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

**Marco** · 15-12-2009, 16:29

OMG, 120 min tapes - whoever invented them should've been shot!

I like to try and get away with C-60s, if I can manage to squeeze an album onto one.

Marco.

**Rare Bird** · 15-12-2009, 16:39

You see this Tandberg Cassette deck, i bought that nearly 28 years ago second hand, i gave it my mate about 10 years ago, he listerns to it on a regular basis with the aid of your truly, never ever broke down & to boot sound better than his CD player..

Sorry for the poor pic his camera is really rubbish

The first cassette deck Tandberg ever made if i remember.

**Marco** · 15-12-2009, 16:42

What even the BASF and Quantegy?

http://www.stanleysonline.co.uk/category-53.htm

Interesting link, Kris

I've never tried Quantegy. But looking at the brands I've tried on that site, I'm pretty sure that the NOS 1987 TDK SA90s I use (I bought loads on Ebay and stockpiled them) would outperform them. Much depends of course on how a cassette deck's heads are factory set (i.e. which brand of tape the deck has been 'voiced' with), as manual bias adjustment afterwards can only achieve so much.

I also use mid-80s NOS BASF Chromdioxid Maxima IIs and Maxell UD XL-IIs, which are also fantastic, along with some original NOS Nakamichi branded tapes.

From approx 1983-1987 is when I feel that the quality of blank cassette tape was at its ultimate best. Some of the late 70s stuff was also good, but things went downhill bigtime, IMO, after the late 1980s.

Marco.

**Rare Bird** · 15-12-2009, 16:44

Originally Posted by Kris

Quantegy?

Kris i find those Quantegy open rel tape tapes are not as good as the original Ampex versions..456 was great all round tape..

**DSJR** · 15-12-2009, 16:50

Until the air moisture got the the adhesives IIRC

**Kris** · 15-12-2009, 16:57

Originally Posted by DSJR

Until the air moisture got the the adhesives IIRC

I had a couple of tapes that needed baking. I stuck them in the airing cupboard for a week or two. Played ok after that, not too much shedding. ( I hand wound them slowly before playing).

**Themis** · 15-12-2009, 17:04

Originally Posted by Marco

But looking at the brands I've tried on that site, I'm pretty sure that the NOS 1987 TDK SA90s I use (I bought loads on Ebay and stockpiled them) would outperform them.

When I was in Greece, we made tests between 1975 and 1983 :
All tapes existing were tested, and best tapes (S/N, THD, IMD, FR) were TDK AD (1st), TDK SA and Technics RT-XA ex-aequo (2nd).
Interestingly enough, TDK AD was best without Dolby.

Don't have the printed issue(s) anymore, but I can try to find them, if you're interested.

**Marco** · 15-12-2009, 17:22

That would be interesting, Dimitri. I'm curious too of which vintages of tapes you considered the best amongst the examples from '75 to '83

I agree that in general TDK were always the most consistent, but I also have a soft spot for some BASF and Scotch.

Marco.

**Alex Nikitin** · 15-12-2009, 17:31

Originally Posted by Marco

That would be interesting, Dimitri. I'm curious too of which vintages of tapes you considered the best amongst the examples from '75 to '83

I agree that in general TDK were always the most consistent, but I also have a soft spot for some BASF and Scotch.

Marco.

Marco,

have a look here.

Cheers

Alex

**Rare Bird** · 15-12-2009, 17:33

Marco
The below are the ones i prefered with this design label

These MA-R diecast jobbies here at the bottom were the best constructed tapes eva, totally silent in winding..If i remember i used to pay near on a fiver each for them from Moorgate Acoustic back then

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