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152.163.100.16
Just stated to putz with my first deck, a KX 1030 in near mint
condition cosmetically that the local expert tuned-up including
belts and a motor. Cost of unit on fleabay $71. Cost of tune-
up $82. Without a manual and with everthing set in neutral by
the tech, and using the old Maxell XL II, I'm making tapes from FM
that sound better than commercial tapes I put away 15 years ago.
FURTHER; I think the replay sounds better than the broadcast.
This is a basement set-up with a Mitsubishi R20 receiver and a dipole. Am I delusional? Can't wait to hear a good deck on my main system.Ron
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NO, you're not crazy Panzer. I've been recording analog and CD source to tape on an LX-5 for years, and even with the whole "a Nak tape sounds better on a Nak deck" thing, no one has EVER complained about the tapes not sounding good on their systems or portables. I have, however, been told by people with HI-END decks that my tapes are sonically incredible.The Nak LX-5 is my fav all time deck to record with. I have a Nak 600 also, and I like it because of its time and place in the history of cassette technology AND it's build is SO SOLID for it's day. Similar to my Tandberg upright, 310 MKII, which is also a wonderfully over engineered piece for it's day. Still, both decks sound warm and spacious like a good Nak/Tandberg deck should.
Recently, I've added a Tandberg 3014 and am still struggling with the meter adjustment (needed new coils and had them professionally replaced) and the sound, even in nearly dialed in condition, is unbelievable! Today, I'm picking up my most recent purchase, a Luxman LX-102. I've heard these decks (like the K-05) will kill and out-perform many digital formats.
My system is built around a Quad receiver, and NOTHING sounds as good as straight vinyl on my system. And with a great classic cassette deck, I just can't imagine EVER being without my analog heavy, wide open soundstage...
Great topic!
Analog rules!
Thank's, Stick, and everyone else. Most stereo shops A-B speakers,
but in a long-gone store in my area they had a CD & Vinyl A-B set up
using the exact same music, and it wasn't necessary to strain your
hearing to tell the difference between the two. My problem with
vinyl is the clicks and pops that develop almost as soon as they are
first played. I'll get around transcribing from vinyl to cassette
soon enough, and I'll see what wonders the tape will do for those overly bright CD's. I have the previously mentioned 330 eBay
special waiting for a parts unit to float by.
I'm running into that same situation, and have decided buying a good record cleaning machine is nearly a must, if I'm going to archive/use my vinyl collection. I got so used to tape, I forgot how pop/snap vinyl was.
Most of the folks out there that "Think" digital sound better than analog are usually under the age of 25 and have never heard a really good analog system or have never owned a decent quality tape deck.They only know what they've heard.If you grow up on ipods and mp3 players then that's all you know.Old school Folk's like me that grew up in the 70's and 80's or even earlier know what good analog sounds like,and personally i would not spend 2 cents on a ipod or any kind of mp3 player because i think they sound horrible but that's just me.Now i am going to go listen to some ELP recorded on a 1986 Maxell XLII recorded in DBX on a Yamaha K-2000 cassette deck,Peace..
I use mine for mostly spoken word these days, books, Lenny Bruce stuff etc
a cassette is good for a quick recording dub, true- but check out the specs posted on the high-end 3.75 IPS machines- they blow away standard CD 44/16 res.that goes without saying, how much better tape is than home-made WAV CD-R or MP3, which are even worse. I actually get more enjoyable sound from Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo in AC-3, dubbed to my DVD-R machine from analog sources, if I wanted digital dubs. The machine will store 60 hours of high-rez music inside the box itself.
A 3.75 IPS cassette deck is one of the great audio deals going right now, in the used market- I just bought a BIC T-3 for $35- how can that be beat ?
Pride of ownership.
welcome to my world...IMO anyone who gets rid of their tape decks, in favor of digital, doesn't know what they're missing
yes, maintenance issues, breakdowns, an occasional munched tape- but the fidelity and coloration are tremendously good sounding
what most don't realize or want to admit, almost all the great sounding SACD, DVD-A, and CD's out there, are cut from analog tape masters to begin with- stuff cut from digital masters generally doesn't sound so great.
...not as good as your WM-D6C's but at the time many years ago, I didn't have the cash for the WM-D6C!
I was playing my ~20 year old Cleveland Orchestra tapes recently (WCLV FM stereo) and they are amazing.I also played a cassette copy from a CD of the Beethoven Triple Concerto Richter/D.Oistrakh/Rostropovich and Brahms Double Concerto with the latter 2 soloists, BPO/HvK on the first and Cleveland/Szell on the 2nd. I was surprised how good it sounded. This was made by me with my Nakamichi 682 ZX on Sony UX Pro Type II, Dolby B on.
Most of them are at least Type II Dolby B or C on good quality tape (Sony, Maxell, TDK and Denon), but over 1/2 are on metal of the same brands.
You are far from crazy. My Nakamichi sounds akin to a good SACD, but maybe a little smoother and has that extended soundstage and open sound of good analog. And with metal tape, extended upper frequencies. Low end on that deck is 20 Hz.
now you know why Philips, Sony, etc. killed the 3.75 IPS cassette decks- they wanted to release the CD and make is a sale sweep, but they very well could not with a cassette format in place that was as good/better than the CD. IMO a high end deck like you NAK with metal tape, is superior to CD 44/16 or 48/16 resolution. And you can record with it and make your own tapes !If the audio mfgrs. want have a bustling market, like they did in the 1970-80's, they need to make SACD players that record too
to get the Nakamichi 6xx decks, late 70's to early 80's, much cheaper than the big name ones (700, 1000, Dragon, CR 7, etc.) and often in excellent shape, except for belts. As an aside, 660, 670 and 680 have low bass to 10 Hz. Mine is better overall but only goes to 20 Hz. I got a 681ZX for my brother for $80 or so last year (only issue was one of the VU meters).People went to cd's and left their tape decks to collect dust. I never did. I thought that cd's sounded clean and clear but lost something (in the later 80's, tried a used Yamaha early cd player with "natural sound" and a new Philips based Magnavox CDB 650, which is still the main cdp in my late father's system).
can you clarify, which NAK decks had 3.75 IPS ? if any ?I'm testing an old BIC T-3 right now. I'm dubbing vinyl to chrome tape at 3.75 IPS, hitting the source/tape button to monitor (it's a 3 head deck), there is VIRTUALLY NO DIFFERENCE between the source and tape. i.e. what you hear on the vinyl, is what you hear on the tape- I think the tape actually sounds better.
the specs for the 3.75 IPS cassette decks are quite impressive. The TASCAM/TEAC units hit 20 khz, and the BIC units hit 21-24 khz.
Here's a review/specs on a BIC T-4M, this is one kick-arse deck. I want one !
[IMG]http://i9.tinypic.com/352re5f.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i11.tinypic.com/4dgxj7p.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i9.tinypic.com/2qcngyd.jpg[/IMG]
I have heard in audio circles, that the 3.75 IPS decks were nixed by Philips/Sony, because they wanted their CD format to be successful. I'm starting to believe it, because with chrome/metal tape at 3.75, these decks equalled or surpassed standard 44/16 CD resolution- and you could record with them- and they were cheaper !
It's really IRONIC, that to get this level of performance, one would need a 7.5 IPS open reel, or SACD/DVD-A.
things that make you go hmmm...
I had my tape decks on line full time from 1978 until 1994, when I moved and one got put away. I ran cassette and 8-track carts at the time. The high-end Akai 8-track cart machines are another arcane player/format combo- spec'd to 17khz top end, but they test out to 18-19 khz.
CD was nice, but not nice enough for me to "switch over" completely. I keep a full compliment of tape machines up and running, for now.
The Teac/Tascam machines are nice too, but have a little less high-end than the BIC's- but the TEAC C-1/TASCAM 122 still hits 20 khz high end with metal/chrome tape. The C-1 does it with CHROME tape, amazing.
http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT/C1/C1-specs.html
http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT/C1/C1.html#
I have a Bic T-4M in excellent working condition with a new belt and precision re-aligned heads.
Email me if interested.
I could put it on eBay with an agreed upon "Buy It Now" and shipping price.
Email me if interested.
jack6128@gmail.com
although at 1 7/8, on metal tape, the good ones all reached just about 20K if not over, and sound very very good. They sound more like records than cd's. No glare or bright sunglass effect, yet extended in the upper ranges.
yes, my research shows the NAKS are 1/2 speed and std. speed, on their vintage 2-speed unitssomeday I'll have to give one a listen
I have the same Triple on vinyl: Angel S-36727. Of
course, when I get around to copying to cassette, the clicks
and pops go with the music.
esp. Oistrakh's vioin tone. I never bought that record on LP, but would love to buy an EMI one in good shape.
...but, let's not get carried away.* there is no way recording from the radio can "improve" the sound, other than in two ways: 1) by lopping off some high frequencies, and with it any FM has that might have crept in, or 2) by adding 2nd harmonic distortion, which is euphonic and creates a sense of presence on voices. While both effects are pleasant, they certain do not represent "better than source" fidelity.
...having said that, I greatly enjoy my tapes and view them as equal to or superior to my SACDs and much more enjoyable than most CD's. The advice given about the Walkman's is well considered. Consider it.
Harry
going from digital radio to analog metal tape, will improve the sound- the tape will tend to "fill in" the holes in the digital resolutionalso going upscale in tape speed and track width, can improve the sound, i.e. going from 1/4" stereo tape 8-track (cartridge), to 1/4" 4-track stereo
I recorded an old cruddy store bought rock tape from cassette 1-7/8 IPS to Elcaset 3.75 IPS, it improved it considerably- boosts up the low end/midrange in the soundstage- with the wider tracks
don't ask me how, but it does
That should be "FM hash" that has crept in....
Harry
You are not. We are immersed into digital toxic sludge and our brain is defenseless. Chriping sound of cell phones, buzzing sound of other devices, MP3s piped everywhere you move.When you isolate yourself into analog domain, your brain relaxes. You feel like taking off work boots after hard work.
Every month I have one weekend of Analog only entertainment.
Want to go one step furter? Get yourself Sony WM-D6C walkman (brick sized pro model) and decent phones. Ideal for relaxation while you commute. If you could only see people with teeny weeny crappy players blasting horrid MP3 looking with pity at me when I pull out my WM-D6C loaded with metal tape dubbed on a NAK.Listening to WM-D6C with metal tapes in public is sindful indulgence,
like sipping premium scotch from a pocket flask.
wow- now that's listening in style- you're tooling past the MP3's like a Ferrari taking the left lane, to glide past a smoking Yugo...how can those kids listen to that stuff ? MP3 and CD makes cymbals sound like TV station static, or smashing dishes on a concrete floor
talk about odd order harmonics to the n-th degree...
..."sludge" embedded in the digital noise bypasses perception to directly imprint the cortex? Could be.
Analog is forever.
That's funny and even more so, your right. My WM D6C sounds WAY better than my IPod-even with commercial tapes
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