Are cassettes really making a comeback?

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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Thanks brother I got my fill on cassette decks right now! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    edited March 2019
    verb wrote: »
    This Nakamichi Deck just popped on CL here locally. 75 bucks! :smile:
    6y9y2klegj09.png
    https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ele/d/rochester-vintage-nakamichi-cassette/6843681632.html

    I had a Cassette Deck 2 -- gave it to a hifi colleague here in Northern New England for a worthy cause (dubbing some cassette tapes of his long-ago band for a reunion that they were having a couple of years back). It is a very decent albeit quite basic deck.

    18070436333_dec89e5bee_b.jpgcassettedeck2 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    Here's a comparison between cassettes and Cds.
    https://youtu.be/NVpOdpRDYF4
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    edited March 2019
    Sorry. I posted too fast without watching the first few minutes of his video. :#
    I didn't know the little boom box was his testing equipment! LOL. :s:'(

    But I liked his final deduction... B):)

    He said forget about cassettes and Cd's and just go straight to playing Vinyl.
    That made me chuckle for a bit too! Why didn't he just say that in the beginning!

    The title should've been "Cassettes and Cd's vs. Vinyl." ;)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    I’m sending a Denon DRM-800 in for mods to turn it into a 800a and get that beeotch singing again. Screw it.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    edited March 2019
    There's just simply not enough information on 1/8" cassette tape. 1/4" reel to reel is where it's at!

    https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/130634/Muddy_Waters-Folk_Singer-14_Inch_-_15_IPS_Tape
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    Clipdat wrote: »
    There's just simply not enough information on 1/8" cassette tape. 1/4" reel to reel is where it's at!

    https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/130634/Muddy_Waters-Folk_Singer-14_Inch_-_15_IPS_Tape

    This is, in fact, absolutely true.

    15256338064_3bf36bba8f_b.jpgReVox WHRB Dead aircheck by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    "There's not enough information on 1/8" cassette tape" is what my dad said the other day when I brought up how cassettes were making a comeback with hipsters and asked about the perceived audio quality.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    The track width and the tape speed of cassette work against "high fidelity" (other than bass, in which case the latter parameter's good but the former's still bad). Dynamic range is a particular challenge -- for most of cassette tape/deck's history, the frequency response at even "0 VU" was pretty limited indeed. Some of the very late innovations (e.g., "Dolby HX Pro") did ameliorate that problem a bit.

    That said, the introduction of very high performance tape formulations and effective "compander" type noise reduction techniques wrung every bit of "fidelity" there was to get out of the format, even though it had never really been intended for hifi audio.

    Ever hear even a mid-level Nakamichi deck? Finicky as all getout, but the sound quality was very good.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    The 480 is what my dad had in his old stereo when I was a kid:

    d636c1291cafa78f73324a1808c46087.jpg

    Not sure if it is considered mid-level or not.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    Low/mid for Nakamichi -- but 'in the zone' in terms of their performance and "sound".

    Speaking of "HX Pro", this, from harman/kardon (who were responsible for some better-than-average cassette decks themselves)

    16060154980_56589c46a4.jpgDolby C and HX pro frequency response by Mark Hardy, on Flickr


    14667522568_0a5ecf8a37_b.jpgcasettebirthday_v2-lrg by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    I just saw this video starting. I haven't watched it yet but it looks like it might be ok.
    https://youtu.be/8lhMHSjHmQU
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    slide controls... ewww.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    Anyone want a pioneer cassette changer and onkyo deck in this thread? Local to me or will be at Axpona and can give it to you. Its just taking up room here. Haven't used either one in at least 7 years so no idea how the belts are
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    @mhardy alert! This puppy is currently on eBay! Ending soon! :smile:
    zf1hzo5jn6um.png
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pioneer-Stereo-Cassette-Tape-Deck-CT-3000-Estate-Sale-Find-Japan-Made/223483296140?epid=1934428116&hash=item3408a4798c:g:574AAOSwI55cs7CA
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    verb wrote: »
    @mhardy alert! This puppy is currently on eBay! Ending soon! :smile:
    zf1hzo5jn6um.png
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pioneer-Stereo-Cassette-Tape-Deck-CT-3000-Estate-Sale-Find-Japan-Made/223483296140?epid=1934428116&hash=item3408a4798c:g:574AAOSwI55cs7CA


    get thee behind me, Satan!

    ;)
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Mark it's been relisted! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    verb wrote: »
    Mark it's been relisted! :smile:

    ahem.

    ;)
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    This is interesting. Never seen one of these before! Denon Cassematic 12 cassette changer! :smile:
    xenl5al5oetx.png
    https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/ele/d/sterling-heights-rare-denon-cassematic/6874170365.html
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    edited April 2019
    verb wrote: »
    This is interesting. Never seen one of these before! Denon Cassematic 12 cassette changer! :smile:
    xenl5al5oetx.png
    https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/ele/d/sterling-heights-rare-denon-cassematic/6874170365.html

    If I were sadistic, this is where I'd post
    You should get that.
    B)

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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,158
    Getting in on this action after some recent 'harvesting' from my dad's garage.

    Denon DRM-740:
    euz16xmxj6nu.jpg
    Coming out of storage, this one 'just works'...and very smoothly.

    Nakamichi CR-2A:
    vta2hwcnoj2i.jpg
    Not their TOTL, but again, it just works.

    Nakamichi 680:
    crz4bliqq5o8.jpg
    I think a new idler tire is all this one needs. It is one of the better Nak cassette decks.

    Project/One FLD-2500:
    spebx8bt7sq4.jpg
    Surely some of you mid-western boys remember this house brand. This unit isn't playing, but maybe an idler tire is needed???

    Tandberg TCD-310:
    ibsb47g4vkuk.jpg
    Clearly some cosmetic issues, but it does work!
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Very cool! :)
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    That Nak 680 is nice! Hope you get it running good.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    Just had a Denon DRM-800 refurbed and modded to 800A. Pics to follow.
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  • SIHAB
    SIHAB Posts: 4,955
    They are this morning!

    Deoxit, white vinegar, Q-tips, alcohol, hair dryer, Phillips screwdriver, CHECK.
    Metallica, Check.
    Bandaid fix on the NAKA BX100 working!
    wadk4qbneqy2.jpg
    Speakers: Polk Lsim, ATC SCM19 v2, NHT SuperzeroSpeaker Cables: DH Labs, Transparent, Wireworld, Canare, Monster: Beer budget, Bose ears
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  • meledis
    meledis Posts: 22
    I also would buy some spacey tapes at good wills sometimes. I think .25 for a tape.

    I played one a year ago playing chess and was blown away by the clarity. But then again, my hearing is high challenged.
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    I gotta admit the lure of cassette nostalgia is tugging hard on me.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,553
    edited November 2019
    Nightfall wrote: »
    I gotta admit the lure of cassette nostalgia is tugging hard on me.

    This should push you over the edge...

    1g9glnaqq9hm.jpg

    ovr0aibnaim1.jpg

    A lot of good albums in the batch.
    My player shot cra ps years ago... Maybe I should find another. This is my file cabinet at work.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,387
    dromunds wrote: »
    Just had a Denon DRM-800 refurbed and modded to 800A. Pics to follow.

    I'm curious, what is involved with the 800A mod? I have a DRM-700A and DRM-800A.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • SIHAB
    SIHAB Posts: 4,955
    hiding my cassette playing :#
    k8p67asbwwvp.jpg
    Speakers: Polk Lsim, ATC SCM19 v2, NHT SuperzeroSpeaker Cables: DH Labs, Transparent, Wireworld, Canare, Monster: Beer budget, Bose ears
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