Reliable tape deck for old tapes I’d like to hear but not harm?
Posted by nigelst@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 23 comments
I’ve got all my cassette tapes from the 80s that have been stored well. I’m concerned about playback issues damaging the tape. Hoping someone here can advise :)
BmanGorilla@reddit
I have an old Teac from the early 80s. Soft touch buttons, etc. clean the heads, new belts, runs like new.
Nakamichi was always known for their tape decks, but everything that’s old will need some love.
VecchioDiM3rd1955@reddit
If you want to do like a pro thre's the TASCAM CD A580 https://tascam.com/us/product/cd-a580 or the lesser pro TEAC AD-850-SE https://teac.jp/int/product/ad-850-se/top
They also works ad CD and USB stick players
If you have a decent tape deck, like one of the above brands, or Nakamichi, Technics, Sony, Marantz and other quality brands, except that some of them especially models in the late '90s were made cheaply so they could have a broken mechanism and now spare parts are unobtanium, in working condition you can simply connect them to a PC with a good soundcard and use a program to rip them.
Anyway some useful information on cassette recorder repair & maintanance here: https://www.repairfaq.org/sam/audiofaq.htm
The problem on the cassette tape could be different.
Sometime the felt for the head has crumbled so one has to replace it. Next check that the tape could move freely. The BIC pen it's your friend for this.
If the tape seems sticky or worse you see whitish stuff on the edge of the tape it could be a big problem, that is humidity has damaged the tape.
StrictFinance2177@reddit
No no no.... Its not about what tape deck is reliable. So many of them are. No. Its all about whether you change the belts and clean it out, fresh lube. At this point, all old decks and players can't be trusted without a good inspection and testing. The best model Sansui, Nakamichi, Teac etc all have components that eventually degrade. You can use any old-but-still-quality cassette player and as long as it has been serviced, its going to work great. I think you got so used to all of the solid state tech, you forgot the old mindset of super-micro-mechanical design. 😅 Good luck, hope you find a good one and a good amp.
nigelst@reddit (OP)
Anybody manufacturing new ones? I’ve seen Maxell marketing on Meta sites but they only sell through Amazon which is a company I’m boycotting
StrictFinance2177@reddit
I don't track the new ones. Although I do know someone with a QFX Shoebox type. Sounds meh, but if it has audio out, then you dont need to deal with the built in speaker.
bluealien78@reddit
I just overhauled this deck and am enjoying some old cassettes again. Fresh belt. Clean heads. Lubed all the lubey parts. Works great!
nigelst@reddit (OP)
What do you mean specifically by “overhauled?”
bluealien78@reddit
Took it apart. Cleaned it of dust. Put on a new drive belt. Gave the heads a good cleaning. Lubed parts. Aired out connectors and ports. Put it all back together again.
TheJokersChild@reddit
Where'd you get your belts?
bluealien78@reddit
Amazon. Lots of replacement belt kits there.
TheJokersChild@reddit
Really any decent-name home deck is a good way to go: Sony, JVC, Onkyo, Yamaha, Denon, Technics...Nakamichi if you feel elegant. Just some 70% or higher isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip for the heads and a little rubber conditioner on the pinch roller. After 30 years, though, a lot of decks need belts, and the complexity varies depending on model.
r/cassetteculture can give you specialized help on specific decks to look for and details on how to enjoy them longer.
IranticBehaviour@reddit
Several years back my family got me an Audio-Technica dual cassette deck that outputs to USB (and RCA), and a turntable. You can 'rip' to digital (mp3 or whatever), but the quality isn't great, even after cleaning up with Audacity. And it's nowhere near as straightforward as ripping CDs (you essentially record in real time and then have to clean up the noise).
I know they still sell turntables, not sure about their tape decks. Possible, given the recent trend. But I've seen some on FB marketplace and Kijiji.
Quintipluar@reddit
You're talking about a medium that relies on mechanical action and friction to do it's job. Degradation is inevitable. If you really want to preserve them then either don't play them or convert to digital.
nigelst@reddit (OP)
Yes I’m interested in converting to digital and I guess I’m trying to find out here what is the safest way to that?
Quintipluar@reddit
"Safest" is probably subjective. But really anything that plays cassette tapes and has an audio jack is viable, as long as it's not worn out and rickety. After that all you need is a computer or device of some sort that can take audio input and record it. There are free apps that do that.
alabamaterp@reddit
C'mon man, you were there Bro, you remember the 80's don't you? They're gonna squeaI, stretch, and get eaten no matter what you do. Just don't leave them out in your Ford Escort on a hot day. I have a Technics RS-M227X that works great. All my tapes are 70's to late 80's Classic Rock and Top 40. I haven't hurt any of them. Check for vintage music stores in your area or Ebay for replacements. Truth be told, I like my tapes better than my records and CD's, not sure why. Just get them out play them!
nigelst@reddit (OP)
Love this vibe! I’m gonna do it!
MaximumJones@reddit
If it messes up all you need is a pencil
drunkenknitter@reddit
I have some old tapes of a friend, we used to exchange tapes of us talking rather than letters, with some music thrown in. About 20 years ago I searched for a place to have them converted to CD and I highly recommend it! So now I still have the tapes, I gave the CDs, and I saved them to the cloud and an external hard drive.
grateful_john@reddit
The best cassette decks were made by Nakamichi. You can find them on eBay.
Jamminnav@reddit
You can buy new cassette boom boxes - I just got a Phillips that also works with CD and Bluetooth to play my old tapes
nigelst@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the reply. Do you have concerns about using old tapes?
Jamminnav@reddit
As I see it, if they won’t play for me, what good are they? It’s highly unlikely my high school garage band rehearsals and mix tapes are ever going to be culturally significant enough for professional preservation…