A Tale Of Two Tape Decks

L

Lance Lawson

New member
Late last winter I happened onto an immaculate SONY TC-670 cassette deck at our local second hand store. I paid all of $6.50 for the SONY! Since then I've kept my eyes open for other quality pieces and this weekend I secured a Technics RSM 258R. A little research showed that the deck sold for $400 in 1981 when it was first introduced. Seems precious few other Technics cassette decks from any era sold for more. So it must have been very highly regarded in its time. After a good cleaning and servicing I discovered that the Technics is in perfect working order.

I decided to compare the SONY with the Technics which are separated by a decade in age. For the test I loaded a fresh cassette of Maxell UDXLII and recorded Bruce Hornsby's CD Hot House first onto the Technics then flipped the tape and recorded it onto the SONY. At first blush the newer SONY seems to have edge as the sound seems more detailed and sharper. However first impressions are not always lasting. I soon learned that whatever the Technics may lack in detail it more than makes up for in warmth and "analogness". There is a smoothness to the sound of the Technics that makes the jazzy Hot House flow with buttery richness. The sound isn't as in your face as it is with the SONY but its as there just the same.

I'm glad I decided to buy this old Technics machine. It was a bargain at $12 and is turning out to be something of a sleeper. It just might become my favorite cassette deck.
 

Attachments

  • Technics MS-258R 008.jpg
    Technics MS-258R 008.jpg
    64.3 KB · Views: 671
Heh:D It's interesting that you should mention this 'cause that's basically what I've found.......

I had several decks over time and, usually, higher end decks made until about early 80's have a beefier sound than any modern machine. What's more is that while everyone raves over Nakamichi, there's sleeper decks which compare or beat Naks but cost way less...

Got two JVC decks here, real sleepers, one mid and the other high end (all early 80's). Paid less than 100 (local) for both and not only are they extremely well built but also sound better than a cassette deck should. The source / tape is so close for CD / DVD and Vinyl that it's shocking.

You're right, may not have super duper frequency response (and paper specs), as some modern machines but my JVC sounds more faithful and "ballsy", more analogue, than any other deck. There's a sense of power and richness lacking in newer decks. Those old units are awesome.
 
cjacek said:
Heh:D It's interesting that you should mention this 'cause that's basically what I've found.......

I had several decks over time and, usually, higher end decks made until about early 80's have a beefier sound than any modern machine. What's more is that while everyone raves over Nakamichi, there's sleeper decks which compare or beat Naks but cost way less...

Got two JVC decks here, real sleepers, one mid and the other high end (all early 80's). Paid less than 100 (local) for both and not only are they extremely well built but also sound better than a cassette deck should. The source / tape is so close for CD / DVD and Vinyl that it's shocking.

You're right, may not have super duper frequency response (and paper specs), as some modern machines but my JVC sounds more faithful and "ballsy", more analogue, than any other deck. There's a sense of power and richness lacking in newer decks. Those old units are awesome.
Click to expand...

MY SONY TC K670 is a wonderful machine but it was made in the CD era and even has an input strictly for taking a CD player. This could be why the SONY is somewhat sharper in character as they anticipated CD's getting recorded and added a presence boost.

Yet both decks are great. I'm still wondering what it must've been like in 1981 shelling out $400 for a cassette deck like the Technics RSM 258R. I paid $475 for my TEAC A-2300SD in 1979 but its huge, heavy and reel to reel. In those days I didn't even own a cassette deck I was strictly reel to reel. Yet obviously people did spend serious money on cassette decks and I'm learning that some were outstanding in sound quality. It's something of a pity that people seem less concerned about sound quality these days. I've found that nearly all modern listening devices sound the same. But was a time when real differences were common even if it was subtle.
 
I love that old stuff. Here's my current list of "stuff". I recently sold about 10 old Teac reel to reels, including a 3340, to a repair guy who needs spare parts for older stuff. All those old cassette decks are great, but they do all sound different.


1. Marantz ? 2250B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver W/wood cover

2. Marantz - 2220B ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

3. Marantz - 2238B ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

4. Marantz - 2220B ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

5. Marantz - 2238 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

6. Marantz - 2230 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

7. Marantz - 2238B------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Receiver

8. Marantz ? 2252B -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Receiver

9. Marantz ? 2252B - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Receiver

10. Marantz - 2252 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Receiver

11. Marantz ? 2252B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

12. Marantz - 2252 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Receiver

13. Marantz - 2240 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Receiver

14. Marantz - 2285 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Receiver

15. Marantz - 2215 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Receiver - Champagne

16. Marantz ? 2252B ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver W/wood cover

17. Marantz ? 2220B ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver W/wood cover

18. Marantz ? 2270B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

19. Kenwood ? KR-7600 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

20. Kenwood ? KR-7200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

21. Sansui ? 2000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

22. Pioneer ? SX-990 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

23. JVC ? R-S77 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

24. Sony ? ST-6065 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

25. Pioneer ? SX-950 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver


26. AKAI ? AA-1050 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

27. CONCEPT ? 2.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Receiver

28. SANSUI ? AU-505 --------------------------------------------------------(AMP ONLY)

29. KENWOOD ? MODEL ELEVEN III ----------------------------------------------------- Receiver

30. SHERWOOD ? S-8900 ? Receiver -------------------------------------------------------- Receiver

31. PIONEER ? SA-7500 II (PART OF SET) ------------------------------------------------ Receiver

32. AKAI ? GXC-709D ??????????????????.CASSETTE DECK

33. LUXMAN ? K-118 ??????????????????.CASSETTE DECK

34. AKAI ? GXC-709D ??????????????????.CASSETTE DECK

35. AKAI ? GXC-730D ????????????????CASSETTE DECK (AUTO REVERSE)

36. AKAI ? GX-M50 ???????????????????CASSETTE DECK

37. KENWOOD ? KX-1030 ????????????????CASSETTE DECK

38. SONY ? TC-K3 ???????????????????.CASSETTE DECK

39. MARANTZ ? SD530 ???????????????.CASSETTE DECK (AUTO REVERSE)

40. YAMAHA ? K-300 ?????????????????..CASSETTE DECK

41. TEAC ? A-107 ???????????????????..CASSETTE DECK

42. KENWOOD ? KX-1030 ???????????????...CASSETTE DECK

43. AKAI ? GX-M50 ??????????????????..CASSETTE DECK

44. TEAC ? CX-400 ???????????????????CASSETTE DECK

45. MARANTZ ? 1810 ??????????????????CASSETTE DECK (WORN ? MINE?)

46. AKAI ? GXC-709D ?????????????????..CASSETTE DECK

47. AKAI ? GXC-570D ?????????????????..CASSETTE DECK ? (BIG, HEAVY)

48. AKAI ? GXC-570D ?????????????????..CASSETTE DECK ? (BIG, HEAVY)

49. TEAC ? CX-650R ???CASSETTE - DECK REVERSE W/ROTATING HEAD WOODEN CABINET


50. SONY ? TC-K3 ???????????????????.CASSETTE DECK

51. ADC ? SOUNDSHAPER TWO ?????????????.EQUALIZER ? 12 BAND

52. KENWOOD ? KT-5500 ????????????????.TUNER

53. ADC ? SOUNDSHAPER ONE TEN-IC ?????EQUALIZER ? 10 BAND ONE KNOB MISSING

54. PARASOUND ? EQ200 ????????????????EQUALIZER 10 BAND (BAD SHAPE)

55. REALISTIC ? 5 BAND EQUALIZER ???????????5 BAND EQUALIZER

56. PHASE LINEAR ? MODEL 400 ?????????????.POWER AMP

57. PHASE LINEAR ? MODEL 4000 ?????????????PRE-AMPLIFIER

58. AKAI ? 1722W ????????????????????..REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK

59. TEAC ? A2300SD ???????????????????.REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK

60. TEAC ? A-2520 ????????????????????.REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK

61. TEAC ? A5300 ????????????????????..REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK

62. TEAC ? A-3340S ????????????????..REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK - 4 TRACK

63. PIONEER ? H-R99 ??????????????..8 TRACK CASSETTE RECORDER/PLAYER

64. AKAI ? CR-80D ???????????????..8 TRACK CASSETTE RECORDER/PLAYER

65. AKAI ? CR-81D ???????????????..8 TRACK CASSETTE RECORDER/PLAYER

66. PIONEER ? TX-720 ??????????????????????.TUNER

67. JVC ? T-X22 ?????????????????????????.TUNER

68. JVC ? 4RD-1401 ????????????????????REEL TO REEL 4 CHANNEL

69. AKAI ? GX-280D ???????????????????..REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK

70. AKAI - GX-4000D ???????????????????REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK

71. AKAI - GX-4000D ??????????????.REEL TO REEL TAPE DECK (A BIT SHABBY)

72. PIONEER ? 8 TRACK CASSETTE PLAYER ?????????????? PLAYER ONLY

73. HARMON KARDON ? 330B ????????????????RECEIVER (NEEDS FEET)

74. PIONEER ? TX-6500 II ???????????????????????TUNER


75. FISHER ? CA-270 ??????????..AMPLIFIER ONLY (INTIGRATED, BLACK PLASTIC)

76. AKAI ? GXC-39 ??????????????????.CASSETTE DECK - TABLETOP

77. PANASONIC ..???????????????????CASSETTE DECK - TABLETOP

78. TECHNICS ? RS-D180W ??????CASSETTE DECK (DOUBLE BAY ? BLACK PLASTIC)

79. JVC ? TD-W220 ??????CASSETTE DECK (DOUBLE BAY ? BLACK PLASTIC - DIRTY)

80. VECTOR RESEARCH ? VCX-300 ??????????????????.CASSETTE DECK

81. PIONEER ? CT-F500 ?????..CASSETTE DECK NEW BUT NEEDS BELT OR ROLLER OR ?

82. PIONEER ? SR-303 ????????????????????????REVERB UNIT

83. PIONEER ? SG-60 ?????????????????????EQUALIZER - 12 BAND

84. PIONEER ? SR-202 ???????????????????????? REVERB UNIT
 
vintage electronics

Nice score!

Now, is the time to start grabbin' these beautiful pieces of history.
I've come across vintage decks and amps alot lately.

Seems as if alot of people have been cleanin' out their closets lately.

I live in a decent neighborhood, and there are some people with money,...
and it seems when these people get somethin' new,...they get rid of their old...because, almost everything I've found was in a newer home stereo type box. There hasn't been a week where I haven't seen at least one piece of audio technology sittin' out on the curb for the trashmen to take it away.

I've accumulated some nice pieces, since I've moved to the area 2 years ago.

So far, I've retrieved a Beautiful TEAC 360S 2 track in flawless condition,
a Tandberg TCD-320 2 track, a Technics SU-8044 amplifier, A Sony TC-WR521 cassette deck, a set of Pioneer high end stereo speakers, a set of KLH home stereo speakers, a set of Dynalab 2.8 home stereo speakers, and a few more pieces that I have in the basement, yet to be cleaned up.

I could be considered a hoarder, or trash picker...but I don't care.:p
I love the sound that these older pieces produce.
As long as the people around here are gonna keep shovelin' their old electronics out to the curb for the trashmen,...I'm gonna keep grabbin' 'em!:D
 
Its hard to resist some of what's out there now. In my case I always loved the quality audio pieces of the 70's, 80's and 90's. But the late 70's early 80's were a great time for analog equipment. But I couldn't afford a lot of what I wanted then. The great thing is now when you find something and it's in good shape it sounds just as good as ever and 9 times out of 10 better than anything offered today. I think music and the enjoyment of music was more important then as opposed to now.
 
LDS said:
That thing is bigger than my first apartment... :eek:
Click to expand...
I hear ya! I just sold a non-working Marantz that isn’t on that list because I thought I might want to keep it, but I sold it just to get it the hell out because I could barely lift the fucker. Must have weighed 90 pounds. :eek:
 
Tht list was an intense walk down memory lane. In my decade or so of repairing consumer/pro audio I worked on many examples of just about every item on your list. I can still smell the Scott's Liquid Gold from polishing the wood cabinets after I repaired a lot of those units. LOL!!!

The input selector switches on those Model Elevens were a nightmare to replace.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top