"... People find it hard to believe, but other than the obvious noise-floor considerations, cassettes sounded much better than any of this digital crap. For everyday use, I still use constant quick-reference mixes in the studio — different arrangements, different guitar parts, different singing parts, different mix ideas — so I always have a loaded, ready-to-go mix deck hooked up to my stereo bus. At any moment, I can push the button, record, and sit back and A/B the different parts and ideas. If I didn't have a cassette deck doing that job, I'd be lost. I was so worried about it that I bought a second cassette deck and then I bought boxes and boxes of the Maxell tape that I use since I figure at some point they'll stop making it. I depend on it so heavily. There's nothing else that will quickly reproduce an accurate representation of sound to exacting standards.
Like you said, reel-to-reel was the best, and I always have to put cassette right behind it, the only thing being the noise-floor issue. .."
My general approach to this is that if you are going to spend the money on gear that will require ongoing maintenance and a scramble for parts, you might as well spend it on a decent reel to reel unit rather than a cassette deck. Last I looked, the cost of a good two track like the Fostex was about the same or less than for a used high end cassette deck. I'd take the Fostex thank you. I did have the opportunity to buy a well maintained E-22 locally a couple years ago. Listened to it. Thought about it. And decided that overall, while it was intriguing, it wasn't worth it to me, so I passed. YMMV.
