Tape Trail

Looking for new (to me) cassette deck.

64.89.216.183

DRam

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.

Follow Ups:

RE: Looking for new (to me) cassette deck. - Inmate51 07:13:35 03/26/15 (3)
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. - Ampheat 16:53:19 07/07/15 (0)
  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.
- RE: Looking for new (to me) cassette deck. - DRam 14:50:48 03/26/15 (1)
  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. - Inmate51 20:39:08 03/26/15 (0)
    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. - BCR 04:13:42 03/26/15 (0)
Nakamichi always made outstanding decks.The 600 MK ll was the best deck that I owned. You can't go wrong with Nakamichi!

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