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1970's Cassette Deck Recommendations?

Isaac C.

Isaac C.

Cat Hoarder
Hello everyone, I am currently helping my grandfather search for a vintage cassette deck. I personally have two Panasonic cassette decks that I acquired for cheap and am pleased with. I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a 1970's cassette deck, front load or top load. Brands I am looking at are Panasonic, Akai, Teac, and Pioneers. Any suggestion is welcome. Thanks in advance!
 
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On the Panasonic/Technics front, two rather affordable options include RS-673 (a sexy looking two motor, robust transport deck with fluorescent VU meters) and the RS-M63 which is a three head deck with rather nice specs for it's vintage.
 
Advent 201 or 201A, the tanks of the era, among the most reliable. USA built too. The Technics RS 676 is one of the best of the Japanese machines from them, a RS 673 is very nice.
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone! The recommended Technics decks are more within his price range. He doesn't have a "set" budget per se, he said it depends on the specific unit. I would guess in general his max would be $200 for upper-mid tier unit. The RS-673 and 676 definitely fit if I can find one. Also the specs appear to be very similar to that of the Pioneer CT-F9191 recommended earlier.
 
Take a look at JVC. Although I was not a fan of their receivers. they made some great cassette decks. I bought a KD-25 way back when. It along with the KD-55 had a great vintage look along with big analog meters. I later bought a JVC TD-R461. While it did not have the classic look, it was a great deck and sounded much better. I still have both today and they still work. Depends if you want the 70's look or the 80's sound.
 
Technics/Panasonic made some reliable ones. My 631 is still using the original belts and has been getting used a couple times a week for 2 years now.
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Just scored a Pioneer CT-F500 for $6 at a thrift shop. All functions seem to work except capstan isn't spinning. I'll just order some new belts since I only paid $6. The specs are plenty good. It goes well with his late 70s Fisher receiver.
 
Quick off topic question, is there a way to rejuvinate stiff belts? They are intact but stiff and slip on the pulleys.
 
SaSi said:
On the Panasonic/Technics front, two rather affordable options include RS-673 (a sexy looking two motor, robust transport deck with fluorescent VU meters) and the RS-M63 which is a three head deck with rather nice specs for it's vintage.
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My M63 is still running strong, and has no head wear. It is a really good 3-head unit, with HPF heads. They came with a 10 year warranty!. Made really high quality, low noise recordings. Pre-amps were good too, even on the mic inputs. Just pulled it out of storage and expected to need a belt, but its working, no perceptible wow or flutter, seems to be correct speed. The only thing about these, is they cut costs on the plastic piano keys for the transport - they feel bendy and spongy. And, the metal flip switches are ok, but they don't have the svelte feel of the weighted toggles on say a 631. The knobs feel too light also. But, the Lexan glass-like transport door is really nice looking and it does perform really well as a recorder and for playback.

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The RS-631 was my first real cassette deck. Actually it looks like it shares the same transport with the RS-M63 but don't take my word on this as I've never taken apart an M63.

The piano keys are plastic, painted with metal looking paint. However, they engage a full metal array of levers that are spring loaded and plentifully greased to create the feeling they give.

One of the un-documented features of this transport (that I found on the 631 by accident) is the following: Load a cassette that is in mid-play, press and hold REW and Play together and leave it there. It will rewind the cassette, stop at the start (or at 000 if memory is engaged) and then automatically play the cassette. Isn't it just great for a fully mechanical, late 70s deck?

The other great feature of the RS-631 was that both the Line in and Mic inputs were available at the same time. I used a second turntable with a passive RIAA curve filter linked into the MIC input in the back and the two level controls in the front and created great mixtapes with crossfades between the tracks. All that without an external mixer. Those were the days...
 
I have an M63 which I like, however, I think it's due for a new belt or cleaning. The speed is a little slow.

To be fair, it was a thrift pickup, so it could use a refresh.
 
I have four from the ‘70’s, in order of age.

TEAC A-450 from 1973
JVC KD-720 from 1977
JVC KD-10 from 1978
JVC KD-A7 from 1979

Top performance comes from from the A-450 and A7 but in reality, they’re all pretty good. The 10 can be found dirt cheap, is easy to work on and built like a tank.
 
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