Can non-video shielded speakers harm cassettes? HELP!! Advice needed!

[audio]

I'm shopping for a new pair of speakers. Most of the models I am looking at are not magnetically shielded. If I were ever to put my speakers in the same room as my television, I would have them at least a foot away from the screen/tube, so that shouldn't be a problem. What I am wondering is how the magnetism would affect cassette tapes? In my current configuration, my cassette player is approximately 1 foot from the rear of where the speaker is going to be. The drivers may be as large as 8", depending on which model I choose. Of course I would never stack tapes on top of or near the speaker, but my question concerns playing them. Is there any reason that playing a tape in a machine that sits 12" away from the speaker would degrade or damage the cassette from the magnetism? At what point should I be concerned? What are the do's and don'ts here?? Help, please...........

[Ron Stone]

I used to worry about this, too, but I've never had a problem. I've left cassettes on the speakers with no apparent effects.

At the risk of revealing the limitations of my high school physics, your television contains a relatively unstable electron beam, which is manipulated by the magnetic field created by coils inside the picture tube -- which is why large, unshielded speaker magnets can interfere with the image -- whereas your cassette is a far more robust, inert physical object. If your speaker magnets don't affect your television from one foot, I can't see how they could affect recorded cassettes from the same distance.

[audio]

Well, I don't know if the speakers would affect the TV or not. I haven't purchased them yet. I was just saying that if I did put them next to the TV, I would put them a least a foot away on either side.

[Ron Stone]

If you really want to be sure, you could make two cassette copies of a favorite CD, and attach one (without the protective case) directly to the speaker for a week or so, store the other in an ideal location, and then play them both back again and compare.

I think you'll need to be more worried about your television, though. I wouldn't buy unshielded speakers until I saw they wouldn't wreck the picture. I have seen that happen.

[audio]

I seriously doubt that they would bother the TV being a foot away. Have you seen such a thing? That is a good idea about the two copies of the cassette. Another idea I had was to get a cheap compass and experiment to see how far the magnetic field reaches. I believe there is also a meter than measures magnetism, but I'm not sure what it's called or where to get one. In light of all this, I'd like to try and figure out if this is going to be a problem before I buy the speakers.

[Steve Hoffman]

Wait a year and THEN check the cassettes. By that time the top end should be good and gone..

Find another place to store your tapes!

[audio]

Steve, I have no intention of storing my tapes anywhere near the speakers. I know better than that. They will be on the other side of the room. My question is strictly regarding playback. I intend to move my cassette player to a shelf that is somewhat near the speaker. During playback, the tape inside the machine will be 20 inches or so from the rear of the speaker. I am wondering if this configuration will expose my tapes to magnetism from the speakers if they are unshielded while I am playing them and if I need to be concerned. In other words, how close is too close? Am I safe here? What about cds? I know that in theory gold and aluminum will not be magnetised, depending on whether or not you buy the Bedini trip. Your advice here would be GREATLY appreciated!!

[Grant]

Prix,

From the looks of your setup, I think you are safe putting your cassette deck there. I have my cassette deck one foot away from the speaker out of necessity, and I have had NO performance problems, but then I think my speakers are sheilded. I'm not sure. But, I NEVER leave my tapes anywhere near a speaker or monitor!

Don't worry about those CDs! They will not be affected!

[audio]

Originally posted by Grant


Don't worry about those CDs! They will not be affected!


I didn't think the discs would be affected, but I am never certain of anything. There are some cds that are within a couple inches of the speaker on the other side. The idea that a cd could be affected by a magnet seems absurd to me, but John Bedini seems to think otherwise and he's the one making the big bucks.

[Grant]

Originally posted by prix



The idea that a cd could be affected by a magnet seems absurd to me, but John Bedini seems to think otherwise and he's the one making the big bucks.

;)

[Ron Stone]

I've seen those speakers before. Are those Monitor or Meridian?

[audio]

Originally posted by Ron Stone
I've seen those speakers before. Are those Monitor or Meridian?

They're Monitor Audio Silver 8i and they are shielded, but they are being sold. They're too big for my room.

[audio]

I'm also wondering if the magnets from the speaker would disrupt my cd player placed in the same location as I am putting the tape player. Is it likely the cd mechanism would be too close?

[Steve Hoffman]

No.

[audio]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
No.

Great. That's good to know. So what about the issue of tape playback as seen in the diagram/photo I provided? Your help in this regard is really appreciated, Steve. Speaker hunting is a nightmare.

[Grant]

Prix, first, CD players are not affected by magnets.

Second, I would feel perfectly comfortable with placing MY cassette deck on that shelf playing MY tapes. No harm will come to them, as it is more than a foot away from yout speaker.

Just remember, like Steve says, find another place to store your tapes.

Your CDs are just fine!

[sgraham]

According to things I've read (don't ask me where!) as long as you're at least 3" away from magnetic fields you should be OK. In theory it takes a mighty powerful magnetic field to change what's on a tape. Which doesn't mean I'd want to put my tapes 3" away from a powerful magnet, but there you are.

[audio]

Originally posted by Grant
Prix, first, CD players are not affected by magnets.



I was thinking that a strong magnetic field could pull the tiny springs that hold the laser in place in one direction or another resulting in more frequent read errors.

[audio]

Originally posted by sgraham
According to things I've read (don't ask me where!) as long as you're at least 3" away from magnetic fields you should be OK. In theory it takes a mighty powerful magnetic field to change what's on a tape. Which doesn't mean I'd want to put my tapes 3" away from a powerful magnet, but there you are.


So do you think the magnetic field from a 7 or 8 inch driver 20 or so inches away from a tape being played in a cassette deck is going to be strong enough to effect the tape in any way? I need a final word on this, here. Steve? Anyone? Help!!!! I need to make a decision on which speakers I am buying or the missuz is going to kill me.

[Steve Hoffman]

You have nothing to worry about!

[audio]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
You have nothing to worry about!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been beating my head against the wall over this issue, thinking that I couldn't choose a speaker that wasn't magnetically shielded because of where I am going to have my cassette deck. I was waiting for the tape guru to answer me once and for all!!! Thank you, thank you, Steve!!!:cheers: