"Mike Rivers" wrote in message
...


I spent some time at CES yesterday chatting with Jeff Jacobs of J-
Corder. He rebuilds and resells the Technics 1500 series recorders,
including updating the electronics for lower noise, more headroom, and
bias and EQ to accommodate modern tapes.. Most of his customers are
high end audio addicts who don't record on them, but some have been
sold to studios and mastering houses. He chose to specialize in this
particular model and a better-than-new one goes in the $4500-5500
ballpark depending on the model, accessories, and finish.

That's more than a thrift shop Sony or an eBay AG-440, but consistent
with how Mike Spitz of ATR Service prices the rebuilt ATR-100s that he
sells (or charges for rebuilding one that you own).

People are indeed buying them. Not as many as are buying pocket sized
flash memory card recorders for sure, but then they're being used for
different purposes.


My comments had referred to the professional, rather than the domestic
market. Whilst it seems bizarre to me to pay $5000 for a tape machine when a
CD player at a fraction of the price sounds better and gives access to a far
wider range of recorded material, I do know that audiophiles have their own
logic. The Technics looks a lot prettier for starters, and that is very
important in the audiophile market.

David.