Tape hiss 8-track vs. cassette

Ronald1973

Ronald1973

8-trackin', Hank, Sr. man
Something I've always wondered is why that 8-tracks, traveling at 3 3/4 ips, have a higher amount of tape hiss as opposed to cassettes, which run at about half of that speed. I'm not factoring in Dolby here either, just simply comparing both in their natural, unaltered state. I hate to sound stupid, but I've always wondered. :scratch2:
 
Register to hide this ad
Sorry, this is not an answer to your question, but I really like your avatar. I must say it again--
WAY TO GO CARDINALS!!!!!:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:
 
The answers are many and varied. The cassette was a significant uptick in technology. There is the introduction of Dolby-B, new tape oxide formulations (greater length to width ratios and particle size, permiability and retentivity, etc), improved biasing methods, etc.

Enjoy,
Rich P
 
Yep....the old 8-track didn't get much respect.First,make it's tape cartridge a,"wow & flutter" nightmare.Give it an average 60-10000hz freq. response,a signal to noise of about 40,don't do anything to improve those figures,make a gazzilion different players for it,and sure...you'd die and wither away into oblivion too.A few manufacturer's,Akai,Technics,Wollensak,Pioneer,they tryed to bring the 8-track out of it's lowly audio existance,but with no avail.
I still listen to,and collect,the homely,forgotten 8-track,have many tapes and decks to play them on,so...it's found a refuge here.:music: :yes: Rob
 
yeah, NOT to mention just when you were getting into a long track..then that dreaded CLICK and the pause.....grrrrr.....
 
retrokeeper said:
it's found a refuge here.:music: :yes: Rob
Click to expand...

Same here. Plus it's great to get that WTF :saywhat: look from people when they realize that the current music they're hearing had been recorded onto a cart.
 
8 tracks were good for one thing - CARS! Many people screwed those dash undermount Craig units in their cars and could listen to "Days of Future Past", and not top 40 AM radio - WOW - remember how cool that was?!?

But the track changes WERE annoying!!
 
Yep, that huge clunk sound - and then if your tape was on its last legs, it breaks or sheds the oxide all over the innards of the cart and mechanism. Tape hiss was atrocious on the cart. The sound was muddy or in some cases with some carts, too much crosstalk.

The Matsushita-sourced deck I used to have had a nasty squeaking sound on the motor that no amount of oil could silence. But the belt stayed on.
 
junk heads, junk tape, junk components. they ever make an 8track that would put down more than 15Khz? My dad had some new infinity speakers c1982 with his STRV45 and he tried to use the ole sony - so much hiss he would crank it up and pop the speaker fuses. Lest we think they were defective, nuttin else would pop em.
 
bohhey said:
8 tracks were good for one thing - CARS! Many people screwed those dash undermount Craig units in their cars and could listen to "Days of Future Past", and not top 40 AM radio - WOW - remember how cool that was?!?

But the track changes WERE annoying!!
Click to expand...

Hey, my first car had a Sparkomatic AM/FM/8-track that I used to listen to Kansas ~ Leftoverture on the way to high school. That was bliss. Installed it myself. Those were the days of a young man .....:thmbsp:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom