the fun of doing analog. Most manuals direct users to achieve the highest possible recording level, just south of perceivable distortion but we all know that tapes & decks spec out better down at -20 dB.
