Quick simple question. . .

newtoeverything
newtoeverything Posts: 17
edited March 2004 in Electronics
I've looked on search engines but cant seem to find an info site on it but I'm wondering what a CrO2 Cassette is? I have no idea what it means but when I picked up a cassette deck yesterday it had that button on it. As well as I've looked on a couple LP's I have and it lists on the back "Also on CrO2 Cassette" Whats the difference between one of those and a regular cassette? Thanks!

PS I picked up a Marantz SD142 Cassette deck. I dunno for $10 at a thrift store (was searching for some LP's) I thought what the hell. . .any sort of info on that as well? I don't imagine it's anything great at all but for $10. . .meh. . .
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited March 2004
    check this link out bud.

    http://www.oakwoodbroadcast.com/Cassette/Tascam/tascam_specs.html

    I'm no chemist and may need corrected but I think CrO2 is chromium di oxide....

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited March 2004
    Back in the heyday of cassettes (the 70's), there were three kind of blank media cassettes: ferric (regular/normal), chrome (middle grade) and metal (highest). It is all referred to the quality of the tape material, with metal being the highest (in term of frequency response range). Most of Sony decks (and others, obviously) from the 70's have these settings, to allow for a better quality recording (or copying) with the better media (i.e. less dynamic compression)
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2004
    Showing your age there polka by nailing the big three in tape particles. There were a couple other minor players including Fe-Cr blends TDK put out.

    CrO2 came in when dolby cassettes with ferrite and ferrite head(s) sales broke out in the early 70's. The head material was important because Cr (Chrome) tapes are more abrasive than Fe (Ferric). Dolby was important in cassette decks achieving even a modest level of fidelity.

    Your Marantz is a mid-80's model, towards the lower end of the Marantz line. I'd be pretty confident it's not a metal tape capable deck. $10 is a good deal on it.

    Likely it has a bias selector switch on the front. Not sure what options it gives, but CrO2 would be the high-bias option.

    Chances are it's going to need a little TLC. For sure head and tape path cleaning (isopropyl alcohol and a Q-tip). Probably head demagnitizing as well. Radio Shack has an all in one maintenance cassette. Or you can probably still buy a wand type demag somewhere.

    Under the hood might need some attention as well. Most decks use belts or bands to drive the tape. Could need cleaning or replacing.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • newtoeverything
    newtoeverything Posts: 17
    edited March 2004
    Tour2Ma: Thanks for the heads up on some maintenance tips. Being so new to this I would of never really thought to clean it out. It says on the back "Risk of Electric Shock. Do Not Open" Does that really matter? It should be okay to open up? Yea judging but the real light weight of this unit I figured it was on the lower end side but the Marantz lavel caught my eye so it'll do for now until I do some serious upgrading I guess. It does come with a 'Metal' , 'CrO2' , and a 'Normal' switch on the front though.
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  • newtoeverything
    newtoeverything Posts: 17
    edited March 2004
    polkatese: Man, that's a quick but great history lesson on the different style of tapes that come out. I'll have to look at my cassette collection now to see if I do have any of the different style's. Much appreciated!
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2004
    Unplugged = no hazard... Not going to stumble into any big caps all charged up waiting for you either.

    Once open you may find you actually do need to plug it in to run the drive to clean it. You'll see once it's open how much room you have.

    Better decks did not necesarily get heavier, but some did.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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