Topic: Vintage Cassette Deck Question

[moondust.and.solitude]

I've transferred an uncountable amount of tapes over the years, however, I recently had a vintage Pioneer CT-F1250 tape deck completely refurbished and it has a variable volume output knob. Would it be beneficial to raise the volume of the output going into the recorder, or set it at mid point and raise the recording level on the recorder instead?

I included a picture of the deck I found online, so you can see the output volume I am speaking of.

[moondust.and.solitude]

I posted this into the wrong forum. I will try to move it or have it moved by a MOD. Sorry for the confusion.

[anodyne33]

No output that is not tied to the volume knobs?

[moondust.and.solitude]

No output that is not tied to the volume knobs?

I'm not understanding this comment/question.

It's basically an output volume made to match it roughly to the output level of your other components (receiver, CD player) so when you switch back and forth, there's less need to adjust the main volume control. It does control the entire volume output of the tape deck, so if you turn it to "0" you will hear nothing regardless of your receivers master volume, and if you turn it all the way to 10 .. it's at its loudest peak volume. Works similar to a pre-amp for microphones. I'm just not sure if it's best to raise the volume on the tape deck or raise the input volume on the recorder when transferring.

[dyneq]

Nice deck with great features for transferring!

Interesting, I've never seen a deck with an output level option since receivers expect a fixed, line level output. From the service manual I found:

When playing back a reference tape (160 nwb/m), a reference playback level (0dB) is obtained with these controls set to the "6" click stop position.

[capnhook]

Nice deck with great features for transferring!

Interesting, I've never seen a deck with an output level option since receivers expect a fixed, line level output. From the service manual I found:

When playing back a reference tape (160 nwb/m), a reference playback level (0dB) is obtained with these controls set to the "6" click stop position.

I would get out a sharpie and make a mark  good find, dyneq

[moondust.and.solitude]

Nice deck with great features for transferring!

Interesting, I've never seen a deck with an output level option since receivers expect a fixed, line level output. From the service manual I found:

When playing back a reference tape (160 nwb/m), a reference playback level (0dB) is obtained with these controls set to the "6" click stop position.

Thank you! I really appreciate the help!!

[moondust.and.solitude]

Nice deck with great features for transferring!

Interesting, I've never seen a deck with an output level option since receivers expect a fixed, line level output. From the service manual I found:

When playing back a reference tape (160 nwb/m), a reference playback level (0dB) is obtained with these controls set to the "6" click stop position.

I would get out a sharpie and make a mark  good find, dyneq

Done and done. I used a black wax pen to make a small dot (in case I want to sell it one day, the dot will easily come off). Thanks for the great suggestion.

[capnhook]

Nice deck with great features for transferring!

Interesting, I've never seen a deck with an output level option since receivers expect a fixed, line level output. From the service manual I found:

When playing back a reference tape (160 nwb/m), a reference playback level (0dB) is obtained with these controls set to the "6" click stop position.

I would get out a sharpie and make a mark  good find, dyneq

Done and done. I used a black wax pen to make a small dot (in case I want to sell it one day, the dot will easily come off). Thanks for the great suggestion.

It is fortunate that you'll be able to adjust left and right independently, too.  Good if you have to make a coarse balance adjustment, "pre-post"

[morst]

Interesting, I've never seen a deck with an output level option since receivers expect a fixed, line level output.

Nakamichi BX-125 has an output level control:
The manual says "Serves to adjust the line output and the headphone output level"
see page 4, #10
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/994703/Nakamichi-Bx-125e.html?page=4#manual

[Lostbrook]

Can't answer your question, but I had one of those in the late '70's. Loved it!

[GLouie]

IMO, you would check for any noise difference between low/high output level vs. high/low record level. It'll probably be a wash on any reasonable settings. Careful listening with headphones should do. My feeling is that a higher playback level should help keep the signal-to-noise lower down the chain, but I suppose it assumes the playback amplifiers are good. I have no scientific tests.

Take a worst case, a very low output setting, and you have to turn the next input setting (and noise) way up.
It's also possible that the highest output level might clip the signal on a hottest possible tape, in which case you don't want the highest output setting.

[jefflester]

Interesting, I've never seen a deck with an output level option since receivers expect a fixed, line level output.

Nakamichi BX-125 has an output level control:
The manual says "Serves to adjust the line output and the headphone output level"
see page 4, #10
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/994703/Nakamichi-Bx-125e.html?page=4#manual

The Nak Dragon does as well. Lots of the high end Nakamichi decks do.

[rocksuitcase]

All my Naks have output volume controls which do as morst says and adjust both line level and headphone output. I typically keep mine set at about 9. I figure no issues with it all the way up, but wish to "cheat" a bit just in case of a clipped signal on the source cassette. That is one fine looking deck you have there!

[ts]

Beautiful deck OP. Reminds me of my first nice deck. Also had variable output control.

https://www.cassettedeck.org/sharp/rt-3388a