What makes tape sound better than vinyl ?

I certainly have quite a few recording on cassette that sound better than CD or streamed tidal versions.
However I also have a fair number that are god awful too! Lol

Back home and able to hook up the Nak 582 for the first time.
To start with I had no idea it was so LARGE!
I have it connected in my second system as it is too wide to fit in the rack of my main system.
Impressions so far are very positive, first few tapes spun through sound very lively and airy.
Quite impressive for $100......serviced 5 years ago and then put away. My steal of the month.

Well I bought a Nakamichi 582 simply because it was an absolute giveaway so looking forward to playing with that as well as the new table.(out for delivery today!)
Santa came early this year!

@inna 

The main problem with ever increasing budget is that pretty soon I will be approaching r2r prices and then its well just a bit more will get an even better model , repeat ad infinitum!
I am in no rush, tapes have sat in boxes for 6 or 7 years now so a while longer will not hurt.
Lets see if I can find any Xmas bargains!

@orpheus10 
I certainly appreciate the help and advice and seriously hope you do not think you are wasting your time!
Since when has any audiophile been accused of being rational.....lol.
It may be a passing phase but its one I am interested in right now.
R2r may follow who knows?
From what I see of the successful sales of cassette decks on eBay I would have little problem moving a deck on again at a later date.

@orpheus10

Excellent information, thank you.
The top ten list actually contains a model I owned back in the day. #7. The Aiwa.
Must research the revox b215...

@Inna

I think the 3a,4a and 5a were made in Malaysia? Not Japan agreed, not sure just how much that will affect the sound

I am thinking for my budget and intended very occasional use that a lower model may be in order. Like the cr3a,4a or 5a.
At present I am thinking of using mostly to play existing collection of tapes( I also have a friend who has a vast collection of tapes and no deck that I am sure I could "borrow" some), rather than record anew.
Partly due to my DAC/pre has no tape out function so would have to go direct from phono stage or CD player or vault to the deck to record anyway.
Decks along these lines seem to be $250 to $500.
Lots to consider before jumping in!

@inna 
Many thanks for the info,I would have guessed Nak would likely be the way to go but it seems my price guesstimate was out a few dollars!
Have to be fairly serious in my head before spending near 1k. Especially as I just bought the Nottingham a few days ago...lol.

Kevin

In regards to a cassette deck, what would be your recommendations based on current good used equipment still in circulation?
Might be a fun worthwhile endeavour especially as I still have a huge pile of tapes from when I used to play them in my muscle cars before switching over to Hidden Stereo systems which were then cd/ fm based not cassette/fm based as the old indash spindle fit systems were.
Not sure on budget as have not considered tape in a long while but my guess is that $300 to $350 should get something halfway decent?

Thank you
Kevin

Yes she is, appreciate the sentiments good people, long may she continue to "rock it out". 

These forums will be the death of my wallet for sure
Now you have me looking on eBay at tape decks, thanks INNA! lol.
Tbh I am not too surprised by the majority opinions and findings
My 85 year old mother still uses her Grundig reel deck which is at least 50 years old! I remember when she was using my old JVC table, Trio amp and Akai cassette deck so she could transfer cassettes and vinyl onto her reels and still listens to them to this day!
I think she likes to watch the reels go round.....
She is also still using the Trio, JVC and the Akai and they are 39 to 40 years old too.

Last time I was there when she was playing some Tony Bennet if I remember, even though not my cup of tea at all, I do remember it sounding pretty darn good and very life like.

So easy to spend my hard earned cash nowadays, just browse eBay, read up a bit and push a few buttons on the keyboard and another toy could be winging its way towards me. Doh......