did pre-recorded reel to reel tapes sound boomy ?  

A "properly" recorded open reel tape should not sound bass-heavy. There are several things that could have go awry to reduce the high-frequency response and contribute to a bassy sound ("bassy" is a term that is used to describe a sound that is lacking in high-frequency energy, and subsequently sounds "bass-heavy.")

1. The tape is very old and has become partially degaussed. When self-erasure occurs the highs are the first thing to go.

2. The tape has been played until worn-out, causing a loss of HF response.

3. The playback head is worn (bye-bye highs...)

4. The playback EQ is not set correctly (open reel decks, like cassette decks, incorporate both record EQ and playback EQ at low-frequencies and at high-frequencies. There are internal adjustments for all. Playback EQ and head azimuth are set while playing a calibration tape. Record EQ, record head azimuth and record bias frequency and bias depth are set while recording test tones on a tape stock of choice for good playback on a deck which has been previously calibrated for playback.)

5. The CD dub was made while playing the wrong side of the tape (Don't laugh...I've seen people do this!)

There does exist the possibility that the pre-recorded (distributed by the record label, not dubbed from an LP by someone) was high-speed duplicated incorrectly by the distributor and suffered excessive HF loss (a certain amount of HF loss plus azimuth error would be expected in high-speed dubbing but not and excessive amount if it was done correctly with properly aligned decks.)

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HiDefDave

STOP HDCP!

[This message has been edited by Dave McRoy (edited 05-17-2001).]

toptentwist

I used to own reel to reel tapes from that era and many were EQ'd "bass heavy" as you describe. Much different than their LP counterpart. I don't know why.

Mike