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#1
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3-head cassette deck: Tascam 130 vs. Sony TC-KE300S
Google search reveals nothing conclusive, or current, so I'm asking:
Any opinions on either of these two fairly inexpensive cassette decks? Or opinions on one's superior value over the other? It's killing me to even have to buy a cassette deck. And it's killing me to not be considering a state-of-the-art machine (if such a thing isn't an oxymoron), but it just seems ludicrous to spend $1100 on a 122mkIII or whatever just to be able to transcribe 20 year old tapes. So I'm looking for a deck that will sound good on playback, be able to record decently for the 1 out of 30 clients who still require it, and hopefully last long enough to be the last cassette deck I ever have to buy. |
#2
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3-head cassette deck: Tascam 130 vs. Sony TC-KE300S
On 30 Oct 2003, Roscoe East wrote:
Google search reveals nothing conclusive, or current, so I'm asking: Any opinions on either of these two fairly inexpensive cassette decks? Or opinions on one's superior value over the other? This is an old link (1995), but it has some information and opinions about cassette decks on it: http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~mleone/gdea...ide/index.html I have some Marantz SD-63s that I bought for $50 each. Great shape, and sound quite good. Nothing is adjustable from the outside since they are consumer oriented units. Doug |
#3
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3-head cassette deck: Tascam 130 vs. Sony TC-KE300S
Roscoe East wrote:
Google search reveals nothing conclusive, or current, so I'm asking: Any opinions on either of these two fairly inexpensive cassette decks? Or opinions on one's superior value over the other? It's killing me to even have to buy a cassette deck. And it's killing me to not be considering a state-of-the-art machine (if such a thing isn't an oxymoron), but it just seems ludicrous to spend $1100 on a 122mkIII or whatever just to be able to transcribe 20 year old tapes. So I'm looking for a deck that will sound good on playback, be able to record decently for the 1 out of 30 clients who still require it, and hopefully last long enough to be the last cassette deck I ever have to buy. If you are buying it to transcribe old tapes, look at the head assembly and pick the machine that will make it most easy to adjust the azimuth during playback. Also, you should know that you can get a Tascam 122 on the used market for under $200 these days. Make sure the heads are good, change all the belts (and if it's a Mk I, replace the eject button), and you'll have a machine that beats out all of the cheapies. Azimuth adjustment on it is mildly annoying, but not too bad. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#4
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3-head cassette deck: Tascam 130 vs. Sony TC-KE300S
Sorry to scare you, but "ideally" you should have an (ouch!) Nakamichi Dragon.
It automatically adjusts its azimuth to the tape you're playing. With respect to the TASCAM and Sony... I've owned both TEAC and Sony equipment, and have found TEAC recorders to have a drier, "flatter" sound. Sony is better, in my book. Of course, you won't know until you listen. |
#6
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3-head cassette deck: Tascam 130 vs. Sony TC-KE300S
On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 6:35:12 -0800, Roscoe East wrote
(in message ) : Any opinions on either of these two fairly inexpensive cassette decks? Or opinions on one's superior value over the other? --------------------------------snip-------------------------------- The best cassette deck I've found for playback is the Nakamichi CR-7A, which was fairly successful in the mid-to-late 1980s. This deck is unique in that it has a front panel knob for manually adjusting head azimuth. You "tune" the head alignment just by turning the knob and listening for best high frequency response. Also, Nak's unique transport pushes the cassette pressure pad out of the way, so it won't matter as much if the tapes are old or the cassette shell parts are beginning to deteriorate. The wow & flutter specs on the deck are top-notch. Also, to answer some of Nakamichi's critics, this deck does not have the so-called non-standard EQ of some of their earlier machines. I see used CR-7A's up on eBay all the time for anywhere from $300-$600, depending on condition. For that price, I think it's a bargain (given that it originally retailed for closer to $2000). --MFW |
#7
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3-head cassette deck: Tascam 130 vs. Sony TC-KE300S
Marc Wielage wrote:
On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 6:35:12 -0800, Roscoe East wrote (in message ) : Any opinions on either of these two fairly inexpensive cassette decks? Or opinions on one's superior value over the other? --------------------------------snip-------------------------------- The best cassette deck I've found for playback is the Nakamichi CR-7A, which was fairly successful in the mid-to-late 1980s. snip Somewhat bizarrely, the best cassette playback deck for playback I've come across ( aside from several Nakamichis ) is the Philips DCC 300 ! A certain Uk hi-fi 'cheaper deals' retailer bought up the last of the stock and sold them for silly money. I was therefore tempted to play. A digital recording on one is pretty good but sadly I've found that the tapes lose their magnetism. Not enough coercivity I guess. BASF should be shot. Too late, they sold the tape business to Emtec ! Anyway, in passing, I found the replay of existing analogue tapes was exemplary. Those digital heads must have been well aligned. Most natural sound I've ever heard off cassette. Nice remote control too. Graham |
#8
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What about the Revox B215?
It's killing me to even have to buy a cassette deck. And it's killing
me to not be considering a state-of-the-art machine (if such a thing isn't an oxymoron), but it just seems ludicrous to spend $1100 on a 122mkIII or whatever just to be able to transcribe 20 year old tapes. So I'm looking for a deck that will sound good on playback, be able to record decently for the 1 out of 30 clients who still require it, and hopefully last long enough to be the last cassette deck I ever have to buy. I don't know about the Sony. It seems you already know about the Tascams. The MkIIs are as good as the MkIIIs, except a bit cheaper. _Everyone_ wants the MkIIIs. ;-) I seem to remember the transports of the MkIs having problems. Some people have suggested Naks. Don't bother with them, unless you enjoy constant maintenance. They are good for caring audiophiles, but hopeless for the daily grind of a studio.. Have you considered a Studer Revox B215? These were favourites of many studios because apart from sounding fabulous, they were indestructible, requiring little maintenance. Big and _heavy_, about 20kg (AFAICR). Unlike Naks, these German beasts were built to last. I owned one until about two years ago. Thinking I would never need to deal with cassettes again, I foolishly sold it. -m |
#9
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What about the Revox B215?
In article , am wrote:
It seems you already know about the Tascams. The MkIIs are as good as the MkIIIs, except a bit cheaper. _Everyone_ wants the MkIIIs. ;-) I seem to remember the transports of the MkIs having problems. The belts break, the button assemblies fail, and the eject buttons go bad. I have a bunch of the original ones, and they are fine as long as you keep these three things in mind. And the originals sell for next to nothing on the used market. Some people have suggested Naks. Don't bother with them, unless you enjoy constant maintenance. They are good for caring audiophiles, but hopeless for the daily grind of a studio.. These days, cassette decks don't get much heavy use in the studio... if you want something for the occasional transcription job, the Naks might be a good choice. I used to put hundreds of hours a month on cassette decks, just doing reference tapes. It's probably been five years since I have done a reference tape. I think I have used mine twice in the past year, both for playing back field recordings made in the carribbean. Have you considered a Studer Revox B215? These were favourites of many studios because apart from sounding fabulous, they were indestructible, requiring little maintenance. Big and _heavy_, about 20kg (AFAICR). Unlike Naks, these German beasts were built to last. I owned one until about two years ago. Thinking I would never need to deal with cassettes again, I foolishly sold it. They are Swiss, and they are pretty well-made too. But they also are a pain to do azimuth adjustment on the fly with, much like the Tascams. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
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