Can't get this info on JVC

[Bill Murray]

I see a lot of JVC cassette decks I would like to buy on ebay and elsewhere, esp the TD W-309, but I have not been able to find out if this deck is compatable with metal tape. No selector button on panel, no light on display for tape type. Anyone out there know the answer?? Thanks

 

[Okke 70s]

Yup, it does. Like you can pretty much assume from a deck of that era.

https://www.cassettedeck.org/jvc/td-w309

 

[painttoad]

Yup, it does. Like you can pretty much assume from a deck of that era.

https://www.cassettedeck.org/jvc/td-w309

yup, just confirming for him

 

[Bill Murray]

Yup, it does. Like you can pretty much assume from a deck of that era.

https://www.cassettedeck.org/jvc/td-w309

Great website you sent me to. Tells me what I want to know. I have had mixed results with my cassette decks over the years. The first was a Craig (1969). It was a POS. Not hi-fi. Just crap. The second was a Pioneer from about 1977. Excellent deck, I used it so much for 20 years I just wore it out. Then I got into metal tapes and used a Sherwood from about 1995 or so. Good deck, also worked it to death. Then another Sherwood from ebay, which never worked right, so yet another Sherwood from ebay, which also did not work right. Finally another Pioneer, excellent deck, EXCEPT it was not metal compatible. My mistake. Now I am in the market for a new (old) deck. I like the JVC looks, but I am not familiar with the brand. I once owned a small JVC equalizer which was fine, but buying a used deck is risky. Mechanical complexity. Lots to go wrong, as I found out twice. Anyway, website you sent me to will help a lot. Thanks much.

 

[Okke 70s]

Np. JVC made good decks generally. I don't know this one (or much about decks of that age). It must have been an up-line model, with HX-pro and all that. However, a dual well with auto-reverse has a lot of moving parts, and complex systems, that all have the potential to cause trouble. Out of hand I would still think this is fairly reliable deck, that might just sound great.

 

[Bill Murray]

Np. JVC made good decks generally. I don't know this one (or much about decks of that age). It must have been an up-line model, with HX-pro and all that. However, a dual well with auto-reverse has a lot of moving parts, and complex systems, that all have the potential to cause trouble. Out of hand I would still think this is fairly reliable deck, that might just sound great.

I'm thinking about it. Most go for 70-90 bucks.

 

[Bone Yard]

Good luck with your deck, I've always been a big fan of the early 80's KD-Series Decks and most of the early boomboxes. For a long time they were dirt cheap flying under the radar; JVC had to have been in the top three deck makers when you include car audio and boomboxes, it was the cool brand my young friends had back then.