No debate about #3 for me. It would be the SSS infected tape as I have encountered 2 10.5 inch reels of tape that baking would not correct- and I've been addressing SSS for some time.And with success- except for these 2 reels. Robert Hodge, Senior Engineer Belfer Audio Archive Syracuse University 222 Waverly Ave . Syracuse N.Y. 13244-2010 315-443- 7971 FAX-315-443-4866