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Cassette resurgance
Is it me, or is there a resurgence going on in the cassette player market?
A year or so ago, it almost seemed that you couldn't giveaway a cassette deck - and there were some very nice decks (e.g. two head Naks) going for less that £50 on ebay, and only the occasional super deck (Nak Dragon for example) getting sold for hundreds of pounds.
Now, there seem to be quite a few decks for sale over £100. For example, this Aiwa AD-810 deck is 2 to 3 times the price I'd expect to have seen it at a year ago.
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Gawd knows why if that's true. I don't like the things. I seldom want to record anything anyway, but I'd sooner rely on my trusty MiniDisc deck, which sounds far better than any cassette deck I've ever come across.
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I think theres always been a market for the good ones, but yes, the lesser ones have picked up too. Some of the asking prices are optimistic at best. Good ones though can be very good.
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There is a revival but I don't think it is quite for the reasons some people think.It is that young people find the idea of cassette technology tendy at the moment and as such that has brough others back to the idea of using them as a sound medium
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Remember the joys of sorting out jammed, tangled and broken tapes? :)
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Aiwa made some nice cassette decks, but reliability was at times patchy. When I first worked in the audio trade back in the late 80s to mid 90s, when tape was still popular, no other brand came back so regularly + it was easy to always get b and c grade stock, basically faulty and fixed Aiwa gear.
In regards to reliability - as best as I can recall - Akai was good, Yamaha, and Nakamichi's were pretty reliable - Nak CDs, Music Bank in particular not so much. Didn't sell Nad so no idea, sold very few Rotel's so can't remember, Proton, don't recall. Marantz not so many.
Basically if someone wanted a tape deck for their system it would be Aiwa, Akai and Nak.
I own two Nak's.
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Proton made a rare gem the 740 excellent in most areas but only a two head
NADs 6300 has legendary status amoung some ...it's ok but not quite what they say it was
Pioneer have good decks so do TEAC
People talk up NAKs but to be honest they can be over rated especially as regards to value for money.
I have a very impressive Onkyo three head dual capstan.
Marantz made some pretty looking decks
There is definatly a revival but it is patchy depending upon where in the world you are.
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Ive got a Tandberg. Its pretty good imo
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Yes Tanberg made some nice machines too.
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Cassettes never went away for me :D
Probably have about 20 machines a couple of portable players and a cassette walkman ( Trendy Me :) )
And 100's of cassettes and yes they get played , Included on my boot sale hunt days although they are few and far as I don't buy Ktel or best of only proper albums ;)