Cassette Recorders

**Anonymous** · March 8th, 2005, 08:23 PM

Even though its an "old'' medium. Which in your opinion is the best recording ( sounding) cassette deck thats still currently on the market?

**Bernie** · March 8th, 2005, 08:50 PM

Back in the day, TEAC and Aiwa made some nice affordable units, but I'm not sure about today.

**BrunoRepublic** · March 8th, 2005, 09:47 PM

Decent cassette decks, like decent VCRs, are no longer being manufacatured today. All that remains is disposable junk.

**QUINNY** · March 9th, 2005, 02:43 AM

Originally Written by Graham_Start

Decent cassette decks, like decent VCRs, are no longer being manufacatured today. All that remains is disposable junk.

Except, if any of today's decks had been made even 10 years ago they probably would have been hailed as the best in their price range at that time. There's 40 years of R&D that's gone into making today's 'junk'.
The only advice is to get a 3 head machine, preferably with Dolby S, from a reputable manufacturer, even if it's a 3 year old model that's been lying around.

**Forrrce** · March 9th, 2005, 05:21 AM

Aiwa's fierce XK-S9000 and 7000 models from the early '90s took tape recording to the absolute limit. Look out for them if you don't mind buying second-hand.

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**Forrrce** · March 9th, 2005, 05:23 AM

Mmmm...couldn't edit that last post.

**BrunoRepublic** · March 9th, 2005, 08:28 AM

Originally Written by QUINNY

Except, if any of today's decks had been made even 10 years ago they probably would have been hailed as the best in their price range at that time. There's 40 years of R&D that's gone into making today's 'junk'.

True, but that doesn't change the fact that they're junk.

Originally Written by QUINNY

The only advice is to get a 3 head machine, preferably with Dolby S, from a reputable manufacturer, even if it's a 3 year old model that's been lying around.

Sadly, there are very few Dolby S decks, as this particular innovation came right around the time that consumer digital gear wiped out the format. I don't even know if there are any still in production, or even any as recent as 3 years old. The only cassette things I've seen for the past 5 years are the cheap plastic kind found on boomboxes.

**discohunter** · March 9th, 2005, 08:41 AM

I have a Sony TC-WE475. It's a dual deck with Dolby B and C and even has an adjustable pitch range. (+/- 30%). DC Servo Controlled Motor, High Density Heads.

discohunter

**Bernie** · March 9th, 2005, 08:47 AM

Originally Written by Forrrce

Aiwa's fierce XK-S9000 and 7000 models from the early '90s took tape recording to the absolute limit. Look out for them if you don't mind buying second-hand.

[/img]

Had the Aiwa AD-F1000 that I sold last summer, which was almost identical to the one you posted, but without the AD convertor. It was built like a tank with two sets of inputs on the back, three heads, Dolby B, C and even DBX. It was a wonderful machine and I sometimes wish I hadn't sold it, but I really don't use cassettes anymore.

The last nice Dolby S machines were the TEAC units that matched their VRDS series of CD players, which was around '97-98.

**Forrrce** · March 9th, 2005, 09:47 AM

Now, if they make a tweakable, hi-fi version of this little gizmo, I might think about it.

http://www.plusdeck.com/

**Bernie** · March 9th, 2005, 10:25 AM

Originally Written by Forrrce

Now, if they make a tweakable, hi-fi version of this little gizmo, I might think about it.

http://www.plusdeck.com/

Interesting little gizmo is right, but seems about five years too late. Wonder if it fits a DIN size slot :D

It's even listed at Amazon.

**BrunoRepublic** · March 9th, 2005, 11:03 AM

I don't know what to make of it. Almost any cassette deck or boom box has in/out jacks. Are there really enough people that don't know how to connect a stereo to a soundcard to warrant marketing this thing? I know there are a lot of people that use their PCs as glorified CD players, but really...