Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
Generally, what is the audio quality of an 8track? Is it scratchy sounding or is it more akin to vinyl or cassette?
Question about 8track audio quality
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The quality of 8-track players was / is quite variable. The performance is dependent of both the player and the cartridge. The typical problems are speed stability (wow and flutter), tape noise (hiss), poor frequency response due to mis-alignment of the tape head and age related failures.
If you have a record / playback deck with Dolby B noise reduction, that goes a long way to reducing the tape hiss problem when your own tapes or pre-recorded tapes are Dolby B encoded.
At its best the 8-track can sound quite good. There is also the fun factor of using this format.
If you have a record / playback deck with Dolby B noise reduction, that goes a long way to reducing the tape hiss problem when your own tapes or pre-recorded tapes are Dolby B encoded.
At its best the 8-track can sound quite good. There is also the fun factor of using this format.
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Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
Fun factor?
Explain
Explain
Growing up with 8 track, I must have missed the fun factor part. Curious to see what that is.
likebike23
Addicted Member
I've found 8 track to sound rolled off on the treble. They also have a distinct "tape" sound that I like, possibly due to saturation 
. If you are looking to get into it be prepared to crack the tapes open and change the pads and splices. It is a job that I've found I just don't have time for. YMMV
. If you are looking to get into it be prepared to crack the tapes open and change the pads and splices. It is a job that I've found I just don't have time for. YMMV
Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
Lmao, I didn’t realize it was an 8track until ordered it, so that’s on me lol
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
It's all good 'til someone loses an eye...I once bought a pair of speakers sight unseen that were actually very good SQ wise but were simply waaaaaaaaay too big for my room...I won't even say how many carts I've bought that were crap in my system..."Let the good times roll...let them knock you around...let the good times roll...let them make you a clown."
Cheers!
David
Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
I dare not open up those tapes, since this is my first time getting into tape audio, and I only ordered one tape (Ella Fitzgerald)I've found 8 track to sound rolled off on the treble. They also have a distinct "tape" sound that I like, possibly due to saturation
@likebike23 is saying that it may be required maintenance before playing.
Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
ah I see, sorry for the misunderstanding
1tumbleweed
Kozmik Kowboy
8 track frequency response is generally comparable to R2R at 3-3/4. but noise is higher because the track width is half that of R2R. Wow and flutter, however, are considerably higher because of the way 8 tracks work. If 8 tracks (and their players) had benefitted from the technology improvements that cassette did, they might have been much better.
But they didn't, and they weren't. 8 tracks were revolutionary in 1964, but that was then and this is now. Doesn't mean I don't miss my old 8Ts, though...
As always, just my opinion, YMMV,
But they didn't, and they weren't. 8 tracks were revolutionary in 1964, but that was then and this is now. Doesn't mean I don't miss my old 8Ts, though...
As always, just my opinion, YMMV,
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
I dig your avatar...Ack!!
tom3
Super Member
I have and use 8 tracks still. Have some very good quad tapes that play much better than the run of the mill stereo. Good player, cleaned, decent quality tape on a good system will actually sound pretty good. But back in the day it was bass and loudness that counted. And real nice for decorating the brush on the side of the highway with those streamers. Find some nice rebuilt tapes on Ebay for not a lot of money these days. Just hard to be the convenience of those old carts.
maxhifi
Addicted Member
A Pioneer or Sony 8 track deck in top working order, using a tape in perfect shape, can sound really good, like an open reel at 3.75IPS. On the other hand, a cheap 8 track deck with a poor tape is a sonic disaster. I've always thought this is more down to the equipment though. I also think that the move to plastic pinch rollers in the 8 tracks themselves was not a good move from the standpoint of fidelity.
Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
The tape I got is refurbished, so I don’t think I’ll have to worry about the tape quality. As for the player in the receiver…
We will see (shortly)
There are several good videos on Youtube, covering many of the brands of carts, as each one has it's own technique. Generally, later ones are easier.
This might have had a negative effect on fidelity, but I am happy to see them, as opposed to the rubber types in the early years. Those have all rotted\swollen on any I have. Finding a suitable plastic roller to repair one of these is a challenge (There are several sizes on the plastic ones-mainly different size axel holes)
I mainly buy 8 tracks because they are cheap compared to vinyl, and even cassettes. Quality is all over the map. I have a good Akai deck, and with a good tape, the sound is very nice, at least for pop music. No sustained notes like classical music (W&F issues will become clear there).
I would characterize the sound as similar to cassettes, for the same time period. Most 70's vintage cassettes I have are mediocre in SQ. Same with the 8 tracks.
The last years of 8 tracks (late 70's to early 80's), the SQ was improved. By that time, cassette quality had improved dramatically, and far surpassed 8 track by then.
grinx76
Well-Known Member
jamming those bad boys into and out of the mechanism with the 'shhh-ker-chunk' sound is both barbaric and tactile.
fun.
Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
Well I finally got the tape, and after fiddling around with it for awhile, I figured out the drive belt fell out, so I had the annoyance of having to repair that, but once I got it done, I was happy with the sound quality. It’s not the best, but it’s not terrible either. This might sound a bit harpy, but I kinda like the scratchiness of it. You can really tell that it’s vintage tech. Would I buy more of them? Well, that depends, if they’re for cheap, sure. Otherwise, nope
