High End Cassette Player Recommendations

PS .

Did you guys know Nakamichi gave Oscar Petersen one of those gold plated 1000ZXL's ?

No wonder the man is smiling !


cheerio

 

I consider azimuth control an absolute must for transferring cassettes; but I do it on the cheap - take a non-magnetic screwdriver to the head adjustment - works on most any deck. (Find a section of music which has a lot of stuff in the center of the stereo stage, switch to mono, and listen for brightest, least phasey sound).

But the point about playing back on the deck you used to record is a good one.

There was some disagreement about how the recordin/playback EQ standard was to be interpreted, and Nakamichi's version differs slightly from most others.

Also if you use noise reduction of the Dolby sort, chances of getting another deck's alignment to match the one you recorded the tape on are pretty slim. (This is less of a problem with dbx, and more of a problem with Dolby C than with Dolby B. With Dolby-C it can be a very big problem indeed.)

 

One of them might be my BX-300. Yes those other Nak's are spectacular aashton and I could only dream of one of those ZX series.

 

Not for playback of a cassette recorded on a different machine, IIRC.

FFF


There is an email list for Nakamichi users here:
http://www.naks.com/mailman/listinfo/naktalk

 

Yeah, Dave, I've got one of those as well. What a workhorse that thing has been - and it still sounds great. Got a CR-4 too - love that as well. Listed for a grand around 1989, but I was able to negotiate a few bucks off that.

I transfer most of my vinyl to one of the Naks before going to CD, doing any volume adjustments (normalization) between tracks and any EQ I may need right on the tape. Then I can just do a straight transfer of the tape to CD. I wouldn't do it on anything but a Nakamichi.

 

Yeah, I bought mine about 4 years ago and it was totally rebuilt with new heads and new motors for $400.00 Can. Works like a dream.

 

Hi FFF,

It depended a lot on the tape being played, how much adjustment was needed to correct azimuth and how sensitive the listener was to the NAAC system when it was doing it's thing.

With some tapes only an initial touchup was needed.
Others would have the azimuth adjustment system working full time.
On the Dragon this was indicated by the continual flashing of the direction indicator.

Some listeners found the continual adjustments to be audibly intrusive, hence the preference for a fixed playback head.



cheerio

 

I could just kick myself in the A**, for trading in my 480, for a NAD I had nothing but problems with. Got another NAK, a 350 I believe, not even close to the 480,also had problems, and ended up with another NAD which has been great. But if I had gotten the 480 reconditioned, I would have been netter off by far!!!!!!!

 

What about these two?

I'm still trying to find a new Nakamichi DR-10
http://www.nakamichiusa.com/home/ACASSDEC/DR10spec.htm

Otherwise I'm thinking of the Denon DN-790R
http://www.oakwoodbroadcast.com/Cassette/Denon/denon_dn790R.html

I think both have fixed heads though.

 

Hi,

Some people prefer to always buy new and I can appreciate that.

IMO, they do not make cassette decks like they used to and any new production deck will be inferior to the highest quality decks of the 80's.

Another view,
Jeffrey

 

I agree with Jeff, either buy 80s cassette decks used or go for the DAT or MiniDisc deck.

 

Yes, the top of line stuff I've seen recently, looks like junk!!! How about a Sony Walkman Pro DM6? The only thing that is a problem with it is its output is some what low , but sound great w/dolby b and c and pitch control. With the right mike, it will make great concert recordings! Sony May still make it.

 

Hi Ron,

The thread creator has a relatively new D5 so he has already kinda taken your advice.

-Jeffrey

 

Sorry, you're right. Then it has to be an Nakamichi!

 

I agree with Jeffrey, Ron, and Bradley. The top of the 80's decks are the ones to own.

 

I've had mine since I bought it new in 1985 for $569 (US). How many 18 year-old cassette decks actually hold onto most of their value? Very few... Most would be in the heap by now.

 

My JVC KD V6 is still going strong for 20 years now. It served me well in the old day's, still using it today.

 

Of course, if the NAAC is working continuously, that means that the tape is out of the range of automatic adjustment.

For instance, I have a prerecorded promo cassette with one side that is out-of-range when playing in reverse on my Dragon - and so I can't play it that way.

If this happens with too many tapes, then maybe the NAAC needs adjusting.


FFF

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3001233404&category=4784

 

I used to have a RX202 but was stolen out of my apartment in NY City. I've often thought about buying another one for the quality and nostalgia. How do the RX models compare? I know they are not in the same league as the Dragon, but I don't think I need that much machine.

Thoughts?

 

I bought a 1984 Sanyo cassette deck at a pawn shop and it is excellent (still works) and only cost me a little over $26 as well.