high-end cassette decks

[macvisual]

Just curious, anyone still using high-end cassette decks in their hi-fi systems on a daily basis?? The likes of Nakamichi Dragon or Revox B215 for example. Canyou stillbuyblank metal cassettetapes or chrome tapes at all? If so, were from please? Still curious... Thanks.




Just wondering....

[topoxforddoc]

I've got a Dragon, but use it sparingly, as my main source is vinyl. I have a stock of TDK SA tapes, but no metals sadly. I also have 3 BIG ones, with two Revox G36s (one standard and one original high speed) and an A77.

Charlie

[meninblack]

http://www.tapeline.co.uk/blank_audio_tapes.html

[stuartypoorty]

macvisual wrote:

Just curious, anyone still using high-end cassette decks in their hi-fi systems on a daily basis?? The likes of Nakamichi Dragon or Revox B215 for example.

Hello,

Yes, lots of us are.

I run a CR-7 and B215-S as a (very close) secondary system to my primary vinyl one.

My advice is to,

a) sign up to Tapeheads.net - the dedicated cassette site for all matters tape,

b) scour Ebay for blank tapes,

c) visit charity shops, found lots of sealed blanks there and

d) ask around at hifi stores to see if they've old stock lying around.


The attached image of the stack o' Maxells are currently being offered on Tapeheads.

[eye-fi]

Hardly regular basis but I do have a CR-7E & RX-505E as main decks. Also sitting around (unused) is a Cassette deck 1 & BX300E.

I've plenty of tapes for my needs in all 3 formulations including a couple of ferrochrome tapes!

[Jasper]

Why though?.....this is a genuine question. It can't be convenience and I'd be surprised if it was quality so what's the attraction?

[Symbianista]

Hi Peter

Count me in too - I use B215 and a PR99.

As for why? - cassette quality can be surprisingly good (can be awful, too), cassettes are cheap to buy (just bought John Lee Hooker, Steve Miller, Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe tapes, all excellent quality and no audible hiss without Dolby, for one whole Britsh pound) and there's some stuff on tape that I'm not sure I can get elsewhere (Wayne Toups and Zydeco Cajun) and can't really be bothered to look.

RtR tape is usually hiss free at 1/2 track and 15ips, and the sound quality can be astonishingly good. So don't be surprised at the 'sound quality' argument until you've heard a good recording on a well-set up machine. Fun to look at, too, and there's the "Oooooh, meters!" element. And you can record stuff too....

Sym

[JANDL100]

I've a Nakamichi DR2. Very pleased with it.

Jasper wrote:

Why though?.....this is a genuine question. It can't be convenience and I'd be surprised if it was quality so what's the attraction?

I use it for recording off DAB radio. I have a minidisc recorder too, but the combination of two super-posed digital compression systems (DAB and md) is unlistenably screechy. DAB on its own copied on to a good cassette deck like the Nak is fine, though, usually.

Also, lots of 20p-50p pre-recorded bargains in charity shops - some of which can sound pretty good.

[eye-fi]

Jasper wrote:

Why though?.....this is a genuine question. It can't be convenience and I'd be surprised if it was quality so what's the attraction?

I have lots of old recordings I'd like to keep & listen to now & then. I have no means of archiving them onto different media although I guess if I put my mind to it I could use a PC.

Tape is also, maybe surprisingly to some, a high quality medium using the right tapes & machines. Personally when I record from Radio or TT the result is surprisingly very little difference. Not in the league of a copied CD but really not far behind.

I find my Naks very,very enjoyable to listen to. I would find it amazing if anyone found the resulting sound rough,ill & boring to listen to.

[stuartypoorty]

Jasper wrote:

Why though?.....this is a genuine question. It can't be convenience and I'd be surprised if it was quality so what's the attraction?

Firstly, digital medium does nothing to enhance my listening experience, whereas the drawbacks of analogue I can happily live with.

Secondly, I go back a long way with cassette and although vinyl is my primary source I like the convenience - or is that ritual? - of tape.

The quality can indeed be very good, all dependent on a number of factors of course, with source material, type of cassette used and playback/recording components.

A TDK MA-R/MA-XG, That's Suono, Sony Super Metal Master. Maxell Metal Vertex or BASF Metal are all capable of making recordings of a commendably high standard.
Many type II's are also up to par.

I travel with my work and the Walkman Pro, Grado RS-1 'cans and LaRocca headphone amp are usually the first things packed.

So the attraction for me is tangible.



Stuart

[audiolad]

Jasper wrote:

Why though?.....this is a genuine question. It can't be convenience and I'd be surprised if it was quality so what's the attraction?

Cheap music! Recently bought a NOS factory sealed Denon DRM-595 on ebay for the princely sum of £14, and a few tapes which cost coppers. Have spent the morning listening to Iron Maiden and have enjoyed it immensely. This tinny black box knows how to play a tune . Even though this is a 90s budget model it has certainly convinced me that it would be worth spending a few quid on a better quality deck, especially after seeing how much great music is out there for next to nothing.

Oh, and I would take a cheap tape deck over a cheap CDP any day of the week.

[JANDL100]

I recorded today's lunchtime Indian music Proms concert on my Nak DR2 using TDK SA90 tape- playing it back now, it sounds nothing short of excellent imho.

No need for dynamics-squashing Dolby NR on a decent deck likea Nak with TDK SA. No tape hiss is audible at all.

Long live cassette!

[Dazen1]

Good deals can be had on eBay but be prepared to fork out for the likes of a TDK MA-R.

I rarely bother with eBay any more - the best bargains are to be had from boot sales and (as mentioned above), charity shops.

Why I like cassettes.

I can also recommend Tapeheads.

[Symbianista]

Crikey!

You wait for months on this forum for a positive mention of tape as a respectable playback medium, then suddenly in less than 24 hours there are two decent threads.

To what can we ascribe this unexpected outbreak of good and unbiased (pun) sense?

Where are all the modernist digistuff naysayers? On hols in Benidorm?

Yours with tongue firmly cheek implanted

Sym

[stuartypoorty]

Dazen1 wrote:

the best bargains are to be had from boot sales and (as mentioned above), charity shops.

Why I like cassettes.

I can also recommend Tapeheads.

I heartily concur young man.


Stuart

[Dazen1]

stuartypoorty wrote:

Dazen1 wrote:

the best bargains are to be had from boot sales and (as mentioned above), charity shops.

Why I like cassettes.

I can also recommend Tapeheads.

I heartily concur young man.


Stuart

[Jasper]

Mmmm - okay but still not convinced. Cheap yes I'm sure, but I already have more music than I can realistically listen to. It's impossible to find a track quickly and they take up too much room and don't have the benefits of record sleeves nor the convenience of digital. As for recording, surely there's easier methods.....buy hey it's great that there are still fans but I shan't be indulging. More for you guys I guess.

[eye-fi]

Jasper wrote:

Mmmm - okay but still not convinced. Cheap yes I'm sure, but I already have more music than I can realistically listen to. It's impossible to find a track quickly and they take up too much room and don't have the benefits of record sleeves nor the convenience of digital. As for recording, surely there's easier methods.....buy hey it's great that there are still fans but I shan't be indulging. More for you guys I guess.

Press Auto calibrate, Auto rewind, Press record. What could be simplier? To stop recording press pause.

Tape without doubt does have the drawback of track location which is why a disc format is better but many decks do have track search facilities but admittedly still slow & cumbersome.

[JANDL100]

.. and the 45 minute limit 'per side' can be a pain. Still very pleased with mine, though.

[stuartypoorty]

Clearly, like any medium, cassette isn't for everyone, which is why I'll gladly take all of those "wee anachronistic spooly things" of your hands for free.

That's right Wammers you can offload them gratis - yes, no fee required - and fully realise that abundant household space hitherto occupied.....