quote:

Originally posted by Daiwa:
...Hey Iso - I like a bit more freedom than recording direct to CD. I'm a bit more hands-on in my recording stylee, I like segways between tunes and found sounds, and if I need to, I can always dub my analog mix over to CD.

think the 910 is it

better the arcam delta... haven't seen that one

Take a look at Denon decks but not so much later models when it seemed they succumbed cost cutting corners on the internals.    Very under rated decks with some great performance for not much money even in 87.  You can find them for $40 to $100 Euro easy.  Am getting one shortly.  From reading they seem like a great easy deck use for making Walkman tapes.  Denon DR-M44HX

Note they have a unique Take up reel design.  Good when buying a older deck.

Although not highly publicized, the control of supply reel back tension can be a cassette deck's Achilles' heel.  Over time, the typical friction clutch can wear down, disturbing tap to head contact and degrading high frequency response.  That's why Denon borrowed the open reel concept of Non Slip Reel Drive-servo controlled back-tension that will not degrade over time.

Also the lesser model DR-M30HX

make sure get you a deck with dual capstans and 3 heads

That only hold true on a dragon, as far as record quailty being good only on the deck it was recorded on, because the NAAC system playback head realigns itseft, but can be modifed. The best recording deck is the Nakamichi ZX-9 was even use as a reference deck in a few studios.

Other good decks as far as nakamichi goes is RX-505, BX-300, LX-5,

As far as Sony one of their best builted the 950ES, or Sony TC-K990ES  also has directdrive capston.

Don't have pictures yet of TC-K990ES still need to be restored.

Revox best builted B215, is true directdrive, still like the nakamichi's better as far as sound goes

If you are looking for a good builted tapedeck, go for no less then a three head dual capston deck with 2-3 motor well, with manuel bias controls knobs. Direct capstan drive is prefer due to lower wow and flutter. I would spend decent amount for a good tapedeck, no point in cutting cost, if you want good quailty. A d6c is limited by not having manuel bias controls, or dual capstons, plus head. You can only do so much modding to it, it still limited by it's transport, but impressive for what it is. 

JVC is another good choice, sound better then most. 

Are you referring "good recording" as where the source input quality is equal to what you obtained from the output or is it the output is better than your input source? For my case it depends on what is my requirement in order to achieve my own definition of 'good sound' in the recording as I belief that sound quality mean differently from individuals. I use to record cassettes using the Sony D6C and my approach to achieve optimum quality is where I twig the input frequencies. My recording has a very simple set-up, I use my Galaxy 10.1 tablet as an input source ( adopting the Power Amp player ) using 3.5 mm phone out connectivity to the line-in of the D6C recorder. The pre-amp control and the 10 way equalizer I will patiently adjust to the desired output of my recording. The sound is fuller and more details than the original pre-recorded cassette albums that I bought from the store. I would strongly recommend you to try this out.

Oh, I'm surprised that suddenly this old thread has come to life

I have a ONKYO HIFI that I bought back in 1996 with a double deck that features Autoreverse and Dolby B-C-HX Pro, but although the quality is pretty good (like many 90's HIFIs), it has no manual adjustment: no rec level, no three head, no bias, etc...

I was given a Nakamichi BX150 that sounds very well, and it has Dolby B&C, independent rec level and excellent sound, but still no bias and no three head. I managed to get it serviced and now it works very well, but I want to sell it. Anyone interested?

I got a few time ago a Marantz PMD-430 that I find excellent: three head, dbx system, VU meters.. and excellent sound. Now I'm enjoying it so much, but past week one of the VU meters stopped working.

I'm happy with it while I wait for my loved Nakamichi RX505 that's now in Dr Walkman's lab, waiting to be serviced and fine-tuned.

This deck has three head and almost every desired feature, except direct-drive. It has the unique UDAR system (UniDirectional Auto Reverse), that means that the deck turns the tape and not the head when reversing, so the azimuth is perfectly aligned.

But Dr Walkman has told me that some of the very few decks that can offer a higher level than this one are the ZX-9 and the Dragon, which will be probably my next step, but not before I can play and test my new RX505.

However, thanks to all your help I have put an eye on many decks that I found to be very good, like the AKAI GX-95:

The SONY K890ES:

the TEAC Z-5000 and Z-7000:

And even the Pioneer CT-95:

(all photos except Nakamichi BX-150 are not mine; credit to their authors).

So actually playing with the Marantz and waiting for the Nak RX505...

Thanks Ken for your suggestions. Actually I'm doing it since a few weeks, and I posted my results here. I used my X-Fi Pro sound card and monitored the sound through the3rd head with pink noise. The result is awesome...

so a decent recomendation for recording that isn't a Nakamichi is

*drum roll*

a Nakamichi

bless my soul

Their actually other good brands?

Some of the TOTL Technics, Sony ES and Akai GX were good

I have a few Sony ES and Kenwood's

but my main deck is a NAK CR-3E

Nak CR3 is what I'm after then I think I'll stop buying cassette decks. Yeah right! In may this year, I got two Denon decks - DRS 610 (free) and a DRM 740 for £8 (one of which I may do a feature on as It's being restored - the 610) and a nice Yamaha last summer (not high end but still nice, KX 390 for a tenner). Got another Denon boxed up out the way - low end but respectable DR M12. I want the CR3 as I fancy a slice of the high end for once. Also have a Sony TCK470 lurking in the cupboard.

Technics does has some nice decks, JVC another good one, use a JVC TD-V661 found for 20 bucks in the box at a thriftstore working mint in my other main setup, has directdrive capston drive and sound better then most.

Now the one I am after is a JVC TD-V1010, wanted this deck since it came out. Be willing to trade someone, or pay cash, "then again that going to be almost impossible online, unless you are local", Paypal for one, has to be in close to mint, or mint condition.

Try every decks from different brands. They have a different sound though.

Hi Claret,

I'm sorry but I don't understand that expression "drum roll". What does it mean?

I've tried with google's translator and even with a special dictionary of street and swearing expressions but nothing.

As I said, my native languaje is spanish and my knowledge of english is not so wide...

American Slang....often before a important announcement is made on stage, theater or a large gathering of people a drummer will do a drum roll (moderate paced beating) for say 5-10 seconds then the all important statement or announcement is made.   It is used to exaggerate the importance of something said.

No it because I recommend a another Nakamichi deck after you said other brands beside Nakamichi, not directed at you. All in good fun. 

Oh, yes, no problem. I use my external sound card, the excellent Creative X-Fi Elite Pro, which is considered the best sound card that this brand ever produced. It's simply awesome (and it costed about 400 euros).

I normally use high bitrate and high quality compressed MP3 (I usually compress CDs by myself using LAME at 192 kbps using ABR mode, which is considered excellent quality and very good compromise in space. If I don't compress it, then I usually buy already compressed 320 kbps LAME mp3 files.

I play them with Mediamonkey with no audio enhancing at all when recording (no EQ, no bass&treble, no cristalizer...).

Thank you John. Now I understand... I simply thought that those words were part of the sentence..

excuse my ignorance,

Oh, yes; I was not angry at all. Really. like we say: "buen rollo" -> means something similar to "good fun".
It's just that some of you often talk in street language and people like me that doesn't speak english naturally encounter dificulties in understanding. 

Hi Huro, thanks for sharing. That mean in practical you are doing a dubbing recording, so your intention of getting a good recording by means of miniumum loss to your output from the master. I undestand you are looking around for decks to obtain higher recording quality but my point is you are using walkman for playback enjoyment, I have a feeling whether walkman could perform the sound reproduction you are looking for!  Suggest that you may try high end headphones like Beats, Audio Technica and etc to get the best out of yr recording combination to your different walkman models. Just my thoughts.

Beats are overpriced and overhyped, celebrity crap endorsed cans, they are more design for fashion statement, then sound quailty. A $60-$90 dollar set of Sony MDR-V6, or $99 dollars Grado sr80i, or $150-$200 dollar Senheisser hd-25 mk2 sound much better. If you don't mine the cost, go with the Senheisser. 

The only thing the beats have is that they are very bass heavy, but lack in overall clarity.  

You can include the V-Moda Crossfade M-80 as well. They can be had for about 168.00 on Amazon. They have the bass of the beats with better overall sound quality.

Looks to be perfect set for Rap, Pop, Electro and Dance, was looking for another set for my away from my home rig, besides the IEM's logitech tripe fi 10, or indoor HD650 can's, which is great set of cans, but open design, so outside out of the question, but better for instrument separation/wide soundstage. was considering Senheisser HD-25 mk2, but will have to find a store that has those V-Moda Crossfade M-80 to try, be nice to be bass heavy while good detail, going to use a headphone amp outside or indoors, so impedance and power rating not a issue.  

V-Moda is about to release the M-100's pretty soon, think of the M-80's with 50mm drivers.  I think they are going to be worth the wait.