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Question about cassette player settings

Bought a used Nakamichi cassette player (LX-5) with no manual. The player offers 3 Tape Selections - EX, SX, and ZX. I'm familiar with Type I, II and IV tapes, but not with the Nakamichi settings. What do I use? Also, the player offers 2 EQ settings - 70 and 120. Again I'm at a loss about which to use since neither my pre-recorded nor blank tapes indicate an EQ setting. Can anyone give me some guidance? Thanks and have a Merry Christmas.
rockyboy

Showing 2 responses by jimbo3

jimbo3
304 posts
 
As I recall, your EX,SX and ZX settings are for bias, which is part of the recording function. EX will probably match inexpensive tapes, SX for high quality tapes and ZX for the very expensive "chromium" type tapes. Your EQ settings are for playback with the lower setting for inexpensive tape and the ligher setting for high quality and "chromium" type tapes. Using oth the Bias and EQ settings properly will maximize the performance of the tape you select. (I found that TDK SA worked the best for my applications.)

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Jim
jimbo3
304 posts
 
Thanks for the corrrection, Swampwalker- it's been a few years since I've been involved with tapes. Although, I seem to recall at some point that chrome and metal meant the same thing as far as bias was concerned and that high quality non-metal tapes like the TDK SA was the mid-bias setting. Perhaps the standards were changed at some point as even higher bias tapes were introduced?
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