Tape Deck Recommendation
mightymouse
Posts: 254
Okay, I know not many people use tapes anymore. But I still have a ton of tapes lying around that I would like to listen to again.
So of the current crop of tape decks that are still made, which ones do you guys recommend.
Are vintage tape decks even worth it anymore? I am not too keen on restoration.
So of the current crop of tape decks that are still made, which ones do you guys recommend.
Are vintage tape decks even worth it anymore? I am not too keen on restoration.
Post edited by mightymouse on
Comments
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Seriously? Do they have any information on the JFK Assasination or Whitewater? Get rid of them.
I thought it would be a cool idea too, awhile ago, and picked up a HOT Nakamichi RX-505. It wasn't, tapes suck.
If you are overwhelmed to relive this portion of your life for some reason, look for a Sony ES deck since they are pretty common, cheap and the 3 head units are decent for sound reproduction.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint. -
Interestingly enough, most pre amps still offer a tape selector despite tape decks fall from grace.
I'm not up on what the market has in new decks these days, but the vintage Sony ES 3 head units were very good, while the king of decks was and probably still is the Nakamichi Dragon.
Good luck in your pursuit.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Look for a late model Sony ES single deck with Dolby S. They go pretty cheap on Ebay.
Be prepared for disappointment though. I picked up a Sony ES a couple years back. Played back a handful of tapes. They all sounded like garbage, so that's where they went for good, in the trash.
The deck does make wonderful recordings though. The late models with Dolby S do a fantastic job if matched with a good metal or CRO2 tape. -
Jesse, you feeling ok?
Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service. -
Check your local thrift stores. My local shops usually have a stack of tape decks."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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what kind of tape are you talking about?
This kind?
or this kind?
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Thanks guys for the recommendations. The reason why I want to get a tape deck is because my shelf system, which has 2 cassette wells, is falling to pieces. I don't want to throw out all my old tapes, and it would be really expensive to replace them with CD's or whatever newer formats that will come along.
About the Sony ES tape decks, do tape decks deteriorate over time? I read somewhere that the read head needs to be recalibrated after a while.
What do you guys think of this one? Since it's still in production and new, I think I may have less hassle with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-TCWE475-Cassette-Player-Recorder/dp/B00005T408/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1207582773&sr=8-3
mhardy6647, I think my tapes come in retangular boxes and I think they fit into that tape deck in that second picture.:D -
I thought it would be a cool idea too, awhile ago, and picked up a HOT Nakamichi RX-505. It wasn't, tapes suck.
I don't know why but that sentence just killed me!!:D
Anyway. Unless you are willing to clean and tuneup an oldie the Sony probably is your best bet. I too tried out some old tapes not long ago, and just gave up. It was hard for me to believe that I ever thought they sounded good.
I did however recently hear an old system recently that sounded really good with tape, but the key to the good sound was the EQ. If you disabled the EQ it just went to complete crap. If you do end up with a tape deck it might be worth it to snag an old EQ to run in-line with just the deck. At least then you can make up for some of the weaknesses of the format.HT
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I bought a tape deck from someone here years ago (I think it was Doro) thinking I'd revive my tape collection. Even with a decent deck they still just don't sound good. I keep it sitting on the shelf cuz it looks kinda cool but don't think I've turned it on since I first got it.If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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It's all about sentimental value, nothing more, nothing else (for me). I have tons of collection from the 80s that they are still in great conditions, so it was fun. Recording quality wise is not that great, but they are listenable.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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mightymouse wrote: »About the Sony ES tape decks, do tape decks deteriorate over time? I read somewhere that the read head needs to be recalibrated after a while.
What do you guys think of this one? Since it's still in production and new, I think I may have less hassle with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-TCWE475-Cassette-Player-Recorder/dp/B00005T408/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1207582773&sr=8-3
I wouldn't worry about the heads going bad with normal use. AFIK, the only thing that really goes bad are the rubber belts.
