In old time, consumer open reel tape machine mainly targeted for recording to increase personal music library for less money and play back, but they were replaced by cassette because of cheaper and more convenience if don't care the sound quality too much. to-day analogue is coming back vs digital for sound quality so open reel dubbing from other source is useless unless from master tape or live recording. tube is best friend of classical and jazz music but most of the pro machine or semi pro they all designed in SS and most design was active type for EQ and have calibrate stage. looking to-day's high end phono stage design they will use passive filter for RIAA and no NFB also no tone control, so my subjection is forget the record section pull the signal out from the play back head to a tube amp with passive filter for NAB or CCIR EQ and have enough gain direct to the line stage preamp also tone control by your own system and listen to a master dubbed copy will have the best analogue sound that I do believe
tony ma

Interesting. This difference is very similar to what I hear between my DAC directly into the Torii, and my DAC through the CSP2+ and into the Torii. The entire soundscape seems "right" directly into the Torii, and instruments are more highlighted through the CSP2+. Each is an excellent listen but I prefer the DAC direct.