Cassette Decks in 2019

One of the major strengths of a good nak deck is its recording ability.

Once you set it up precisely for the type of tape you are using your results will be outstanding.

Obviously this ability will be meaningless to the OP if all they desire is to playback some indie cassettes.

As far as mass produced commercial tapes, sure there were some stinkers but to get an idea of a very well done tape try out;


Songs from the Big Chair by Tears for Fears

Then report back......

Al.
Agreed on the CSIS label, I have a couple although not my normal taste in music but when you find them in charity shop at 50 cents you just have to buy them!
Now on the flipside there are some equally terrible later pre recorded tapes , some so bad I have tossed them and kept the case which had more value!

I also suspect the tapes the OP is referring to may well fall into this latter category in places and yes a $1000+ Nak deck would make ZERO sense.

After all old saying.....

Garbage in, garbage out.

Not in the slightest, never have on any of my Nak decks.

My 582 was a great deck, the 660zx that followed it was better still but my present zx7 is in another dimension.

I am likely the largest and most vociferous proponent of cassette on these forums ... Lol.

You have to pay to play in the big boys sandbox no doubt about it though.

I also have on old CEC belt drive CD transport that is a permanent fixture here too.

Markum
Truly you need to hear my zx7 playing a great tape say on TDK SA formulation.
Or some of the really good pre recorded tapes issued on chrome tape.

It would blow your mind and radically alter your perception of " inferior medium".

Sorry to bang on but I own and play hundreds of tapes and my level of replay right now is simply stunning and close to my Pioneer rt707 R2R playback.
And that has been completely restored and recapped with Nichicon parts.

And as for lack of parts or repair?
Not sure where you get that information from. Sure it can be spendy but there are people out there working on them very successfully.

Totally understand OP!

With how many pre recorded and home recorded tapes I have I just wanted the best reproduction possible.
And for me that is now my zx7,but yes you have to pay to play.

You can get good working 582 for 300, 682 for 600 and zx7 for 1k.
Figure a full service for 500 to 700.
So yes it can get Spendy.
Please let me know how the Tascam works out if you go that route!

Hmm.
Now just WHY do you think all those Nakamichi decks are commanding great prices?
Maybe because they were the best cassette deck made available to the general public?
I have tried numerous Japan decks over the years, not one of them got close to my lowly 582.
Two decks I bought in rapid succession nosed out the 582, being a 660zx and then a zx7.
You really do have to hear the zx7 to appreciate how good cassette replay can sound.

Now I admit I have not heard the Tascam model that Almarg references but I believe him when he says it is good.

Would be interesting to pit one against my zx7......