High End Cassette Player Recommendations

[EC3970]

I need a recommendation for a good cassette player to transfer tapes to my CD burner. I have a $700 Sony TC-D5M but want something even better.

[BradOlson]

Another way to do it is to transfer your cassettes with your existing cassette player to a MiniDisc or DAT. We do sell Sony MiniDisc decks and DAT decks (MD decks are cheaper than DAT decks) at NorthernLightFX.com, but unlisted on the site but there is a Contact button where you can contact us.

[Jeffrey]

Hi,

Did ya use the D5 to record concert shows? :) If not, ya should have!

Compatability is an issue. What deck did ya make most of the cassettes on? Did ya use NR, and if so, which one? Without knowing that, I would strongly recommend Nakamichi. IMO, they made the best tape decks ever!

-Jeffrey

[Dave]

Ah, the Nakamichi "Dragon" Jeffrey to be exact. Nothing even comes in a close second IMHO.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by Dave
Ah, the Nakamichi "Dragon" Jeffrey to be exact. Nothing even comes in a close second IMHO.

Hi Dave,

This may depend on what deck the cassettes were made on and what, if any, NR was used. The Dragon was the Cadillac but Nakamichi made a number of really good decks that gave the Dragon a run for the $, IMO. As ya know, the issue is that Nakamichi is the best deck to use IF you both record and play the tapes on it. If the tapes were made on another deck, such as the D5, Nakamichi does not match up well. I would strongly recommend playing D5 recorded concert tapes back on the D5.

-Jeffrey

[Dan C]

The Dragon had that incredible automatic azimuth adjustment, so it should be able to play back tapes from any machine. There were a couple of earlier Nak models with manual azimuth control, and some Nak addicts insist that they're even better sounding than the Dragon, but I can't for the life of me remember the model numbers.

But I agree with Jeffrey. If the heads are still good on the D5, you should play back D5 recorded tapes on that machine.
Dan C

[Joseph]

Some really good advice in this thread. Keep in mind that if you replace the Sony or not you WILL need a quality analog-to-digital converter. Cbsolson suggested a DAT(Tascam makes some excellent ones) or look at some of the higher end sound cards (if you are burning on a computer). Some of the standalone burners such as HBB also have decent a/d converters.

Let us know what you decide to do.

[EC3970]

I remember seeing a dragon years ago, they are still one of the best?

Actually the Sony I have is less than a year old, I bought it as a field recorder. The tapes were not recorded by me but are a mix of studio and live-from-the-board recordings from various machines that the artist has trusted me to transfer to disk.

I actually would like something that might allow me to shape the sound a little if necessary. The tapes should actually be handed over to a professional, instead of an audiophile/amature. They are from their major label days. I really want to do it right with this stuff!

The burner is a new Tascam, I tried and tried to find one of those purple machines but couldn't.

[proufo]

AFAIK, The most expensive currrently built cassette players are made by Denon.

Cassette seems to be now a studio tool and the Denons are aimed at that crowd.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by EC3970
I remember seeing a dragon years ago, they are still one of the best?



Hi,

IMO, all the best decks were made in the 1980's. After that, most manufacturers spent their R & D on cdp's. You would probably be best off if you could find a 1980-1990 built Nakamichi in primo condition. This is a real challenge b/c my fellow Deadheads helped to rag out many of them. :)

-Jeffrey

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by EC3970
The tapes were not recorded by me but are a mix of studio and live-from-the-board recordings from various machines

IMO, utopia would be if these tapes were labeled as to which machine they were recorded on so you could try to find that exact machine, or at least same manufacturer/model #, so that you could play it back on it. Now on to reality...........:)


I actually would like something that might allow me to shape the sound a little if necessary.

I'm not sure I would want to use the cassette player to shape the sound. IMO, the player should be used only to reproduce the sound as accurately as possible. If shaping the sound is a goal, I would recommend a separate EQ.


The tapes should actually be handed over to a professional, instead of an audiophile/amature.

Well, so much for my advice. :D

-Jeffrey

[EC3970]

You're right about the EQ, actually I just want to get the best sound off the tapes as possible, not to radically alter them. A primo '80's machine still would make me wary. I have a 80's NAD player I can always count on to eat a tape no matter how many times it gets serviced. It's in a box now.

The DR-10 looks good for playback but it seems the be discountinued.
The Denon single well player looks good too.
Any others?

hmmm, deadheads can't be too busy these days, maybe some will be willing to give up thier better machines.

[lsupro]

Hey.. my old Cigital Compact Cassete machine isn't so bad.. he he

[Gary Freed]

Originally posted by Dave
Ah, the Nakamichi "Dragon" Jeffrey to be exact. Nothing even comes in a close second IMHO.

The Nakamichi Dragon is very highly reagarded. Teac makes some very nice decks also.:)

[EC3970]

You should've shot that elephant in Alabama...

[d.r.cook]

In ref to Naks, I have an RX-202 unidirectional auto-reverse deck, purchased frm (now defunct) Hi-Fi House in Knoxville, TN, circa 1983; I would rate the condition good to excellent, but I DO NOT have the original packaging. As for use, it was mainly for mixes, and rarely used for listening.

It sold for $650 then; anyone interested can PM me.

doug

[aashton]

Originally posted by Dave
Ah, the Nakamichi "Dragon" Jeffrey to be exact. Nothing even comes in a close second IMHO.

Well I'd agree with Dave that a Nakamichi CR7E doesn't come a close second to the Dragon - but it does come a comfortable first ;) (IMHO)

&ru

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by aashton


Well I'd agree with Dave that a Nakamichi CR7E doesn't come a close second to the Dragon - but it does come a comfortable first ;) (IMHO)

&ru

;) :D ;)

-Jeffrey

[Jeffrey]

Hi,

A couple more top-notch Naks........ 1000 ZXL, 700 ZXL, and ZX-9. Whatcha think, Andrew? :)

-Jeffrey

[aashton]

Originally posted by Jeffrey
A couple more top-notch Naks........ 1000 ZXL, 700 ZXL, and ZX-9. Whatcha think, Andrew? :)

:righton: Oh yes indeedy - especially the Gold plated limited edition 1000ZXL :)

http://www.angelfire.com/wi/blueswapper/nak1000zxlltd.html

All the best - Andrew

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by aashton


:righton: Oh yes indeedy - especially the Gold plated limited edition 1000ZXL :)

http://www.angelfire.com/wi/blueswapper/nak1000zxlltd.html

All the best - Andrew

Hi,

That does it............. Sir Andrew from now on! :D

-Jeffrey

[aashton]

This site looks like a very good resource for Nakamichis

http://naks.com/home.html

&ru

[Dan C]

Originally posted by aashton
This site looks like a very good resource for Nakamichis

http://naks.com/home.html

&ru

Yes, great site. Almost makes one miss the old cassette, eh?
Dan C

[Michael]

I still use my JVC-KD V6 from 1983..Still going strong! A wonderful machine.

[michael w]

Chalk me up as another Nak ZX-series fan.

I've got a ZX-7 (wish it was the ZX-9).

Not quite as many fun features as a Dragon but the sound is on par.
Plus it has full manual adjustments instead of the automatic CR-series.
And it's cheaper than the mega Naks like the 700/1000 ZXL series.

Many experienced Nak users actually prefer the fixed playback head models to the Dragon with it's NAAC automatic playback azimuth system.


cheerio