Hi =) I'm glad to have found this site. I am going to need to restore one or two tape decks but I wanted to run them past some peeps in the know first. I have a JVC TD-W205 and a Kenwood KX--w8060 that need some work and before I started putting time and $ into them; I wanted to see if the consensus agree that these machines are worth it. I'm not going to trash either one regardless, but if these are not worth it at this time; I'd rather look for something higher quality to repair while I have the time to do so. If you have any opinions, please share. Respectfully...
Twin decks like those have never been held in high regard by enthusiasts. I think this answers your question https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332998668002 However, since you had to ask the question, and it sounds as if you are going to attempt the repairs yourself I would say go for it in order to gain some practice. If, for example, you had a Nakamichi, the question would be whether a beginner should be tackling such a valuable deck.
hmm. I've never heard of Nakamichi until just now. Well Longman, you have indeed answered my question. I fix pretty much all vintage electronic devices that I come across when I can. But lately I've been more selective with my time. It really doesn't appear to be any great interest in these machines so I'll nip at them and give them new homes when they work. I'll likely try and find some hurting Nakamichi machines to try and resuscitate. Thanks again
It depends on what your using them for, personally they look like decent mid-level decks that probably just need a belt or two. I've got a nice Onkyo Dual Well Deck in my stack and it's a tank. Sure Nakamichi's are nice but they're expensive and not right for everyone. I'm sure if you had a stack of prerecorded music your decks would work just fine.
Mister X and Longman, I just tried to dub a Commodore 64 data tape and under oscilloscope many of the highs get clipped. (BTW one device had a head trace lifted and the other just needed a good clean). So signal response isn't perfect, but then again neither is my hearing. I'll test with a NAKAMICHI BX-125 that is inbound. We'll see how it does. thanks for the replies...
I was just reading the review over on hifi engine, not good for the JVC, the Kenwood shines a little more. Most of these decks were made for dubbing cassettes but quality was always an issue. For playing prerecorded tapes, they tend to be fine. https://www.hifiengine.com/gallery/images/jvc-td-w205-dual-cassette-deck.shtml Let us know how you like the Nak, you can also run the decks through the computer to look at the wave form.
@mortismaker - congrats on BX-125, resurrection of Nak transport gets you into another league! As my friends told me 20+ years ago that the first med malpractice lawsuit gets you (oops, it was me!) into the fold I did it just once (malpractice and Nak resurrection) and I did NOT like the experience…!!! Definitely share your pains with a Nak: personally, I will never-ever get me one, my Yamaha deck is indestructible and is more than capable to record cassettes for replay on my bboxes
Ah, the JVC, even the VFD seems rather generic on it. Jorge I can believe the Yammy (and Pioneer and Blaupunkt) would be brutes. I'm sure I'll be venting or ranting if the Nak starts to cause ulcers. =)
Pioneer I would Love to get (they just look so Sexy!) but our brothers at tapeheads mention Pioneers as a tough babies to fix. For my own ‘upgraditis’ disease I shall stay with Yamaha, at least for now
I hope the Nakamichi works out. I wasn't expecting you to buy one. I was thinking more along the lines of someone proposing to try their first car restoration on a Ferrari. At least the one you have bought is at the moe sensible (AKA affordable) end of the range, and the fact that you have an oscilloscope shows you have some knowledge and test equipment. p.s. I have known about Nakamichi since the 1980s, when a colleague bought one as the only source for his HiFi system and then spent the next six months telling everyone how great it was.
Haha, sink or swim. I'm pretty sure I usually sink tho Yamaha has been making some outstanding synths for decades. I know they got audio down.
