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Looking for new (to me) cassette deck.

64.89.216.183
Posted on March 22, 2015 at 16:21:56
DRam
Audiophile

Posts: 1309
Location: Montana
Joined: July 30, 2005
 Presently a thrift store Onkyo TA-RW144 graces my system. It would be nice to move up, maybe into the low three figure range. Any recommendations for brand / model to look for or avoid? Or would there be any improvement over what I have in that price range?

Thanks in advance.

 

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RE: Looking for new (to me) cassette deck., posted on March 26, 2015 at 04:13:42
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 Nakamichi always made outstanding decks.The 600 MK ll was the best deck that I owned. You can't go wrong with Nakamichi!

 

RE: Looking for new (to me) cassette deck., posted on March 26, 2015 at 07:13:35
Inmate51
 Onkyo made good stuff - or, at least, branded stuff made elsewhere. So, don't knock it.

Nakyourmichi also made good decks, but their marketing efforts were as much responsible for their success as the decks were.

Revox made a cassette deck back in the day, and I would suspect that it was excellent, although I don't know for sure.

After selling stereo stuff for a while back in the day, I bought a Harmon/Kardon TD202, which has all the features I need, and it still works and sounds great... as cassette goes. Cassette is a compromised format. As I noted in another thread: Four tracks on 1/8" tape running at 1-7/8 inches per second. Do the physics.

You might want to just give your Onkyo a good cleaning and keep it.

:)

 

RE: Looking for new (to me) cassette deck., posted on March 26, 2015 at 14:50:48
DRam
Audiophile

Posts: 1309
Location: Montana
Joined: July 30, 2005
 Thanks for the advice. Perhaps cleaning, living and new belts would help. It would be nice to have left/right record level available though.

 

RE: Looking for new (to me) cassette deck., posted on March 26, 2015 at 20:39:08
Inmate51
 Yeah, L and R level controls are pretty much a necessity.

btw, I misspelled Harman/Kardon. Sorry.

:)

 

RE: Looking for new (to me) cassette deck., posted on July 7, 2015 at 16:53:19
Ampheat
Audiophile

Posts: 65
Location: Canada
Joined: December 14, 2003
 Personally I would recommend the later model Nakamichi like the Cassette Deck 1 with adjustable playback azimuth and gear drive. It has fewer bells and whistles than the much loved Dragon but requires fewer repairs.

If your budget allows it, i would also recommend or the Nakamichi Cr 5 or Cr 7 preferably with the idler gear upgrade.

Finally, another deck that is rarely mentioned is the Revox B215 with 4 direct drive motors and no belts or idlers to worry about ever. Fabulous sound as well. these can be bought for about half the price of the Nakamichi Dragon or ZX models and worth every penny.

 

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