[net.audio] Wanted: Cassette Deck advice

prophet@umcp-cs.UUCP (Dennis Gibbs) (03/02/85)

<>

From Shaun Simpkins:


>I would suggest looking at the Nak BX-300 before you run out and purchase
>the LX-3 - I think the BX-300 gives more value for the same list price.
>It is a 2-capstan design, hence low flutter, hence much better reproduction of
>things like piano, oboe, massed strings, etc.  The LX-3 is a single capstan
>design 3 to 4 years old and I suspect Nak is clearing them out.  To my tastes
>the BX-300 is less gaudy than the LX-3.  B&O does a better job at high sex
>design than Nak (High Sex Design = faceless aluminum sheet with wood trim that
>does something audioish).

Wrong.  The Nakamichi LX-3 is a dual-capstan machine with two heads.

                                Dennis

-- 
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shauns@vice.UUCP (Shaun Simpkins) (03/05/85)

> 
> <>
> 
> From Shaun Simpkins:
> 
> 
> >I would suggest looking at the Nak BX-300 before you run out and purchase
> >the LX-3 - I think the BX-300 gives more value for the same list price.
> >It is a 2-capstan design, hence low flutter, hence much better reproduction of
> >things like piano, oboe, massed strings, etc.  The LX-3 is a single capstan
> >design 3 to 4 years old and I suspect Nak is clearing them out.  To my tastes
> >the BX-300 is less gaudy than the LX-3.  B&O does a better job at high sex
> >design than Nak (High Sex Design = faceless aluminum sheet with wood trim that
> >does something audioish).
> 
> Wrong.  The Nakamichi LX-3 is a dual-capstan machine with two heads.
> 
>                                 Dennis
> 
  Oops.  My mistake.  I examined the LX-3 3 years ago when it was new and
  haven't paid much attention since.  That was the time when Nak was bleeding
  itself dry with, I think, 12 different models in its line all competing with
  each other for the same market.  The BX series was the first attempt to
  reduce their line to something manageable.
  What I meant to say is that the BX 300 is the first 2 capstan 3 head design
  in that series.  Its performance is on a par with the LX-5 (also a 2c3h deck)
  and as such represents excellent value, much more so than the LX-3 at the
  same price.  Indeed, it incorporates the same diffused resonance transport
  introduced in the LX-3,5 and ZX-7.
  (Notice that the ZX-7 doesn't appear on dealer's shelves anymore?  The ZX-9
  is the only one left.  The biggest difference between these two models is
  the direct drive capstans in the ZX-9.  The ZX-7 didn't have enough basic
  performance improvement from the LX to survive even with its fully adjustable
  bias and EQ.  The ZX-9 apparently has enough product differentiation to
  survive.  And now the same thing is happening between the LX and BX series.)

  The LX-3 is an excellent deck.
  But save one correction, my comments still stand.

  The wandering squash,
-- 
				Shaun Simpkins

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tron@fluke.UUCP (Peter Barbee) (03/11/85)

>  To my tastes
>  the BX-300 is less gaudy than the LX-3.  B&O does a better job at high sex
> design than Nak (High Sex Design = faceless aluminum sheet with wood trim that
>  does something audioish).
> 
>  What I meant to say is that the BX 300 is the first 2 capstan 3 head design
>  in that series.  Its performance is on a par with the LX-5 (also a 2c3h deck)
>  and as such represents excellent value, much more so than the LX-3 at the
>  same price.  


For what is worth I just made the decision between the LX-3 and BX-300, I chose
the LX-3 and here is why;

	1) much cheaper (closeout price on LX-3, $450 vs $650, a savings of
	   $215 including tax)

	2) BX-300 didn't sound enough better, I'll admit I only recorded one
	   tape on each machine and they were hooked up to the store's
	   system (Denon amp w/B&O table) but I couldn't tell the difference
	   between the source and the tape with either recording.

	3) BX-300 looks like Tokyo-by-night, how could they do this?!

	4) LX-3 had all the necessary features - I do admit that the 'Auto
	   rewind' feature on the BX-300 would be nice but it wasn't worth
	   $200.

Obviously the looks are purely personal, and some of can probably tell the
difference in sound.  I don't do any live recording so after a bit of a 
break-in period where I learn the deck I don't imagine the third head 
would be a huge advantage for better recording.  It is true that Audio\
tested the BX-300 and found it has the best S/N ratio ever tested for
Dolby C.

Later,

Peter B     {any biggie}uw-beaver!fluke!tron