time to change heads????!?!

[esotericality]

thinking about all this analog stuff, I'm wondering if it is time to change the heads on my deck. Its nothing totally fancy. Teac a-160, basic deck, just rca's in, rca's out, and L+R 1/4 mic ins, nr, all that fun stuff. Is there a way by examination that I can tell the heads need to be changed, ive owned the deck aprox 4-5 years, and who knows how long it went before I purchased it. They dont sound to hard to change. I dont even know which ones to get!

[mixmkr]

it's a cassette deck. throw it away and buy another one

[mixmkr]

but seriously, you most likely won't find new replacement heads.

[esotericality]

ahh! well im looking to still keep at least until i get a reel!!

[esotericality]

Originally Posted by mixmkr

but seriously, you most likely won't find new replacement heads.

decks like these must not be popular?

[The Ghost of FM]

A TEAC A-160 is an old dog.

Why throw it any more bones?

How does it sound now?

With clean heads and a fresh tape, how does it sound right now?

Are you looking for a DIY project or do you wish to get on with the fun of actually recording some music?

And just something to ponder. 1/4" heads can last a decent amount of hours that your deck may still have left in it. If you don't know the amount it was used before you got it, and you don't know how to look for the signs of wear marks on the heads and guides...(lifter arms wear quicker then the heads do as their metal isn't as hard as the head's metal alloy's are.), then you don't seam well suited to the tasks of head replacement and internal and external recalibration jobs.

So, again, How does it sound right now?

Cheers!

[esotericality]

actually, I have not cleaned the heads yet! I really should try that now. well, really im looking into reel to reel, and thinking this deck will just end up doing the task of recording down ideas if needed. If im going to use it for that, then I dont care that much for the greatest quality. I figured this deck is old, it doesnt have a date, but I am assuming it is early to mid seventies.

[esotericality]

well thanks anyways, i know what im going to do!!!!!!

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

1/4" heads can last a decent amount of hours that your deck may still have left in it. If you don't know the amount it was used before you got it, and you don't know how to look for the signs of wear marks on the heads and guides...(lifter arms wear quicker then the heads do as their metal isn't as hard as the head's metal alloy's are.), then you don't seam well suited to the tasks of head replacement and internal and external recalibration jobs.

This advice was geared more to owners of open reel equipment and considering we are talking about a consumer cassette deck here, it makes the point all that much more moot. Find another deck if this one doesn't cut the mustard.

My apologies for getting a bit direct.

Cheers!

[cjacek]

Originally Posted by esotericality

thinking about all this analog stuff, I'm wondering if it is time to change the heads on my deck. Its nothing totally fancy. Teac a-160, basic deck, just rca's in, rca's out, and L+R 1/4 mic ins, nr, all that fun stuff. Is there a way by examination that I can tell the heads need to be changed, ive owned the deck aprox 4-5 years, and who knows how long it went before I purchased it. They dont sound to hard to change. I dont even know which ones to get!

It is very unlikely that this deck, or any cassette deck for that matter, received enough usage to have its heads totally fucked. You really should clean the entire tape path as per our advice in many earlier threads. What goes for reel decks also goes for cassette. But really, as per earlier advice, if the 160 is shot get another and don't bother with part replacements, unless you're a collector.

[cjacek]

Originally Posted by esotericality

actually, I have not cleaned the heads yet! I really should try that now.

You owned it that many years and never cleaned the heads ??

[esotericality]

yeah!! well, I have not started getting into trying to make decent recordings for full songs, or whatever i may call them. In the past my attitude and actions were just to do a line input into the deck and record song ideas.