stereo2go - 2011-02-23 18:23
In your opinion, which make & model was built with the best-sounding tape playback? If you had to replace your home stereo deck with a boombox, which would it be?
panny rx 6400 (A2)
the Sharp gf-777
....i actually did that...i sold my home stereo mini disc system and in place used my boombox as my stereo...
Its got to be the JVC-PC-55C
Originally Posted by coldbreeze:
Its got to be the JVC-PC-55C
I agree,the PC 55 or PC 550 has one of the best playing decks ever.........
Of those I've heard I'd say Aiwa TPR-950
as you know guys my fave box is my philips d8614 sound machine, and one of the reasons i love it, is the deck on it.
of all the boxes iv'e ever tried, i have to say that the d8614 deck is the best. it has a full logic motorised servo controlled deck that runs real sweet, recording capabilities are excellent too, great thread by the way PAUL
the m90 has an awesome sounding deck , a bit clunky with the soft touch controls and its noisy stop start action but the playback and recording quality is great it makes any tape sound good.
A slightly tricky thread to answer as I know some very good decks let down by a poor output stage. The Sony logic decks found in D5 & D7's spring to mind, fine clever decks being Sony's strong point, portable amplification not so much.
Originally Posted by agentorange:
Of those I've heard I'd say Aiwa TPR-950
Really? Hmm, I'll have to listen to mine more, I haven't played tapes much on it because the deck seems so low-tech, stiff-sprung and clunky. I enjoy my M9998 and Grundig Party Center 2000 tape decks the most, because the controls & servo motors are so smooth & awesome.
My aiwa TPR-950 deck has the best performance of my all collection, also I love exactly that (low-tech) feeling of pushing the mechanical controls. The feeling of logic/touch controls is more like when you play CD or MD, you have a less participation in the controls of the tape.
I've never had an m90 with a functional deck, but...
Would have to say PC-55 or 550 with their very advanced logic controls, Dolby B/C, etc. Back in the day, hooking two of these together was a popular way to make mix tapes.
Well. It`s obviosly personal preference. Someone`s fave, will not be someone elses. My own, is the sony cfs-f40.
Originally Posted by devol-toni:
My aiwa TPR-950 deck has the best performance of my all collection, also I love exactly that (low-tech) feeling of pushing the mechanical controls. The feeling of logic/touch controls is more like when you play CD or MD, you have a less participation in the controls of the tape.
But when you say best, do you mean sound quality, recording quality, the way the controls operate, or...........?
The TPR-950 is already one of the best-sounding midsize boxes no matter what kind of input source you are using, but that's because of its well-balanced choice of speakers, amps, and stereo chip........So just because tapes sound good doesn't mean that its tape deck is superior. Just my opinion.
Originally Posted by fins5:
I've never had an m90 with a functional deck, but...
Would have to say PC-55 or 550 with their very advanced logic controls, Dolby B/C, etc. Back in the day, hooking two of these together was a popular way to make mix tapes.
I would have to go with the deck on the PC-55/550 as well.
Well, many of you know, I'm not real tech savvy and have only owned a few boxes in my entire life, so I am not really qualified to make a real educated analysis on this but...here goes. Of all the boxes I have heard over the years, Magnavox seemed to be one of the best in overall playback of cassettes. This was early to mid 80's before cd's had really taken off so to speak. Also, I bought The Police Synchronicity, which was mastered on BASF chrome and, at that time had a really good sound quality. So, I think the quality of the tape may play a big role in playback quality as well.
Of my 1 piece boomboxes the M90 has the best quality sound with my Sanyo M X920 getting an honorable mention. Of my multi-piece boomboxes the Sony FH 207 has the best quality sound with my Panasonic RX CS780 getting an honorable mention.
If I ever considered replacing my home stereo with one of my boomboxes my Sony FH 207 wins hands down. With it's incredible 3 way sound, awesome bass, and killer power it can easily function as a quality home stereo.
Flat out just deck, would be a toss up between the jvc pc 55 and the Panasonic c100 with the edge going to the 55.
Deck only?
Even though I have an M90, mine is the little Sony ZX-7.
Disc drive, Dolby & a posh tape head all help, as does a proper Line-Out connection.
It always surprises me when the deck on a boomer out-performs the FM tuner, but it does on this one.
Unsurprisingly, none of the decks on the Hitachi 3Ds are up to much. The only servo deck of the lot is on the 3D9 - which is pretty good, but not as good as either of the above.
i really dont do much recording on my boxes, i have only recorded on my conion c100, pana 7700 and pana 5350, out of them 3 i preffer the pana 7700 the sound is just so clear on tape, tho the other 2 are not bad.
Probably doesn't matter, but it's been buggin' me... I recall one particular Magnavox this kid had back in like '85 or something, and he was playing "Ain't Nobody" by Rufus and Chaka Khan. Sounded really awesome for tape playback...that's what I was trying to remember to put in my previous post...I don't imagine all Magnavox boomers play that well.
JVC RC M70-excellent recording
AIWA TPR 950,955 very good WRMS,REC,PLAY BACK AND LOW-NOISE(57 dB)
AIWA TPR945-the same as above,actualy the same tape deck.
PHILIPS D8614-new entry in my collection and surprinsingly very good recording quality
At last but not the least the JVC RC 838,records excellent and conected to an home amplifier sounds great,clean,clear.
Originally Posted by LAV LOO:
as you know guys my fave box is my philips d8614 sound machine, and one of the reasons i love it, is the deck on it.
of all the boxes iv'e ever tried, i have to say that the d8614 deck is the best. it has a full logic motorised servo controlled deck that runs real sweet, recording capabilities are excellent too, great thread by the way PAUL
I agree 100%!The tape deck mechanism is one of the best.
M90 and pc55...2 of the best decks in the world...
I don't really listen to the radio much, so the tape deck in a box is very important to me.
I have an Aiwa TPR-950, which does does sound pretty good on its own. But, when playing a tape on it, it seems the output level to the VU's is actually quite low compared to the strength of signal that I know is on the cassette. And I've heard others say the same thing. Overall, I put the performance of the 950 on par with my Sanyo M9990, which is also a great deck.
But, as good as those are, neither of those boxes do as well plugged into my home stereo as the M70 does.
My M90 is pretty good, too... but there is a certain robustness to the mechanism and clarity to the output that IMHO really make the M70 shine when plugged into a home stereo. I've made tapes on the M90 that turned out pretty good, but the tapes from the M70 are better. I think the complexity of the M90's cassette (with the logic mechanism and such) might have been better back when it was new, but with all the resistors and additional circuits in there, there are more parts succeptible to aging and such, which can (and usually does) have a negative effect on the unit's sonic signature.
I think with boomboxes, sometimes less can be more. For the long haul, I'd take my M70 push-button mechanical mechanism over any other box in my collection if I knew I HAD to plug it in and use it for a critical recording.
Luckily, I've got a squadron of Nakamichi component decks to choose from so I shouldn't ever have to worry about that.
It's sad jt i bet most of us havnt heard a true representation of any given box due to failing caps worn heads bla bla iv had about 10 m90's and im lucky...the first m90 i ever bought the heads were slightly worn and it was hard work trying to get a decent representation of sound from her till i changed the heads..im not saying your m90 is bad..just a shame that most of these boxes something or other is failing...where the heck are we going to be in 10 20 yrs....ive already had people come to me saying my walkman sounds terrible bla bla.....this was cauzed just by dirty heads capstan...but they diddnt know any better. most people these days dont even know what a tape deck is. i feel old..
I must say I agree with JT on one thing...the M70 records beautifully. When I make tapes I always use my M70...for ease of operation and crystal clear sound you can't beat the very durable M70 cassette deck.
ghettoboom777 - 2011-03-30 17:59
Hi-Having bought a brand new PC-55JW back in 85' I do say that the PC-55JW/C have the best decks!! My M-90 deck doesn't work but that will change this summer! Then I will be able to hear how good they are!
I have also heard that the Aiwa CS-880 has an incredible deck.
Great thread-GB.
I have found that the best decks were basically the component set decks. The PC-55/550 probably lead the way. The you'd have the RX-C300, Sansui-CP-5/7, Rotel RPM-10 and others.
The advantage was that their circuitry was dedicated to "the deck only" and did not share mainboard components This in addition to the fact that they were essentially a midline home stereo deck or better helped that fact. Another thing that made component decks better was that they were isolated to their own structures often giving a choice to connect to a better source directly rather than the pre-amp or line in of a typical boombox.
Originally Posted by stereo2go:
In your opinion, which make & model was built with the best-sounding tape playback? If you had to replace your home stereo deck with a boombox, which would it be?
Panasonic RX-C300 Sounding only, as I do NOT record with any Boombox cassette deck.
i have to say,the best decks are the crown sz5100,the discolite,super jumbo,elta jc2000,lasonic..decks like that lol..all they have is one or 2 elastic bands driving them lol..they are easy to put belts on but as for sound/record/play/rew/ff..pretty terrible..
JVC PC55 = Awsome Deck ! B+C NR, good recording..sounds top quality..
Panasonic DT680 - 990,sound nice,records nice,plays nice..Sets the correct record level itself which is sometimes better and easier..
JVC PC5 Nice deck,Super ANRS,Sounds nice records nice..
Sharp GF777/999/1000 ect..records quite nice..
the biggest little surprise of them all = panny mini C50
Originally Posted by fins5:
I've never had an m90 with a functional deck, but...
Would have to say PC-55 or 550 with their very advanced logic controls, Dolby B/C, etc. Back in the day, hooking two of these together was a popular way to make mix tapes.
The problem with most these JVC m90 is probably a fuse-resistor.
Actually a fuse that looks like a resistor FR704. just replace it with a 4.7 ohms, fusible resistor at 1/2 watt, would also check the other 3 fusible resistors FR701, FR702, FR703, FR704, etc.
When you fully restore it the JVC m90 has to me the best sound, then the pc55, or the m70.
i have yet to hear a m90 but i will, when i want to relax i like to put some old tapes on using my nakamechi and that does sound good for a tape deck.
Yeah. My fave, used to be the m90. I thought that was the biz, till i got the sony cfs-f40.
Originally Posted by retrodos:
Originally Posted by fins5:
I've never had an m90 with a functional deck, but...
Would have to say PC-55 or 550 with their very advanced logic controls, Dolby B/C, etc. Back in the day, hooking two of these together was a popular way to make mix tapes.
The problem with most these JVC m90 is probably a fuse-resistor.
Actually a fuse that looks like a resistor FR704. just replace it with a 4.7 ohms, fusible resistor at 1/2 watt, would also check the other 3 fusible resistors FR701, FR702, FR703, FR704, etc.
When you fully restore it the JVC m90 has to me the best sound, then the pc55, or the m70.
yup the m90 beats the m70 pc55 hands down....but thats probbly down to it having pretty good 8 inch speakers... wich have been improved with mine....m90 in av
Just got the aiwa tpr-990, that was on ebay.de. It`s been fully serviced, belts changed, etc. You can tell. It sounds loads better than mine. Just put some original cream-tip aerials on it.
richard was that the one ended 278 euro ? i was watching that..
hey..this proves your getting better,your getting the buying bug again 
Originally Posted by Litfan:
Just got the aiwa tpr-990, that was on ebay.de. It`s been fully serviced, belts changed, etc. You can tell. It sounds loads better than mine. Just put some original cream-tip aerials on it.
dont smoke black....litfan's back....congrats bro
Yep. I`m glad, i saved a few aerials. You can`t get hold of these things, and, some boxes are made to fit the aerial. The 990, has a special meaning to me. Still think, the deck idea on these is ludicrous. Who thought it up?
i am with you man,i've always said that the Aiwa 990 deck is the worst designed deck ever !! i've managed to rebelt one though,i'm glad i did it but i would'nt want to do that too often..You need Nerves of Steel !!
Yeah. I have re-belted one. The gearbox belts are the hardest to change. There is a site in japan, that show`s pic`s of one of these being done. Can`t seem to find it though. Get one gear out of sync, and, you`ve blown it.
yes yes thats correct..but the gearbox is kinda pointless,because the deck is basically a manual key deck with the logic gearbox added to the bottom,i would have prefered it if it was just made as a manual deck instead of that unnessesary/stupid/ridiculous gearbox..
I`ve got a 990 gearox, lying round, somewhere. Was going to put it in a 968. Well, that was my plan. Soon changed me flippin mind though.
mmm hard one to answer as all boxes seem to have there own personality even same models put against each other but one of my best sounding tape players is my gf-9000
Really sm? I was never taken with it really. I had the gf-535, which is the japanese version of the 9000. Look`s the biz though.
Have to try to find a Aiwa 990, interest just to see how it sounds?
Originally Posted by James Craven Pierce:
Originally Posted by stereo2go:
In your opinion, which make & model was built with the best-sounding tape playback? If you had to replace your home stereo deck with a boombox, which would it be?
Panasonic RX-C300 Sounding only, as I do NOT record with any Boombox cassette deck.
Forgot to add that since this is supposed to be a " replacement " for the " HOME " stereo I picked this Panasonic RX-C300 as the Speaker's can be seperated from the main unit to further enhance it's Effect upon the stereo sound In the Home
p.s. also pattiing myself on the back for jumpstarting this ole' thread here 
Originally Posted by Litfan:
Really sm? I was never taken with it really. I had the gf-535, which is the japanese version of the 9000. Look`s the biz though.
yer maybe its just a one off or maybe cos iv got uprated drivers in it!
i have a standard 9000 and i must say it dont sound half as good 
i got to say my sanyo 9996 has a good deck sound wise real everything is nice a sweet it's a bit clunky mechanically wise tho!! closely followed by the hitachi 8600 a lovely deck real nice sound !!oh yer m70 is very good sound wise but there again the clunky hard deck buttons are not good! Proberly i should say the m70 is the best as this is a brilliant tape deck brilliant sound but i just don't like the hardness of it or should ii say just don't like the m70
!!
