The Legendary Cassette Decks In Comparison

Short description

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

Smoothness in WRMS

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

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

Weblinks

individual credits

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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 >
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