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Hi, wondering about reco's for serious cassette player/recorder for my coming SET powered horn system. Dont want to mess with vinyl but wish to record some onto cassette. Reco's for high quality, currently available cassettes as well are hugely appreciated. Motivated to purchase now! thanks
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also higher end Sony ES type deck, maybe Aiwa and others.
I have been fooling around with a Sony dual deck, see my profile for present one. Unfortunately, after spending $120 repair, clean, belts, align, and $45 original outlay for the deck (ebay), my left cassette well is acting out. Right one still perfect.
Sound is exceptional and the deck even plays my 20-30 yr old Nakamichi recorded (682ZX) home made metal tapes nicely.
Tandberg is best sounding but too fussy and no parts. Same w Revox.
best sounding best looking deck ever short of the dragon. I have two
Three most important things in Audio reproduction: Keep the noise levels low, the power high and the room diffuse.
I got a Denon DR-M20 (three head, three motors) in almost new condition, new old stock, manufacturing date 1986. The tradesman cleaned it, aligned it, changed belts for free (he's my friend) and I paid 300 euros for it, with credit, including 2 cambridge audio atlantic cables. One of his employees, gave me lots of pre-recorded tapes and a carry case full of good-quality blanks, including (yes!) a metal tape. The deck playes and records really awesomely, almost as good as cd. It was returned (the deck) because it had a minor problem, which proved to be a magnetized head. Lucky again, I had kept a demagnetizer, and after 4 runs and a cleaning job it's like new!
If you are truly serious about this, I would check out the availability of premium cassette tape, and decide which brands are most easily found in your location. Ebay is also a possibility. I think the only type of cassette tapes available in my area are the Sony "low-noise" standard bias tapes at WalMart. No one that I know of near me sells metal tape or ferrichrome types. I stocked up on nice tape about 5-7 years ago when stores put it on sale after CD-R drives became popular. Once you have accumulated a lifetime supply, then take your cassette deck to an audio tech to have it adjusted to perform its best on that particular tape. This should cost about an hour's labor or less. It is also wise to buy a set of rubber belts and if possible, a capstan idler wheel for your deck, as these eventually wear out.
You didn't mention what model of deck you have or plan to get. A nice 3 head Nakamichi is perfect, especially if you plan to play back your tapes on only Nakamichi decks. Dolby S is nice, but only the nicer decks from the later years of cassette dominance (1992-96 or so) have this feature. Dolby C is almost as good. Dolby-B is fine for tapes you will listen to in your car or on someone else's equipment. Dolby C and S sound odd if not properly decoded, whereas Dolby B is listenable without decoding if you turn the treble down a bit.
Please pardon me if I have belabored points that are already familiar to you. Many people, including audiophiles, are not aware how nice a good cassette can sound. Thrift stores are full of wonderful pre-recorded tapes with fantastic music for about 25 cents apiece. I have quite a few Telarc and other audiophile cassettes I have purchased over the years for almost nothing. About 5 years ago the flood into thrift stores was really something to behold. There are still a good many excellent ones out there. If they are priced over 50 cents each, often I can get them for less just by offering say $5 for 10 or 15 tapes.
For LPs, 90 min cassettes are good to record two LPs, one on each side. The 100 and 110 min. tapes are for recording CDs which are generally longer than 45 minutes each.
rtbarr
Regarding Dolby C sounding almost as good as Dolby S, my experience was quite different. Back in 1997 I remember doing a comparison between Dolby B, C and S. Hands down, Dolby S was far superior.
Yes, Dolby-S is the best.
Mike
When you take your deck to a tech, he should also be able to clean and lubricate it while adjusting the bias and EQ for your preferred tape. It all should be no more than an hour or so of labor, whatever his minimum bench charge is. Years ago this was about $50. I suppose now it might be as much as $100.
rtbarr
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