Rolls Royce of Cassette Decks

[BobInWi]

At a certain age, it's physically impossible to be a golden-eared audiophile anymore.

What can remain is the desire to own system pieces for their impressive appearance
and for pride of ownership.

I know. That may not be what Hi Fi Haven is really about,
but it's certainly a reality.

We call our setup a "home entertainment installation," not a high-end hi fi or music system.
It performs very well, but it's also, to us, like decorative art in the screening room half
of our great room.

I don't know about golden eared - hearing aids changed my music listening life. Regardless, I'll be the first to admit there's some perfectly fine pieces I'd never buy because I don't like their looks. I've sold pieces because I just didn't want to look at them. So, I get yr point & don't disagree.
I was thinking more about bling for the sake of bling. Like the guy w a Lamborghini who can't drive. That's what I meant by 'trophy collecting'.

 

[Nifty Niblick]

I don't know about golden eared - hearing aids changed my music listening life. Regardless, I'll be the first to admit there's some perfectly fine pieces I'd never buy because I don't like their looks. I've sold pieces because I just didn't want to look at them. So, I get yr point & don't disagree.
I was thinking more about bling for the sake of bling. Like the guy w a Lamborghini who can't drive. That's what I meant by 'trophy collecting'.

I think I might be able to drive a Lamborghini, not anywhere close to its limits, of course,
if only I could get in and out of it.

 

[mpholland]

I have an old Nakamichi 582 hanging around somewhere. I doubt I ever have had or will have anything better. I can't remember the last time I listened to a cassette tape.

 

[Nifty Niblick]

I have an old Nakamichi 582 hanging around somewhere. I doubt I ever have had or will have anything better. I can't remember the last time I listened to a cassette tape.

I though that cassettes were great for making compilation tapes from CD tracks,
especially for the cars, when cars had cassette players.

Now we can do it on thumb drives and memory cards, but as an older, less patient person,
I don't enjoy it as much.

 

[wmmm]

The history of Nakamichi

 

[Hifi-Magnetics]

I had one Totl Nakamichi deck, fully rebuilt and properly set up, and it was a true high end source. The recordings it made were brilliant. It added a touch of warmth, but that was the only difference between the recording and the original. Really great piece of gear.

Pretty much like no difference from your personal preferences with high end phono cartridge. Each has its own particular playback sound on vinyl. I'm not really good at turntables but that's what I hear from different people and so as 4 of my old cartridges. I have a designated cartridge that I use for reel and cassette tape recordings. 10 to 1 you're 100% right. There is a warmth added in cassette recordings. Since one is my deck is specifically biased to the old Sony HFS and at the same time this is what I been recording on the last 5 months. I was able to dial the bias settings to its optimal giving me that extra mid-hi sound on playback includings its Sony fat analog warmth sound. I can push the recording up to 4+. Its giving me a more dynamic wide playback sound than the original vinyl source. But of course I will not compare the sound between the 2. Each and everyone has their own personal preferences.

 

[Hifi-Magnetics]

The history of Nakamichi

I believe I watched that episode in a flash. I'm not sure what is his exact experience with Nakamichi Decks but pretty much he was hitting "some" of the right words all along. There are a lot of misconceptions especially on high end decks and during the time it turn into High Fidelity in almost overnight while people are starting to look at the early CD revolution.

 

[Hifi-Magnetics]

Happy Friday, Happy Recording and Listening!

 

[Veriwide]

I don't know about golden eared - hearing aids changed my music listening life. Regardless, I'll be the first to admit there's some perfectly fine pieces I'd never buy because I don't like their looks. I've sold pieces because I just didn't want to look at them. So, I get yr point & don't disagree.
I was thinking more about bling for the sake of bling. Like the guy w a Lamborghini who can't drive. That's what I meant by 'trophy collecting'.

I can't listen without my Signia aids!

 

[BobInWi]

I can't listen without my Signia aids!

I'll go downstairs, dim the lights , crack open a cold one, put on a tune, shut my eyes & STOP....... go back upstairs for the HAs. The experience w/o them is not nearly as satisfactory as it shd be,.

 

[Hifi-Magnetics]

Vinyl, Cassette Tapes and Decks are up now on sales. It's possible that it will be alot more in ✈️ 2026.

 

[BobInWi]

Vinyl, Cassette Tapes and Decks are up now on sales. It's possible that it will be alot more in ✈️ 2026.

Interesting. Will someone start making cassette tapes again?
(assuming you don't already own tapes) Seems a silly purchase otherwise.
You never know what will become hot & trendy I guess...