The Best Cassette Decks Ever? How do they compare to the Nak ZX-7?

[Alex Nikitin]

I am slowly combining the list of top cassette decks and other equipment, affected by the "4066" disease. Here is a list so far:

4066 chips (or equivalents) are found in the signal path of (the list by all means is not complete):

Nakamichi - Dragon , 680, 680ZX, 700ZXL, 1000ZXL, Revox B215, A710, A721, Hitachi DE99, Akai GX-65/75/95 mkII, Technics RS-B965, Tascam 122mkII/mkIII, 112mkII, Teac V6030S/8030S, Aiwa AD-F910 (XK-5000), AD-S950, XK-007/009, lots of otherwise good Sony decks - TC-K677ES, TC-K670ES, TC-K870ES etc. etc. Many very respected preamps and receivers are also affected - from Quad to Nakamichi .

Here is a preliminary data on my replacement for 4066 chip and its versions - ANT4066 .

Alex

[Barry]

I am slowly combining the list of top cassette decks and other equipment, affected by the "4066" disease. Here is a list so far:

4066 chips (or equivalents) are found in the signal path of (the list by all means is not complete):
.....

Many very respected preamps and receivers are also affected - from Quad to Nakamichi .

Here is a preliminary data on my replacement for 4066 chip and its versions - ANT4066 .

Alex

Alex,

What is the problem with 4066 chips?

Thanks

[StanleyB]

Alex,

What is the problem with 4066 chips?

Thanks

ON resistance and leakage. There are a couple of pin for pin substitutes that have a better performance, but they also cost a lot more.

[Themis]

My Naka LX-3 is not on the list... fortunately.

[Alex Nikitin]

Alex,

What is the problem with 4066 chips?

Thanks

Hi Barry,

Non-linearity of the resistance (resulting in high distortion and extended distortion spectrum), and non-linearity of the capacitance also affects the signal in high-impedance/high frequency areas. Look at the data on ANT4066 and you'll see how non-linear the resistance of the original 4066 switch is. In audio applications leakages are not usually that important.

In my experience removing 4066 from the signal path clears the sound a lot. In any case, it is easy to try and compare the result.

Cheers

Alex

[Alex Nikitin]

My Naka LX-3 is not on the list... fortunately.

Yes, LX-3 is a nice exception with purely mechanical switching. Just keep these switches clean with a drop of a contact cleaning spray .

Alex

[pure sound]

Alex. Did you ever come across the ASC cassette decks from Germany? I remember seeing them at shows over there & admiring the operation of the 'industrial grade' papst mechanism they used. In those days when I used cassette, they rather than the Nakamichi's were my holy grail.

http://www.vintagecassette.com/ASC/AS_3001

[Alex Nikitin]

Alex. Did you ever come across the ASC cassette decks from Germany? I remember seeing them at shows over there & admiring the operation of the 'industrial grade' papst mechanism they used. In those days when I used cassette, they rather than the Nakamichi's were my holy grail.

http://www.vintagecassette.com/ASC/AS_3001

Looks like a nice deck. Unfortunately I've never seen one - may be one day I will .

Alex

[pure sound]

I just looked on german ebay. They appear to hold their value pretty well!

http://cgi.ebay.de/ASC-AS-3001-Refer...d=p3286.c0.m14



You can see the cast alloy chassis of the Papst mechanism at the front left. Its all very substantially built, I think mainly for studio use. Output transformers back right!

[DSJR]

I was going to say, are there any LX-3's and 5's still running? Good machines if they still are, but watch playback eq as it dips where others rise...