I'd say that's true of the Nakamichi and a few other top-notch decks from that era. But in the end, cassette was a flying pig. A remarkable, if inelegant achievement.
I had many Naks some years back, tried dolby B, C and no NR at all - I still have nearly 50 recorded tapes somewhere in the closet. In my system and by that time my AR XA sounded far better than the decks. A friend down here is playing with modeded portable Sony decks and prefers it to Digital.... Have to see/listen....