Nothing is as crappy now as it was back in the 70's when I was in collge. Tech Hi Fi in Amherst Ma talked me into buying a Dokoder MK 50 cassette recorder for about $150. That would be about $1000 now. Had a spinning light on top to tell you the motion the tape was playing. It worked fine (sound was crap) for 5 years, then died. CD's weren't invented yet, so I just started listening to vinyl. Would have saved all my old LP's if I had known. Sorry to get off of the worst CDR string!