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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: jbell on August 01, 2010, 06:47:03 PM
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Looking to pick up a vintage tape deck and thought some folks at TS might be able to steer me in the right direction. I have found a few marantz decks on ebay, but not sure if I should be looking at other brands. Thanks
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What format: DAT? RtR? cassette? Elcaset? (Now that dates me.) How much do you want to spend?
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I want a cassette deck and I would like to keep it under $200
What format: DAT? RtR? cassette? Elcaset? (Now that dates me.) How much do you want to spend?
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I want a cassette deck and I would like to keep it under $200
What format: DAT? RtR? cassette? Elcaset? (Now that dates me.) How much do you want to spend?
You could probably find a good eBay deal on a Nakamichi 3 head deck something like a BX300.
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Thanks
I want a cassette deck and I would like to keep it under $200
What format: DAT? RtR? cassette? Elcaset? (Now that dates me.) How much do you want to spend?
You could probably find a good eBay deal on a Nakamichi 3 head deck something like a BX300.
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If you are seeking a cassette deck to use to make recordings, than it is my opinion that you should find a deck that has dbx noise reduction! The MARANTZ PMD-430 in my opinion was the best portable deck and still a great overall deck. See this link about PMD-430 http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/analog-sources/marantz-pmd430.html
Other regular , home, cassette decks that were equipped with dbx, --Technics made a good number of them from about 1980 thru 1985. I still own and use several of them that I purchased back in 1982 and 1985. Teac made one excellent deck that had dbx that I'm familiar with and remember the exact model.
TECHNICS dbx equipped cassette decks, the few that I recall (there's plenty more):
Technics RS-M227X dbx / dolbyB / Left & Right 1/4 mic inputs/VU meters(needles)/manual select Norm-CrO2-Metal (circa'81)
RS-M228X
RS-M234X
RS-M240X circa '81 has led meters instead of VU needles
RS-B78R
RS-B48R
RS-B50 circa '84-'85 has led meters dolby b , dolby c and dbx , automatic bias selection, provision for timer
TEAC made an excellent dbx equipped deck Circa 1982 , It was TEAC V-5RX
All of those decks listed above have two 1/4 mic inputs and are Metal tape capable and have dbx and dolby b, some also have dolby c
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If you are simply looking for a useable tape deck to transfer various cassettes taped on various machines, or even generational copies from traders, etc, then I'd recommend a deck with a PITCH control (speed adjust) so that you can get that as it should be.
From the early to mid 1990's JVC produced several double decks that had dolby B, Dolby C , with HX Pro in which a PITCH CONTROL (round speed adj knob) on DECK A. The JVC TD-W709 is one such deck, (I bought one in '94). The W-709 can simultaneously record with both Deck A and Deck B at the same time. Pitch control on Deck A. Of course no twin mic inputs. There is a crappy single mic/mix knob for Deck B, basically worthless feature.
Besides the TD-W709 , other JVC models that I recall with pitch control:
JVC-W354
JVC-W707
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All of these cassette decks, with the lone exception of the Marantz PMD-430, which is still sought after, can be found on sites like ebay for $10 to $30 tops.
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Believe it or not, I still record with my B50, M227X , and M240X technics machines. The JVC only to transfer generational , 1st,2nd,3rd gen concert cassettes, acquired from about '74 to about '90.
I still use my Akai X-200D r2r deck, purchased back in 1971.
I still use my old MD machines too. I still like the old Sharp MD-MT821 even though its now 11 years old.
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Those old Technics dbx equipped cassette decks have a S/N ratio of greater than 90, around 92 when recording using dbx.
Teac models too.
Though both Technics and Teac made many run of the mill, very basic, entry level low cost , lower end cassette decks, These dbx equipped decks were top of the line offerings from them in that era and were not entry level or low end!
My opinion is the sound of recordings made on these decks using the dbx , is second to none as far as tape recordings from any cassette deck.
True, these were never widely popular because dbx on decks, was generally rare, since really no ghettoblasters, boomboxes, oem indash car stereos, aftermkt in dash car stereos, seemed to ever have dbx. You needed dbx equipped deck or player to play back, and from a basic functional standpoint, it wasn't useful or popular with the mass public due to this.
My opinion is the sound quality of cassette tape made with one of these decks in good shape using dbx, cannot be beat.
Recap: several dbx equipped decks by make & model:
TECHNICS :
RS-M227X
RS-M228X
RS-M229X
RS-M233X
RS-M234X
RS-M235X
RS-M240X
RS-M245X
RS-M253X
RS-M255X
RS-M265X
RS-M270X
RS-M270X
RS-B50
RS-B48R
RS-B49R
TEAC dbx models:
V-5RX
V-550X
V-4RX
V-530X
V-850X
V-900X
V-455X
R-606X
............thats just some of them........