Would like to purchase a hi-end cassette deck

[Roushon]

I am looking for a hi-end cassette deck. Tried to
zeroed in on Onkyo K-505TX, but it seems it
is now obsolete. Any suggestion of cassette deck
in a reasonable price will be highly appreciated.
With a store address (website or physical). I need a
single deck one with high quality output. If it does not
have any fancy features I will be happy. I have many
cassettes which I want to listen in a better way.

Thanks
Roushon

[cr0wl3y]

Back in the day when Philips thought they'd discovered the new CD with it, I got a DCC (digital compact cassette) player. Never actually used the DCC function but it was great tape player. It was even smaller than the Onkyo you suggested. Mine was like a thicker and heavier discman - just about portable although you wouldn't dream of going jogging with it.

Suspect you can get these second hand these days and the rapid demise of the technology may mean some will not be have been used all that much and will be as good as new.

[Roushon]

Originally Posted by cr0wl3y

Back in the day when Philips thought they'd discovered the new CD with it, I got a DCC (digital compact cassette) player. Never actually used the DCC function but it was great tape player. It was even smaller than the Onkyo you suggested. Mine was like a thicker and heavier discman - just about portable although you wouldn't dream of going jogging with it.

Suspect you can get these second hand these days and the rapid demise of the technology may mean some will not be have been used all that much and will be as good as new.

Thanks. Yes this was in my mind as the medium is
almost dead I can get a good deck in less price.
If any of you have it and would like to sell then kindly
let me know. But getting it from outside India will
make it expensive (shipping) I think, but nevertheless
I can give it a try. I have a panasonic now and playing
but it gives suppressed sound and nowhere close to
hi-end.

Recently I purchased Marantz 5003 cd player, so
got a taste of hi-end sound.

Roushon.

[Roushon]

It seems audiophile people have crashed their cassette decks....

[Mooly]

Originally Posted by Roushon

I have a panasonic now and playing
but it gives suppressed sound and nowhere close to
hi-end.

Have you tried tweaking the azimuth of the replay head... it's very rarely correct in an absolute sense and certainly never consistent between different decks. Makes a huge difference to the sound quality.

http://cpc.farnell.com/sony/tc-we475...ack/dp/AV14898

[johnm]

I don't believe there are any high-end tape decks - new - on the market today. You need to go second-hand.

I'd do a Google search for the following (if your budget could stretch to one):

Nakamichi CR-7E (probably the best deck ever made).

Otherwise this list is very good:

Best of the 3 Head Cassette Decks - Tapeheads.Net

- John

[Roushon]

Thanks Mooly and Johnm for your suggestions and for
the site on a formidable list of audiophile cassette deck list.

I thought of playing with the head of the panasonic
deck I have little bit to change the sound but did
not have the courage. Will do it now and see.

The sony deck Mooly suggested is pretty big and although
it is available in India, that is there are dealers who import
it, the price is more than double the original price.

I thought of another way. Can I do the following:

1. Change the head of the Panasonic I have by something
a very high quality playing head. I do not have any idea about their availability for hobbyist and their make etc.
Someone here can help me.

2. Build/purchase a new tape head pre-amp if available. Again here someone can help me with a circuit or
brand name.

Thanks
Roushon

[pheonix358]

I would also suggest you go second hand.

Nakamichi was the best of the best by far. 680ZX, dragon etc were some of the models that had no peer. Many are being restored and threads exist to help you.

[picowallspeaker]

I don't think that there might be great differences ...the media is that ,and the audio cassette has its limits. An 'hi-fi ' top-of-the-line tape head information perfect bit extractor can still be found ...the less expensive parts (belts) usually compromise the perfection of a good mechanics . Nowadays ,I find the -already old 10 years tape decks ,almost NOS - double mechanics with autoreverse done in a very cheap way ,sounding fairly good .
Of course no fine azimuth calibration but cheap 'analog' switches and plastic mechanics .

[Mooly]

I don't think changing the head will achieve much tbh, certainly not just for replay purposes. As others have mentioned the problem with s/h is that the mechanics could be shot, not just the rubbers but clutches, back tension bands, reel and drive motors etc

It's possible the tapes you are trying to play have deteriorated too.