Has anyone here had tapes that they remember that were lost or stolen like me ,theres a few I get sad about because they were one offs. Mix tapes and Music off the radio. Never lend stuff out man. I even copied one onto CD and that was lost aswell. Not by me either.
Been away too long, again. But great to see this thread active with some cool stories and experiences.
Chris Cables is keeping me super busy with lots more cable model introductions and website building (chriscables.nl). Not quite there yet with the website but it should go live in the next coupla weeks. Sign up there to get notified if of any interest.
Sadly then, less time for cassettedeck shenannigans 🙁
Still busy refurbing my little cabal of Nakamichi CR decks. It's actually quite a nice, relaxing hobby and gets me away from solder fumes and cut fingers when making cables lol.
The CR1, 2x CR2's and CR3 are all now refurbed and back to factory specs. The CR4 needs the mode-motor refurbing which is always a challenge, but never a chore. There's also a slew of new non-running Yamaha decks that I'll get started on at some point too.
The mid 80's to mid 90's Yamaha decks are a pure joy and a pleasure to work on, mostly. It's almost as if they were designed to be serviceable!
Mostly they'll need thorough cleaning/decontamination, new rubber components and a calibration, maybe the odd motor replacement here and there...
For anyone considering or are already busy with their own deck refurbs I can highly recommend the HansPeter Roth calibration tapes. They're just astounding value for what they are!
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/176013927759
There aren't enough hours in the week 😀
A pair of CR transports. Extricated and ready for refurbing. CR4 on the left, CR3 on the right. Note the direct drive motor of the CR4 - this is what makes it a really standout deck in terms of performance (w&f)
Zinc pest on the capstan flywheel of the CR3. Nasty. Increases w&f slightly too which is unfortunate.
10 q-tips down, 483 to go 😀
Obligatory calibration tapes and gauges and other gear.
An oscilloscope is also a must-have in combination with the tapes.
PB head azimuth back in-phase. Nice.
Shameless website preview/plug 😀
Chris Cables is keeping me super busy with lots more cable model introductions and website building (chriscables.nl). Not quite there yet with the website but it should go live in the next coupla weeks. Sign up there to get notified if of any interest.
Sadly then, less time for cassettedeck shenannigans 🙁
Still busy refurbing my little cabal of Nakamichi CR decks. It's actually quite a nice, relaxing hobby and gets me away from solder fumes and cut fingers when making cables lol.
The CR1, 2x CR2's and CR3 are all now refurbed and back to factory specs. The CR4 needs the mode-motor refurbing which is always a challenge, but never a chore. There's also a slew of new non-running Yamaha decks that I'll get started on at some point too.
The mid 80's to mid 90's Yamaha decks are a pure joy and a pleasure to work on, mostly. It's almost as if they were designed to be serviceable!
Mostly they'll need thorough cleaning/decontamination, new rubber components and a calibration, maybe the odd motor replacement here and there...
For anyone considering or are already busy with their own deck refurbs I can highly recommend the HansPeter Roth calibration tapes. They're just astounding value for what they are!
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/176013927759
There aren't enough hours in the week 😀
A pair of CR transports. Extricated and ready for refurbing. CR4 on the left, CR3 on the right. Note the direct drive motor of the CR4 - this is what makes it a really standout deck in terms of performance (w&f)
Zinc pest on the capstan flywheel of the CR3. Nasty. Increases w&f slightly too which is unfortunate.
10 q-tips down, 483 to go 😀
Obligatory calibration tapes and gauges and other gear.
An oscilloscope is also a must-have in combination with the tapes.
PB head azimuth back in-phase. Nice.
Shameless website preview/plug 😀
Last edited:
YES!
I was only thinking the other day about the very first Sony Metal ES '85-era tape I bought when I was about 15.
It was stolen when I lent it to a chickypop I was rooming with at university. She borrowed it and it got swiped from her room by (presumably) one of her friends when we had a house-party. grrr. I was cool with her about it but inside I was raging lol.
That was the first type IV tape I ever bought and it had David Sylvian's first two albums recorded onto it using my dad's Dragon.
arrrg, what a loss.
In any case, I've been making up for it ever since...
Well ... Metal tapes are the best way to tear the heads out of any deck. You want a Cobalt formulation and the Nakamichi (and most decks) factory target tape was TDK-SA or TDK-SAX. Machines will perform the best on those.
You were blessed when those metal tapes were taken, and the one who stole them were punished by being able to use them.
You were blessed when those metal tapes were taken, and the one who stole them were punished by being able to use them.
Respectfully, I don't agree.
The variables involved are too dynamic to make that statement credible.
If type IV tapes were overly abrasive or destructive of heads then they would not have reached the consumer market for general sale.
Tape formulations, as with most consumer goods go through extensive development programs including test-phases before they are deemed fit-for-purpose, especially by the larger manufacturers. There is simply too much to lose if releasing an unfit product. That's a basic of successful product-development.
I've been using almost exclusively metal/type IV tapes in a Yamaha deck I bought from new for over 25 years (normal use) with no loss of frequency response whatsoever. It's easily measurable with a calibration tape.
That's not to say that type IV tapes are not more destructive of heads but you would have to be playing type IV tapes on autoreverse constantly for months if not years before degradation takes place!
I come from a nuclear engineering background where longevity-in-operation is a key design aspect of mechanised/mechanical systems operating in highly-radioactive areas, so I know a thing or two about wear rates etc.
Not wanting to sound too obnoxious or dismissive but to put the idea out there that playing metal tapes in a cassette deck is going to destroy it is a bit of a nonsense imo.
I've seen worn heads and different failure modes including scoring, pitting, corrosion etc and it's actually more of a cumulative effect and highly dependant more on operating conditions to accellerate the degradation effects than any single tape type formulation.
Of all the scare stories I've heard about head-wear is the credible one about Sony 'CD-it' type-II tapes causing accellerated and destructive wear patterns. There are a few threads about those on tapeheads as well as credible and evidential (not anecdotal) claims. So I avoid those like the plague, easy.
In any case, I continue to use almost exclusively type IV tapes on all of my decks, including the Dragon, with absolutely no concerns whatsoever.
😉
The variables involved are too dynamic to make that statement credible.
If type IV tapes were overly abrasive or destructive of heads then they would not have reached the consumer market for general sale.
Tape formulations, as with most consumer goods go through extensive development programs including test-phases before they are deemed fit-for-purpose, especially by the larger manufacturers. There is simply too much to lose if releasing an unfit product. That's a basic of successful product-development.
I've been using almost exclusively metal/type IV tapes in a Yamaha deck I bought from new for over 25 years (normal use) with no loss of frequency response whatsoever. It's easily measurable with a calibration tape.
That's not to say that type IV tapes are not more destructive of heads but you would have to be playing type IV tapes on autoreverse constantly for months if not years before degradation takes place!
I come from a nuclear engineering background where longevity-in-operation is a key design aspect of mechanised/mechanical systems operating in highly-radioactive areas, so I know a thing or two about wear rates etc.
Not wanting to sound too obnoxious or dismissive but to put the idea out there that playing metal tapes in a cassette deck is going to destroy it is a bit of a nonsense imo.
I've seen worn heads and different failure modes including scoring, pitting, corrosion etc and it's actually more of a cumulative effect and highly dependant more on operating conditions to accellerate the degradation effects than any single tape type formulation.
Of all the scare stories I've heard about head-wear is the credible one about Sony 'CD-it' type-II tapes causing accellerated and destructive wear patterns. There are a few threads about those on tapeheads as well as credible and evidential (not anecdotal) claims. So I avoid those like the plague, easy.
In any case, I continue to use almost exclusively type IV tapes on all of my decks, including the Dragon, with absolutely no concerns whatsoever.
😉
I used to have a big tape collection in a big case.
I had them in the garage on a shelf, my listening back then was in the car.
I work with motors and came home with a huge ring magnet, thought it was cool. And... like an idiot, I put the magnet on top of the tape case, I didn't even think about it. Until I came back weeks later. Ugh...
Idiot. Party of one!
I had them in the garage on a shelf, my listening back then was in the car.
I work with motors and came home with a huge ring magnet, thought it was cool. And... like an idiot, I put the magnet on top of the tape case, I didn't even think about it. Until I came back weeks later. Ugh...
Idiot. Party of one!
Okay, you're smart and know better.
I was authorized warranty for most top cassette brands including Revox and Nakamichi. My shop serviced open reel and cassette tapes over a long period of time. From empirical observations over many years, I can say without any reservation you are very mistaken.
The Nakamichi three head machines were less susceptible to wear than any other machine simply because they pushed the pressure pad away from the heads, but they still would wear. Every machine from the 1000ZXL limited down to the BX300 was still affected negatively by metal formulation tapes, and real chromium dioxide tapes. The two head models suffered more as you might imagine. The permalloy (Akai glass) heads also wore excessively, they just didn't look like they wore.
Metal tapes are much more abrasive than normal or cobalt based tapes, period. The same holds true for Chromium based tapes (Memorex was known as "lapping tape in a box").
My entire goal has always been to keep people out of the shop while making their equipment perform as well as it can. The Metal based tapes do have some advantages, but they kill equipment too. Heads wear far more quickly than they should. So to recommend them means you should also be honest about the trade-off to their use. That would be excessive head wear, and for a non-Nakamichi machine or two head machine, it is serious.
I was authorized warranty for most top cassette brands including Revox and Nakamichi. My shop serviced open reel and cassette tapes over a long period of time. From empirical observations over many years, I can say without any reservation you are very mistaken.
The Nakamichi three head machines were less susceptible to wear than any other machine simply because they pushed the pressure pad away from the heads, but they still would wear. Every machine from the 1000ZXL limited down to the BX300 was still affected negatively by metal formulation tapes, and real chromium dioxide tapes. The two head models suffered more as you might imagine. The permalloy (Akai glass) heads also wore excessively, they just didn't look like they wore.
Metal tapes are much more abrasive than normal or cobalt based tapes, period. The same holds true for Chromium based tapes (Memorex was known as "lapping tape in a box").
My entire goal has always been to keep people out of the shop while making their equipment perform as well as it can. The Metal based tapes do have some advantages, but they kill equipment too. Heads wear far more quickly than they should. So to recommend them means you should also be honest about the trade-off to their use. That would be excessive head wear, and for a non-Nakamichi machine or two head machine, it is serious.
We're going to have to agree to disagree then.
Claiming type IV tapes 'kill heads' is being a bit overly-dramatic.
Claiming type IV tapes 'kill heads' is being a bit overly-dramatic.
🙂
Well, I guess you have to be in a position to assess performance and have had to replace countless heads or write machines off due to that.
Don't forget, I was in the Toronto, Canada area and saw far more machines than many other service centres, and I had a large service centre that did business internationally. I saw a vast population of machines operating under various conditions. My shop serviced the high end, recording studio and musician markets. That included the TV production industry with the digital machines.
I am not in any way being overly dramatic. If you really need to use Metal tapes - go for it. There is a cost.
Now by "kill heads", I mean they wear heads excessively - quickly. In many, the actual gap widens as you wear down, plus you lose material in that critical area. The HF response drops below adjustment range and many machines do that by reducing bias current, increasing distortion. It's a balance as you know. On top of that, once a wear path has been established, you cannot adjust the mechanical alignment unless you lap the heads (resurface). Cassette heads do not have enough material in them for that. Most people don't align their machines before using them or even check when buying used. So by the time they find out, it's normally too late.
So, wouldn't you say that when the head has been worn to a point where it doesn't perform well, you have to replace it? I would. The old head is considered "dead", or killed.
Well, I guess you have to be in a position to assess performance and have had to replace countless heads or write machines off due to that.
Don't forget, I was in the Toronto, Canada area and saw far more machines than many other service centres, and I had a large service centre that did business internationally. I saw a vast population of machines operating under various conditions. My shop serviced the high end, recording studio and musician markets. That included the TV production industry with the digital machines.
I am not in any way being overly dramatic. If you really need to use Metal tapes - go for it. There is a cost.
Now by "kill heads", I mean they wear heads excessively - quickly. In many, the actual gap widens as you wear down, plus you lose material in that critical area. The HF response drops below adjustment range and many machines do that by reducing bias current, increasing distortion. It's a balance as you know. On top of that, once a wear path has been established, you cannot adjust the mechanical alignment unless you lap the heads (resurface). Cassette heads do not have enough material in them for that. Most people don't align their machines before using them or even check when buying used. So by the time they find out, it's normally too late.
So, wouldn't you say that when the head has been worn to a point where it doesn't perform well, you have to replace it? I would. The old head is considered "dead", or killed.
I still use Cassette Deck right now . Yamaha KX-W392 Double Cassette Deck + Pioneer EX-9000 Dynamic Expander .
You obviously want to have the last word and assert that you are correct and not just agree to disagree amicably, so I'll let you have the last word.
It's a lot more important to you than it is to me I think.
👍
It's a lot more important to you than it is to me I think.
👍
Reading the last few posts, I can see what both of you are talking about, I don't necessarilly see anyone bragging here or wanting to "have the last word", all I see is peoples' experiences put into words. I appreciate the information. I also appreciate how other users interact with each other, it's something I find invaluable, meaning, you can't buy this anywhere... And I find it useful to see how other people deal in such situations. Like at work, for example.😏
Ive got another one.
Whats the oldest tape ,you have in your collection.?
Lets see some old tapes.😀
Whats the oldest tape ,you have in your collection.?
Lets see some old tapes.😀
Folks, now in India, cassette mechanism parts are NOS, available if you are lucky at some shop which did not sell them.
Most of the shops are gone, owner got old, good offer from a cell phone shop...
Idlers, pinch rollers, belts, heads...not in production after about 2005, when MP3 CD players hit the market, many had built in amps.
So please stock up, and try to maintain your equipment in good condition.
Oldest tapes are from 1980, when we got a Sharp GF-6060 boom box.
The box is there, not used for 20 years, same with the cassettes.
Similar story with my VCR, Panasonic G30, dead, needs power supply rebuild, and no rubber parts available.
Neighbor bought a L series Panasonic VCR from scrap collector for $2.50, it was in working condition...
Most of the shops are gone, owner got old, good offer from a cell phone shop...
Idlers, pinch rollers, belts, heads...not in production after about 2005, when MP3 CD players hit the market, many had built in amps.
So please stock up, and try to maintain your equipment in good condition.
Oldest tapes are from 1980, when we got a Sharp GF-6060 boom box.
The box is there, not used for 20 years, same with the cassettes.
Similar story with my VCR, Panasonic G30, dead, needs power supply rebuild, and no rubber parts available.
Neighbor bought a L series Panasonic VCR from scrap collector for $2.50, it was in working condition...
I dumped my Akai GX95 back in '02. The solenoids were iffy.
If I only had known...
If I only had known...
This thread made me get out my TDC-1200 and power it up once again after all these years
The NAAC stil flashes and functions in both directions with each new tape installed
Have 2 of these and the other one is in my older BMW with an Audiomobile rack
The FM still sounds wonderful
As mentioned, trying to get one in a new car these days would be out of place.
The NAAC stil flashes and functions in both directions with each new tape installed
Have 2 of these and the other one is in my older BMW with an Audiomobile rack
The FM still sounds wonderful
As mentioned, trying to get one in a new car these days would be out of place.
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