I'm playing Steely Dan. I have played it on the tubes and SS. Now I'm recording on R2R. Will also do cassette. I am recording on the SS system with the Shanling CDP.. I just want to see which is best format.

Keep us posted.
Btw, why not a copy in a black cdr ( in Flac and Wave) using a good software?

I would but I'm not setup to do that.

Is there any way I could record off of my Tubes w/o a tape loop?

Do you have a pre-out from your tube gear?

no i don't

Without a pre-out from your tube gear i'm afraid you can't do any recordings with them.

OH well thanks for trying.
So far the R2R is best. The sold state the brass was very shrill. The tubes gave me a better bottom end. Haven't got around to my cassette yet.

But you could try something with your tube buffer, if i recall you have one of those, don't you?

I have a Creek Headphone amp. Could I use the output for it to have a input into the deck?

Well, i don't know the output impedance of your headphone amp, normally are lower than a preamp or another source (cd or LP) but you can try it and see what happens. Anyway, i recall seeing some preamps with as low as 50 ohm of output impedance. Others are much higher.

Well I'm done with the test. The LX3 beat them all in well roundedness. Thats hard to believe but it did. Waiting for it to get warm so I am going to record Tommy Emmanuel on the cassette. I already did on the R2R. Sounds great.