[net.audio] Auto Reverse Cassestte Decks

luria@ucbvax.ARPA (Marc Luria) (10/10/85)

I'm interested in buying an Auto Reverse Cassette Deck.  Specifically,
an Akai GXR-66 for $200 at J&R.  It has b&C dbx gx heads and a couple other nice
features and originally retailed for about 420.

The question I had is that I had heard that auto reverse decks don't track
as well.  Is this only true on the B side? IS this only true with tapes
not recorded on the deck?  Does not using this feature i.e actually taking
the tape out during recording and/or playback stop this problem or is it
still present?

If anyone has any other comments on this deck (or others) they would be 
appreciated.

ron@brl-sem.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (10/12/85)

> The question I had is that I had heard that auto reverse decks don't track
> as well.  Is this only true on the B side? IS this only true with tapes
> not recorded on the deck?  Does not using this feature i.e actually taking
> the tape out during recording and/or playback stop this problem or is it
> still present?
> 
It is mostly true on CHEAP decks.  Stealing a piece of Vintage 8-TRACK
technology it actually uses a solonoid to move the heads back and forth.
Lately, mine has taken to drifting into middle positions and playing both
tracks at the same time.

-Ron

ant3@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Butch Anton) (10/15/85)

The basic priciple behind most all auto-reverse decks (the only ones
that I can think of that don't use this principle are the Nakamichi
RX series) is that the playback/record head is mounted on a turntable.
When you ( or the deck ) reverse, the head is spun on this table.  The
only problem with this is that the stops wear out, something gets
in between the stop and the table, or some other such thing, and 
causes misallignment.  Nakamichi corrects this with their auto-asmizuth
(is that right?  I don't know) allignment technique.  This alligns
the head every time for "perfect playback."  

Hope that I haven't made a mess of things too bad.

-- 
Butch Anton
University of Chicago

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hsu@eneevax.UUCP (David T. Hsu) (10/16/85)

>The basic priciple behind most all auto-reverse decks (the only ones
>that I can think of that don't use this principle are the Nakamichi
>RX series) is that the playback/record head is mounted on a turntable.
>When you ( or the deck ) reverse, the head is spun on this table.  The
>only problem with this is that the stops wear out, something gets
>in between the stop and the table, or some other such thing, and 
>causes misallignment.  Nakamichi corrects this with their auto-asmizuth
>(is that right?  I don't know) allignment technique.  This alligns
>the head every time for "perfect playback."  
>
>Hope that I haven't made a mess of things too bad.
>
>-- 
>Butch Anton
>University of Chicago

Hmmm, seems to me you have a VERY STRANGE deck, since the vast majority
of the ones that I've seen have no such animal, and in fact keep the
heads in contact with the tape at all times.

-dave

p.s. I'll keep looking for that turntable in my walkman, too, and if I
     ever find one, I'll let you know...no, I'll let you have it.

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