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]
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| 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 | > | |||||||||