rld@drusd.UUCP (DucharmeRL) (08/27/85)
I have just started monitoring the audio newgroups and was wondering if anyone has a summary of top end cassette players/recorders (ie like the nakamichi). Is it true that some of the tapes that are recorded on players like the NAK. are not playable on other recorders? Thanks in advance robert ducharme drusd!rld 538-4066 ATT Denver
mohler@drune.UUCP (MohlerDS) (08/29/85)
I am answering your question on the net in case others are interested in similar issues. First a disclaimer: I own a NAK BX-100 deck and like it. I must state that unless you are going to spend 800.00 or more on a cassette deck (read: too much) that there are several other companies decks you should consider. AKAI, B&O, HARMON-KARDON, KYOCERA, NAKAMICHI, ONKYO, SONY, and TANDBERG all make at least one great deck in this price range. I suggest that the features you might look for to provide good sound and reliability might include the following: Direct drive capstans Closed loop - dual capstans Sendust alloy head with straight cut gap LED or fluorescent meters driven from the monitor head (assumes 3 head deck) 3 heads for record monitoring Solid head block mounting No auto-reverse unless it is electronic or like NAK'S new type - any head rotation type auto-reverse deck is suspect when it comes to reliability and recording quality. Tracking or matched noise reduction encode/decode - see later comments DBX unless compatibility with Dolby B/C is needed Dolby HX or HX/PRO unless compatibility with Dolby B/C is needed Reference mark on meter system of where Dolby cal. level falls Clean, "mother-board type construction To answer your question about a NAK recording being incompatible with other machines - yes this is sometimes true, but it is with other companies decks too! The problem comes down to tape head gap, tape tracking and complementary noise reduction encode/decode. The best way I know of to avoid this is: 1) Buy a deck with a Straight Cut head with a typical gap size 2) Get the best noise reduction circuitry you can in your price range 3) Buy a Closed Loop - Dual Capstan tape drive mechanism Even if you do all of this I can just about assure you that tapes you make will sound substandard on some decks, this is especially true of car deck compatibility. I hope this helps answer your questions. David S. Mohler drune!mohler