The Legendary Cassette Decks In Comparison

Short description[edit]

This is an attempt to list the legendary cassette decks of all time. E.g. Nakamichi DRAGON and Pioneer CT-95.

Limitation

  • Please no more than a maximum of four top cassette decks per manufacturer and under 0.025% synchronicity variation.
  • Elcaset cassette decks are allowed.

Definition

As high-end devices, also "state of the art" - cassette decks are listed at Hifi-Wiki, which have synchronization fluctuations of 0.025% and less. The recording and playback of such devices have the claim to reproduce music at the original of the artist and the sound master.

Data[edit]

Smoothness in WRMS[edit]

Professional cassette decks in the 80's were able to achieve synchronization fluctuations around 0.02%, which was called no longer audible.

Simple cassette decks reached values around 0.08% WRMS, which is still audible in some situations.

Real high-end cassette decks managed to get closer to the magic 0.02% mark and some, like the Dragon, even slightly below.

Soundheads[edit]

Head types:

  • F&F = ferrite & ferrites (Sony).
  • GF = nearly wearless glass ferrite sound heads (Akai)
  • S&F = Sendust & Ferrite (harman/kardon, Revox, Sony)
  • SD = Sendust (Sony, Onkyo, Yamaha)
  • LA = Laser Amorphous (Sony)
  • AC = Amorphous Cobalt - consisting of 14 layers (TEAC)
  • F = Ferrite head - double gap (Onkyo, Yamaha)
  • HP = Hard Permalloy head (Yamaha)

Notes[edit]

Weblinks[edit]

individual credits[edit]

</0,9%||>

specifications
Specifications Sound heads Distortion factor Frequency response in Hz (± 3 dB) Signal to Noise Ratio (without Dolby) Dolby NR Bias Auto-
Model Year No. Erase Record/Playback Motors Dual Capstan Synchronization in WRMS Metal Chrome Normal Metal Chrome Normal Metal Chrome Normal (B/C/S/HXPro) Calibration reverse
Aiwa XK-009 1988 0.018 %| 20 - 22,000 20 - 21,000 B/C/HX-Pro, dbx manual No
Aiwa XK-S 9000 1992 3 4 Yes 0.018 % 0.002% 13 - 24,000 13 - 22,000 65 dB| manual No
Akai GX-F 90 1980 3 GF 2 0.03 % 25 - 21,000 25 - 17,000 25 - 15,000 B
Akai GX-95 1990 3 GF Yes 0.025 % <0.6% 20 - 21,000 20 - 21,000 59 dB B/C/HX-Pro manual No
Arcam Delta 100 1992 Yes 0.04 % 20 - 20,000 66 dB B/C/S manual No
Harman/kardon CD 491 1983 3 S&F/S&F 3 Yes 0.025 % 0.9% 20 - 26,000 20 - 24,000 B/C/HX-Pro manual No
Luxman 5K-50 Laboratory Reference Series 1978 3 F SD 3 Yes < 0.03% < 1.2 % 20 - 22,000 20 - 18,000 20 - 16,000 58 dB B manual
Nakamichi DRAGON 1983 3 PA-1L R-8L/E-8L 5 Yes 0.019% <0.8% <0.8% <0.8% 20 - 22,000 - - - B/C manual Yes
Onkyo TA-2070 1981 F SD&F 3 Yes 0.021 % 20 - 21,000 20 - 19,000 20 - 17,000 B/C Automatic No
Onkyo TA-2090 1983 3 F SD&F 3 Yes 0.020 % 20 - 22,000 20 - 20,000 20 - 18,000 60 dB B/C/HX-Pro/ dbx Automatic No
Pioneer CT-95 1993 3 - LA/LA 3 Yes 0.022% 0.6% 0.6% 10 - 30,000 10 - 21,000 64 dB - - B/C/S/HX-Pro Automatic No
Revox B 710 MK II 1980 3 S&F/S&F 4 Yes 0.1% 1.5% 0.8% 30 - 20,000 30 - 20,000 30 - 18,000 No
Revox B 215 1985 3 - S&F/S&F 4 Yes 0.04% 1.0% 1.5% 0.8% 30 - 20,000 30 - 20,000 - - B/C/HX-Pro Automatic No
Sony TC-K 909 ES 1993 3 S&F LA/LA 3 Yes 0.022% 1.3% - 0.4% 15 - 22,000 15 - 20,000 15 - 17,000 61 dB 59 dB 57 dB B/C/S Manual No
Sony TC-KA 3 ES 1995 3 S&F LA/LA 3 Yes 0.022% 1.3% - 0.4% 15 - 22,000 15 -20,000 15 - 17,000 61 dB 59 dB 57 dB B/C/S manual No
Tandberg TCD 3014 1984 3 4 Yes 18 - 23.000 18 - 20.000 B, C, Dyneq, Actilin.Rec. manual No
Teac V-8000 S 1991 3 - AC/AC 4 Yes 0.022% - - - 15 - 21,000 15 - 20,000 60 dB - - B/C/S/HXPro manual No
Teac V-8030 S 1995 3 - AC/AC 4 Yes 0.022% - - - 15 - 21,000 15 - 20,000 15 - 18,000 60 dB - - B/C/S/HXPro manual No
Teac Z-7000 1983 3 - AC/AC 4 Yes 0.019% 2% - - 20 - 22.000 20 - 21.000 20 - 20.000 60 dB - - B/C/dbx Automatic No
Yamaha K-2000 1983 3 SD 2 Yes 0.02% <0,9% 20 - 20.000 >59 dB B, dbx </0,9% No<0,9% 20 - 20.000 >