Reel-to-reel collectors, listeners, and caretakers

We’re tape people. Collectors, listeners, caretakers - and the kind of folks who can’t walk past a box of reels without wondering what’s on them. We’ve been collecting reel-to-reel tapes and the machines that bring them to life for decades. Over time, that curiosity grew into a deep respect for tape-recorded music: the sound, the history, the physical craft, and the community that keeps it alive.

Starting with vinyl, discovering tape

Most people arrive at tape through vinyl. We did too - and RealHiFi exists to meet you right there at the starting line. That’s why we share what to collect, what to avoid, what sounds best, how tape history unfolded, and which eras and labels produced truly exceptional pre-recorded reel-to-reel tapes that are still underappreciated.

RealHiFi is a family effort across generations, built to share the excitement of authentic playback and to help keep reel-to-reel audio alive as both a culture and a craft.

Curated tapes, sourced through the collector community

RealHiFi is where our personal archive meets the wider tape world. We curate and profile our own collection, sharing what we’ve learned along the way, while also buying, trading, and selling reel-to-reel tapes and machines sourced through the collector community and our worldwide connections.

You’ll find authentic pre-recorded tapes from the mid-1950s through the late 1980s, along with higher-end and archival material when it’s properly represented.

What sounds best - and why

We love the scale and immediacy of 15 IPS, 10-inch, 2-track releases - but we’re especially passionate about how good 7.5 IPS, 4-track tapes can sound when the mastering and duplication were done right. Too often they’re dismissed on paper, despite the fact that many were produced during a sweet spot of careful mastering and high-quality duplication.

In the best cases, these tapes can be startlingly lifelike, with tonal balance, dynamics, and presence that stand comfortably alongside their 15 IPS counterparts. Knowing which ones deliver, and why, is part of what we enjoy sharing.

Authenticity, provenance, and trust

Because trust matters in this world, we take authenticity and provenance seriously. We don’t sell vinyl-to-tape dubs, bootlegs, or anything with questionable origins. We also don’t copy or sell copies of master tapes. If something comes in misrepresented and we determine it’s a copy or otherwise not authentic, it doesn’t get listed.

When chain-of-custody isn’t ironclad - especially with higher-value material - we use established authentication methods and analysis tools to look for red flags. We describe conditions honestly, document provenance when we can, and we’ll always tell you when we can’t.

Preservation, playback, and what’s next

As the site grows, we’re building toward thoughtful preservation work (phase two). When we encounter rare reels that call for careful handling, our aim is to document and preserve select material in high-resolution DSD, and, when it truly makes sense, to duplicate tape-to-tape using a restrained, collector-respectful approach.

This work is guided by judgment, not volume: preserving what matters, handling originals with care, and avoiding unnecessary intervention.

Buying, selling, and collecting with confidence

How selling works here is simple: we list what we’d want to receive ourselves. Expect curated drops and fresh finds as we source them, along with honest descriptions and clear formatting so you can buy reel-to-reel tapes online with confidence.

We also buy collections and individual tapes worldwide, can provide informal collector valuations for insurance and estate planning, and occasionally list reel-to-reel machines and parts. Along the way, we share practical guidance on service and setup, especially the details that matter for reliable, great-sounding playback.