OmegaHyperio
Active Member
So some back story:
I got given a Denon DRM800 cassette deck a few days ago, and have been playing around with it a bit. (i own a few other cassette decks, but only one of them is currently in operational order, besides the new DRM 800. One of them has managed to eat a cassette, thankfully a type 1 with almost nothing on it... Different story for a different time...) Funny enough the only other cassette deck i have that works is also a Denon (DR-M34HR).
So to my problem. I have recorded some music on a type 1 cassette (as they are easily obtainable, and cheap). The source was by Benchmark DAC1. Even when monitoring the recording i noticed a center image shift in the music. I promptly checked the balance setting, and it was dead center. I can safely rule out the Benchmark DAC1 as the source of the problem, as its outputs where calibrated recently. (and it has not had the center image offset on either the internal headphone amp, nor power amps connected to either XLR or RCA connectors).
I then took some cassettes recorded on my other Denon, as well as ones recorded on a pioneer deck (my fathers old one, its not non functional, but the cassettes where from when it still was). On them, the center image was dead center. (also it sounds somewhat like only the center part of the song is off, while the sides are ok)
So i would guess it has to do with the recording portion of the deck.
Since i am fairly new to serious tape work (i quite love the sound of the new denon), i know fairly little about them.
So, what could the problem be with the deck?
Oh, and btw, to the playback chain, i tried it with the internal headphone amp, as well as feeding it into a Schiit Magni amp (needed to get the signal to the point where the fertilizer can convert the signal, im thinking of designing a new amp for that special purpose though), that then feeds my TC Electronics Finalizer Expresss (in bypass all), as a ADC that then goes threw a DSP into the aforementioned Benchmark DAC1. (complex i know, but i wanted to compare tape to the digital source)
Also i got the deck from the original owner, that bought the deck new back in the 80`s i think. It has not been serviced as far as i know. Also i have only used 1 since cassette to test the recording, but the same cassette has not had the center image problem with my Denon DR-M34HR)
Since i found my love for cassettes now, i would like to get the DRM-800 sounding as good as possible, before i get a Studer A721 or A710 or a Nakamichi Dragon. (though i would love a Studer A80 or A810, but i lack the space and money for one)
So, what should i do to get it back to its best sound?
Also if you guys would like a test recording of what i am hearing, i can provide you with one, though im not sure about the legals of uploading a song on AK.
I got given a Denon DRM800 cassette deck a few days ago, and have been playing around with it a bit. (i own a few other cassette decks, but only one of them is currently in operational order, besides the new DRM 800. One of them has managed to eat a cassette, thankfully a type 1 with almost nothing on it... Different story for a different time...) Funny enough the only other cassette deck i have that works is also a Denon (DR-M34HR).
So to my problem. I have recorded some music on a type 1 cassette (as they are easily obtainable, and cheap). The source was by Benchmark DAC1. Even when monitoring the recording i noticed a center image shift in the music. I promptly checked the balance setting, and it was dead center. I can safely rule out the Benchmark DAC1 as the source of the problem, as its outputs where calibrated recently. (and it has not had the center image offset on either the internal headphone amp, nor power amps connected to either XLR or RCA connectors).
I then took some cassettes recorded on my other Denon, as well as ones recorded on a pioneer deck (my fathers old one, its not non functional, but the cassettes where from when it still was). On them, the center image was dead center. (also it sounds somewhat like only the center part of the song is off, while the sides are ok)
So i would guess it has to do with the recording portion of the deck.
Since i am fairly new to serious tape work (i quite love the sound of the new denon), i know fairly little about them.
So, what could the problem be with the deck?
Oh, and btw, to the playback chain, i tried it with the internal headphone amp, as well as feeding it into a Schiit Magni amp (needed to get the signal to the point where the fertilizer can convert the signal, im thinking of designing a new amp for that special purpose though), that then feeds my TC Electronics Finalizer Expresss (in bypass all), as a ADC that then goes threw a DSP into the aforementioned Benchmark DAC1. (complex i know, but i wanted to compare tape to the digital source)
Also i got the deck from the original owner, that bought the deck new back in the 80`s i think. It has not been serviced as far as i know. Also i have only used 1 since cassette to test the recording, but the same cassette has not had the center image problem with my Denon DR-M34HR)
Since i found my love for cassettes now, i would like to get the DRM-800 sounding as good as possible, before i get a Studer A721 or A710 or a Nakamichi Dragon. (though i would love a Studer A80 or A810, but i lack the space and money for one)
So, what should i do to get it back to its best sound?
Also if you guys would like a test recording of what i am hearing, i can provide you with one, though im not sure about the legals of uploading a song on AK.