Cassette Deck Recommendations?

[Toiler]

Hello all!
I have an opportunity to purchase a cassette deck. But I am hoping might be able to recommend one of them over the others ?

Choices:
Sony K707ES
Sony TC-WE635
NAD 6340
Tascam 202 MK3
Yamaha KX-230
Harmon Kardon TD4400


FYI I am NOT planning on performing any tape to tape dubbing. And if these are all ‘junk’, feel free to tell me!

Thank you kindly for taking a look and for your assistance.

and hello from Alberta, Canada!

 

[daveshel]

What I would be looking for is a cassette deck would be Dolby C and electronic controls. Cassette was just too noisy and Dolby B just didn't cut it. Electronic transport controls replaced the mechanical 'piano key' controls that were prone to jamming. Three heads is also a nice feature if you do a lot of recording.

 

[Toiler]

Thanks for you reply daveshel. I believe the only deck on my list is the Sony K707ES. It has 3 heads, from what I have found online? And it has electronic controls. Here is a Youtube link…

cheers!

 

[Sgt Shultz]

No experience with any of the decks on your list, Tascam is a respected name, I have a Teac C-3RX (consumer version of the studio standard Tascam 122) and it's excellent.


But the only two well deck I would consider is the Tascam 302, both wells have identical features and controls. I have come close to purchasing one but having 4 decks already.........

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Thanks for you reply daveshel. I believe the only deck on my list is the Sony K707ES. It has 3 heads, from what I have found online? And it has electronic controls. Here is a Youtube link…

cheers!

Being part of Sony's ES line I'm sure it's built like a tank, and the inclusion of adjustable bias is a huge bonus if making your own tapes. And about that, if not considering making tapes I really don't see any point in the format, prerecorded tapes have always been dreadful.

 

[swechsler]

The Tascam is a newer dual well deck that lacks Dolby. My choice would definitely be the Sony 707ES. 3 head decks are almost always superior to 2 head. Plus it's got dual capstans.

 

[Toiler]

No experience with any of the decks on your list, Tascam is a respected name, I have a Teac C-3RX (consumer version of the studio standard Tascam 122) and it's excellent.
View attachment 3174196

But the only two well deck I would consider is the Tascam 302, both wells have identical features and controls. I have come close to purchasing one but having 4 decks already.........
View attachment 3174194

Thank you for taking time to reply. Unfortunately neither of these decks are available to me at this time. I am really looking for recommendations from my provided list. I will take your suggestions as a vote for ‘Do not buy any’! Cheers and thanks

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Thank you for taking time to reply. Unfortunately neither of these decks are available to me at this time. I am really looking for recommendations from my provided list. I will take your suggestions as a vote for ‘Do not buy any’! Cheers and thanks

Just some free information to help you weed out the Tascam, also to let you know I'm familiar with the brand eh.

See post #5

 

[Toiler]

Being part of Sony's ES line I'm sure it's built like a tank, and the inclusion of adjustable bias is a huge bonus if making your own tapes. And about that, if not considering making tapes I really don't see any point in the format, prerecorded tapes have always been dreadful.

Thank you again for your post. I should probably try to edit my original post as I AM planning to make some recordings -from my vinyl album collection! I will however NOT be DUBBING any tapes, thus I have no particular need for a DUAL deck.

Based on early feedback, I will place the Sony ES at the top of my list!

cheers!

 

[Sgt Shultz]

[/QUOTE]

Sony 707ES. Plus it's got dual capstans.

It's wow & flutter numbers kind of surprised me on that.

 

[twiiii]

Tascam made good decks but nothing matches the better three headed Nakamichi decks with the more advanced noise reduction systems. If I were still into cassettes I would be looking for a Dragon. But I gave up on all forms of tapes back in early 2019.

 

[swechsler]

It's wow & flutter numbers kind of surprised me on that.

Hmm, that's interesting, however I notice they list 3 different numbers, the lowest being 0.05% RMS (NAB). I used to own a TC-K555, a 3-head, dual capstan (but not TOTL) model introduced in 1981. It had a W&F rating of 0.04% RMS, with no other information given, so it's possible that the tape transport technology just hadn't improved much and they added new ratings. All the other ratings for the 707 are better than the 555. FWIW, I never heard any W&F when I had that deck.

 

[Toiler]

No experience with any of the decks on your list, Tascam is a respected name, I have a Teac C-3RX (consumer version of the studio standard Tascam 122) and it's excellent.
View attachment 3174196

But the only two well deck I would consider is the Tascam 302, both wells have identical features and controls. I have come close to purchasing one but having 4 decks already.........
sg

Tascam made good decks but nothing matches the better three headed Nakamichi decks with the more advanced noise reduction systems. If I were still into cassettes I would be looking for a Dragon. But I gave up on all forms of tapes back in early 2019.

I agree, I would love to locate and purchase a Dragon. However that is definitely NOT IN the snack bracket ($) that I am looking to shop in at this time! Cheers

 

[Toiler]

Hmm, that's interesting, however I notice they list 3 different numbers, the lowest being 0.05% RMS (NAB). I used to own a TC-K555, a 3-head, dual capstan (but not TOTL) model introduced in 1981. It had a W&F rating of 0.04% RMS, with no other information given, so it's possible that the tape transport technology just hadn't improved much and they added new ratings. All the other ratings for the 707 are better than the 555. FWIW, I never heard any W&F when I had that deck.

Right. Of the make and model decks that I listed only the Harmon Kardon has a lower W&F, listed at 0.045. I guess for now, the 707 remains front runner. My other thought is that maybe I shouldn’t purchase any of those decks. But then where does that leave me? I really don’t want to make any ‘appreciable‘ investment. I can get any of the decks I listed for free from my uncle. For a different ‘better’ deck, what sort of money would I need to invest? I cannot go ‘Dragon’ money!

 

[Toiler]

Right. Of the make and model decks that I listed only the Harmon Kardon has a lower W&F, listed at 0.045. I guess for now, the 707 remains front runner. My other thought is that maybe I shouldn’t purchase any of those decks. But then where does that leave me? I really don’t want to make any ‘appreciable‘ investment. I can get any of the decks I listed for free from my uncle. For a different ‘better’ deck, what sort of money would I need to invest? I cannot go ‘Dragon’ money!

Sorry I said for “free” from my uncle. That is not 100% accurate. He said ”gimme $50 and take your pick“….and he says they are all in working order. Plus he’s throwing in a NOS unopened case of 10 black Maxell cassettes. Anyway, you get the idea.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Tascam made good decks but nothing matches the better three headed Nakamichi decks with the more advanced noise reduction systems. If I were still into cassettes I would be looking for a Dragon. But I gave up on all forms of tapes back in early 2019.

Agree but the OP apparently isn't interested in anything not on his list. I only mentioned Tascam as one deck he had on his list was a Tascam.

Not a Dragon but my favorite deck I own is a Nak MR-1.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Sorry I said for “free” from my uncle. That is not 100% accurate. He said ”gimme $50 and take your pick“….and he says they are all in working order. Plus he’s throwing in a NOS unopened case of 10 black Maxell cassettes. Anyway, you get the idea.

The tapes are worth more than $50, the deck is free, take the Sony.

 

[daveshel]

I agree, I would love to locate and purchase a Dragon. However that is definitely NOT IN the snack bracket ($) that I am looking to shop in at this time! Cheers

In 1983 I got to evaluate a Dragon ($1800) and compare it to a Denon DRF-7 ($500). The only thing the Dragon could do that the Denon couldn't was make a prerecord sound decent. The sound quality of tapes I recorded on good high bias tape was indistinguishable between the two.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Hmm, that's interesting, however I notice they list 3 different numbers, the lowest being 0.05% RMS (NAB). I used to own a TC-K555, a 3-head, dual capstan (but not TOTL) model introduced in 1981. It had a W&F rating of 0.04% RMS, with no other information given, so it's possible that the tape transport technology just hadn't improved much and they added new ratings. All the other ratings for the 707 are better than the 555. FWIW, I never heard any W&F when I had that deck.

I had a TOTL Kenwood dual capstan head unit in the custom system in my truck that would reveal any wow & flutter, the Nak easily showed its stuff over all of my other decks, wow & flutter .027.

 

[Lavane]

I was given a Tascam MKV. It was rarely used if at all.
I just use it to play all the tapes I still have. It seems.like a solid deck.
When it comes.to dolby, I tend to play Dolby tapes with without switching on Dolby. A lotnof tapes I have that were made using Dolby sound worse when pushing the Dolby switch. I do have a few that sound great. It seems morw care was taken with some Dolby tapes.