Is there a best Cassette Deck?
- Thread starter Klangquali
- Start date
Remember it? I still have my Walkman Pro!
Getting back to the subject at hand, ISTR Nakamichi's CR7E (that was the European model number, might be different on this side of the pond) having a slight edge in SQ terms, perhaps because it eschewed the Dragon's cool auto-reverse feature.
The Pioneer CT-S709 (first cousin of the Elite CT-93) from the early ’90s, was the slickest and best cassette deck I ever owned. Virtually dead-silent full logic control, motorized door, full auto calibration, and heavy-duty chassis with a honeycomb bottom plate. The CT-93 at least was regarded in some circles as a “Dragon Slayer.” My only disappointment was that I bought it (used) at the end of the cassette era, so I didn’t get as much use out of it as I would have liked.
IIR Pioneer was a cutting edge developer in cassette technology, at least near the end. I recall their last decks featured some kind of digital processing. I forget for what exactly, probably related to noise reduction.
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
I think this one wins as the best cassette deck ever made but only a 1000 or so were ever made. Have you seen what a good one sells for now?
You could buy a couple of good condition A80RC's for the same sort of money!!
I have had (still have) shitloads of cassette decks. My favourites are the Nackamichi ZX9, CR7A, 682ZX 1000 & 700 tritracers, Aiwa XKS-9000,
Tandberg 440A and assorted portables. My love of tape started in my teens and that was a while ago
The machine that started it all for me :
Adjustable bias, first deck with 120khz bias and fantastic heads. I still have it, did my first live recording with it.
For Sound quality - the 700zxe/zxl were the ones to beat (way better than the 1000, imho) , at a lower price the LX-5 was really linear with tons of headroom for metal tape.
my .02
Adjustable bias, first deck with 120khz bias and fantastic heads. I still have it, did my first live recording with it.
For Sound quality - the 700zxe/zxl were the ones to beat (way better than the 1000, imho) , at a lower price the LX-5 was really linear with tons of headroom for metal tape.
my .02
Indeed: I still own a CT95, which was the absolute top gear and fantastic along with the relevant D7 DAT, but they both gather dust..
Indeed: I still own a CT95, which was the absolute top gear and fantastic along with the relevant D7 DAT, but they both gather dust..
Interesting thread here.
I think there is been a minor resurgence with cassette tapes going on. In the last six months I'll bet I've acquired 150 new tapes. Tapes manufactured/recorded 2012 or later. Lots of Indie labels are making tapes rather than CDr's.
Makes me glad I sprung for that NAK DR10 back in '99.
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I owned one of these, and to many it was considered well into the entry of highest circles when it came to cassette decks. This was the best that Technics ever made! Sold it unfortunately as I shifted country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6HmM0WFRfU
The latest Hi Fi News has a well written piece on vintage cassette decks. The author seems to very knowledgable. Interesting that his recommendations as to the best sounding machines ever made are all mentioned in this thread but it is not the ones most posters seem to enthuse about.
That sounds great even over my crappy computer speakers. I love the way that cassette tape looked like two miniature metal reels.
Hi, I checked almost all of the big guns - Studer A721 is best by far. Tandberg 3014 comes second, Dragon third.
Vess
Vess
This was my dream deck in the '80s and '90s! I am glad to see someone owned one.
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