I wish I had a reel to reel player; loved that clunk-clunk sound and that you could physically watch the tape go round and round. I wouldn’t have it inside a console stereo though. I like the ones that were set up on a wall.
I would be a cool cat. I already have the sunken living room.
Just for starters, mine ain't for sale.
Akai reel-to-reel with a 8-track cassette slot in the side purchased in '67 and currently residing in the corner bookshelf. (Had Jarhead littlest brother pick it up during one of his stops in Japan and ship it to me.)
I believe that there are still some of those old 8-tracks in a box someplace, but the sound quality on those things was **** fifty years ago and I'm sure the storage hasn't made any improvement at all.
What I mostly use it for is a training aid for my homeschool history and science classes for the grandkids and their buddies. (One tape is the ENTIRE Apollo 11/Neil Armstrong Moon Landing feed....)
Not much stereo, but good stuff.
I have one of those too!
Sadly it is broken, but it does look cool on display for sure!
Find a good estate sale and there are always some good AV gear that hasn’t seen the light of day in decades.
I have a 1966 Tanberg 3-head reel to reel, that uses 7” reels. The record head could stand to be replaced. Haven’t used it in several years but last time I did, playback was fine. Also have the schematics and manual. It really is looking for a good home.