This is common and very prevalent nowadays. Although at present I have too many Walkmans to use on a regular base, I am trying to downsize the collection to really usable devices. I don't want to have a (mini) museum of stuff that I am not going to use due to either price, quantity (size of the collection), availability or simply very good quality or functionality. To each his own, but I especially like the fact that the media like cassette but also minidisc is tangible, unlike my almost unlimited supply of music on Spotify or Apple Music. Picking up the device, always inserting the wrong battery first into the D3, DDII or DD33, having a hard time clicking the battery door in place, finding the right cassette, etc. it is all part of the game. While I'm typing this, I am listening to 192@24 Apple Music songs, that I also enjoy
Indeed that's a unique feeling of being able to watch a device like a walkman when it's playing a cassette: you can watch how the hubs rotate, the tape spooling. That's why I always liked devices where the door can be hold open while playing (like on the D6C). The visuals are even more interesting when playing cassettes with very interesting designs, like the BASF Metal Maxima or the Maxell UD I/UD II with oval transparent window. That's why using these cassettes is a lot more fun that just have a bookshelf full of them, at least that's how I see it.
They were corrupt in Dallas? Great show, oil and capitalism, what could go wrong? I'm pretty sure the guy that started shizaudio was a member here first, he was pretty excited about starting that site and it got big legs and grew. I think most of the first generation of this website, the big collectors, had TPR's Boombox Database with just about every known boombox made, it gave a ton of collectors a leg up on finding the cool stuff, back then there was like 50 Walkmans and 200 boomboxes for sale on Ebay, you really had to do a ton of searching to find the neat stuff. I agree that some of those packages are cool CDV but the issue is most guys here got the two or more packs and I think they were packaged differently. Those single units were priced at a premium, the two-fers or more were always discounted.
I like to bridge both worlds, I love the design and builds of the equipment but also love to listen to music or the radio in general, which I do several hours most days. Personally I was saving equipment for years when everyone was dumping it and calling me crazy for still having a tape deck so I love seeing guys putting something like a lowly cassette tape on display. The Japanese are known for wonderful packaging and graphics, our 3M Packaging always looked cheap compared to something cool like Maxell's. It truely was an amazing time, hundreds of tape manufacturers trying anything to make their's stand out a little more. For the record, I was always a Maxell UDXL II Guy, those made amazing copies that I can still play today. I used to carry 2-3 recorded tapes with me, everyone had a deck, either car, home or portable and we'd have instant music. Sure they weren't the best but none of us had TOTL equipment back then.
I cannot speak for everyone, but for me, yes I really wanted a good deck. In 1991 a friend sent me a Consumer Reports issue where they tested audio equipment, I read that issue like a novel. By the time I got money and the Japanese decks became easily obtainable, I have switched to CDs. But even with CDs I did not care to buy a standalone CD player because I either played CDs in a computer or from a portable player. Then I switched to solid state in 2002 and forgot about physical media. Sure, everyone knew about cool stuff, mostly Japanese. It was sold at special stores, where you could buy good stuff for a sort of not-exactly-rubles and not-exactly-dollars currency, which regular people did not have. My current cassette infatuation is just a relapse, caused by my rediscovery of my own cassettes from 30+ years ago. It is temporary.
this might have been me for when I had unlimited funding for my ‘hi-end’ hobby (my Naim Stereo here) the best sound I were getting from my system was from LPs, the next best thing was cassettes (w/o any Dolby bull) recorded from LPs, then CDs spinned on Naim CDS3 and SACDs from Wadia 781i… Nowadays I have to settle onto lossless rips and downloads/streaming. But…… once, if ever, Allah smiles at me, I shall revert to analog Bruckner and Tchaikovsky, and my fav Ravel. But that is a pricey pleasure!…
Jorge. I spend all my time now listening to all my recordings I did back in the nineties when I had my good equipment. All this streaming, downloading does not interest me at all. All my recordings were made on to metal tapes which to my ears sound amazing. Have found a few sealed type 1 and type 2 tapes but have not used them as my equipment has long gone. I believe that if you buy sealed tapes etc then use them for what they are intended for. Looking at them-what for, enjoy them. Jorge. You mention Bruckner. Fantastic, especially the symphonies. My favourite. I say enjoy the units and tape you all have while you can. You can't take them with you.
Derek marshall sounds like you have to send me your sealed cassettes, I'll put them to good use for you.
Hi Chris. Long time no contact. Hope you're ok. These are only type 1,and a few type 2's. You and I only like type 4's I think.
I use type I's & II's if they are good, I don't have many of them. When I record radio shows off FM I like to use type I's & II's.
It's funny reading the comments, it seems that people like us definitely have an affinity towards relating the experience of the physicality of the vintage audio experience as a whole. I know I do. Like actually going to the record store and buying the tape or record, or taping that record, perhaps making that mix-tape etc. Reading the liners or admiring the album art. Sitting in your dimly lit bedroom watching the meters bounce back and forth to the music, and the tape reels spinning or waiting for the DJ to shut up and play the song as you have your finger on the pause or play and record buttons ready to go !! LOL It was so fun seeing new radios come out, new types of cassettes and experimenting with it all. I feel sorry for the youth of today that just doesn't have that interaction like we did. Times sure do change. Guess that's why I love the vintage audio scene so much. It just brings many great memories. Okay, back to reality .... LOL I myself have 1000's of cassettes, yes 1000's .... Many opened and recorded on, many studio, many unopened. Some I won't part with ( probably be buried with em LOL ) but many I am now considering what to do with them all. Guess I'll list them here and see if anyone is interested after I sort them all out. Just so damn many, But, I'll hit em up and post em here see what happens .... stay tuned !! XD
