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Author Topic: Cassette deck recommendation  (Read 9310 times)

Adam Dempsey

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #15 on: December 07, 2007, 06:59:51 PM »

Hank Alrich wrote on Sat, 08 December 2007 06:01


Some Naks, including the Dragon, have the easily adjustable/auto adjustable azimuth for playback head. Getting playback aligned to match whatever the original recorder imposed can be rewarding.

And is pretty damn crucial, too (and as was not the case in, for example, that posthumous Jess Buckley album). Afterall, you'd get it right for a 1/4" or 1/2" 2-track master.

I remember, about 10 yrs ago, not being able to pick the Nak Dragon from a CD in a blind test in an ex girlfriend's loungeroom (she had good taste in hi-fi). I wouldn't mind finding another one (Dragon, that is... um Nak, that is).
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Adam Dempsey
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Adam Dempsey

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #16 on: December 07, 2007, 07:08:44 PM »

Kees de Visser wrote on Sat, 08 December 2007 07:04


- azimuth (how do you align without ref.tones. Search for lowest L-R output)?

Highest HF L+R output. Watch for the false peaks either side.
Kees de Visser wrote on Sat, 08 December 2007 07:04


- hopefully the tapes were properly labeled re. 90/120 us and NR type


Yes. Although DBX will be easy to spot (2:1 companding). Dolby B on or off: listen for hyped/over compressed highs if encoded & not being decoded. Between type B & C: less obvious, listen for over-decoding/pumping. I've never encountered a Dolby S tape.
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Adam Dempsey
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Jerry Tubb

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #17 on: December 07, 2007, 08:01:05 PM »

Maybe after the mania over mp3 players has peaked and considered passe', cassette will make a comeback.

Despite it's flaws, tape, even at 1 7/8 ips is much more pleasing to listen to.

opinions?

JT
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JSam

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2007, 08:30:51 PM »

Jerry Tubb wrote on Fri, 07 December 2007 17:01

Maybe after the mania over mp3 players has peaked and considered passe', cassette will make a comeback.

Despite it's flaws, tape, even at 1 7/8 ips is much more pleasing to listen to.

opinions?

JT

Picking a fight?  Smile

I'll take weird treble artifacts and smeared lows and mids over dropouts, extremely limited bandwidth, and yes, smeared lows and mids any day.  Plus mp3s are way more portable.
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bblackwood

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #19 on: December 07, 2007, 08:44:19 PM »

Jerry Tubb wrote on Fri, 07 December 2007 19:01

Maybe after the mania over mp3 players has peaked and considered passe', cassette will make a comeback.

Despite it's flaws, tape, even at 1 7/8 ips is much more pleasing to listen to.

opinions?

No chance. My wife's iPod is smaller than a cassette, is non-linear (convenient), and holds 10X as much music (at 256AAC, which sounds better than a cassette, imo)...
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Brad Blackwood
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Jerry Tubb

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #20 on: December 07, 2007, 09:47:34 PM »

bblackwood wrote on Fri, 07 December 2007 19:44

No chance.


Cassette hasn't been dead long enough to be considered "cool".

My prediction: in 10 or more years, a new generation that didn't grow up with cassette, will discover it as a cool retro format, and relish it because of it's inconvenience, warm sound, and tape anomalies.

Good players ~ Nakamichi will then go for a premium.

JT

addendum: I should make a distinction between real time cassette dubs from a decent source, and 32-64x high speed dupes which always sounded inferior imo.
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dcollins

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #21 on: December 07, 2007, 11:44:57 PM »

Kees de Visser wrote on Sat, 08 December 2007 07:04


- azimuth (how do you align without ref.tones. Search for lowest L-R output)?


For stereo, nulling anything panned to the center while listening to the L-R, is the preferred method, although you should start by peaking the HF while in mono.

Azimuth is extremely critical in cassette transfers.  Unless you have that Cedar box that automagically fixes it, it should be adjusted at the deck.

The last time I mastered from cassette, I rented a Nak MR-1 which has a easy-to-use and repeatable azimuth control.

DC

Larrchild

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #22 on: December 08, 2007, 12:37:04 AM »

You hear the azimuth peak "swish" through as you turn the Phillips screw on the head. It will be real apparent.
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Larry Janus
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bblackwood

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #23 on: December 08, 2007, 03:37:39 AM »

Jerry Tubb wrote on Fri, 07 December 2007 20:47

bblackwood wrote on Fri, 07 December 2007 19:44

No chance.


Cassette hasn't been dead long enough to be considered "cool".

My prediction: in 10 or more years, a new generation that didn't grow up with cassette, will discover it as a cool retro format, and relish it because of it's inconvenience, warm sound, and tape anomalies.

Good players ~ Nakamichi will then go for a premium.

Ehh, you're right, there's always a chance, but I don't think we'll see the nostalgia like we do with vinyl. Time will tell - at this point I'd not sell a Nak either - it's not like it will get you much right now, and if you do transfers, one or two sessions is worth keeping it around...
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Brad Blackwood
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Gold

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #24 on: December 08, 2007, 08:14:55 AM »

bblackwood wrote on Sat, 08 December 2007 03:37

Ehh, you're right, there's always a chance, but I don't think we'll see the nostalgia like we do with vinyl.


I agree. I didn't like them the first time around either. When was the last time you considered buying cassette at a yard sale? I thought so.

There are some cassette only labels around. If you have a great system and do your own transfers, okay maybe. I never once bought a prerecorded cassette. They were about the same price as a record and clearly inferior.
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Paul Gold
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studiojimi

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #25 on: December 09, 2007, 12:59:53 AM »

my MR1 has served me well for 21 years

don't use it often but i did use it today

would love to have the latest places for upgrade mods and service for this piece of gear

my older archive cds from the 70s and 80s don't seem to want to go thru the box

perhaps they can bake a cassette ha ha

i bet it is do-able
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mastertone

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #26 on: December 09, 2007, 05:10:37 PM »

Thank you all for your recommendations and replys! The Nakimichis do look good, I might have a "high end" pioneer that i can borrow for a while.

Best regards Jonas.
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Jonas Ekstrom
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dcollins

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Re: Cassette deck recommendation
« Reply #27 on: December 09, 2007, 09:20:52 PM »

Larrchild wrote on Fri, 07 December 2007 21:37

You hear the azimuth peak "swish" through as you turn the Phillips screw on the head. It will be real apparent.


And the Nak actually has a neat little gear reduction-drive that is  easy to tweak.


DC
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