Hey there! Wanted to say hello. I've been lurking for a little bit and over the past couple of months really found my interest in cassettes and players igniting. Can already say I've learned a lot from certain people on this forum! I grew up with cassettes, but by the time I was old enough to buy my own music, CDs were in full swing - so I couldn't tell you what became of any old equipment I had (except for my dad's Technics M16 deck, which I know isn't that high-end, but I'm going to try and dig up. Doesn't look like it will be fun to change the belts on though.) So I recently picked up a cheap FX303 that had been serviced to some degree by HiFi Electronics in NY - fun store. Also, I know, a low-end player. But it was enough to get me interested. Around the same time, my local record store also started selling cassettes, so it's been fun to pop in and pick up some experimental/indie artists that have made really small runs - sure beats finding music through the algorithm. Plus there's just a lot of music from decades past that I never gave a proper listen to. I also picked up an EX2000, but unfortunately its got some issues that I haven't been able to diagnose, and might be shipping back to the sender, who did do some degree of service before selling it, but also agreed it didn't sound that great (for an EX2000). I can share some recordings if anyone is interested. Unfortunately for tracks with certain treble and even midrange characteristics it sounds worse than my FX303. Freaking loved the form factor, though, which led me to another purchase - by far my biggest investment. I'm excited as all get-out about it, but I'll refrain from saying what it is just yet. Anyway, happy to be here!
Welcome to the forum and don't worry about how nice your equipment is. I used to grab tape decks like your Technics when they were mostly free (along with monster speakers) cuz nobody wanted them. Nowadays the stuff is like gold. In the Midwest we never saw the really nice equipment, this forum (and pocket calculator show) was an eye-opener when I first saw the cool stuff.
Thanks for the welcome! Coincidentally I just picked up an AKAI GX-F66RC. Was sort of weighing picking up something recently serviced (this was also from Hi-Tech in NYC) and ready to use versus making a project out of the Technics so soon. Actually pretty stoked about it! It sounds GREAT!
Now that is a cool looking deck, 108,000 Yen! Big money in 1982. I just picked up a Technics-RS 1W, I think it actually works, at least the hubs spin on play, I just have to clean it some and hook it up.
