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From: prophet@umcp-cs.UUCP (Dennis Gibbs)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Cassette Deck advice
Message-ID: <3535@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Feb-85 15:53:06 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.3535
Posted: Fri Feb 22 15:53:06 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 04:52:17 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
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<>



>I'm looking to buy a cassette deck ($300 - $400) range, possible local
>(Columbus, OH) or mail order (ie: Illinois Audio, or Direct Sight and Sound
>of Alanta).  Several choices I've had recommended are:
>	1) JVC KD-V6          local ~$299        mail ~$229
>	2) Nakamichi LX-3     local ~$599        mail ~$399
>	3) Onkyo TA-2056      local ~$369
>	4) Sony TC-K555       local ~$399        mail ~$329
>
>As of right now I`m leaning towards the Nak and planning on buying
>it mail order.  Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated 
>especially from owners of the above decks, or people who have bought
>from Direct Sight and Sound (they have a smallish add in the back of
>Stereo Review Mar 85).
>
>A salesman trying to put down the Nak mentioned that Nak aligns
>the heads on their decks different from most other decks, is this
>true? Isn`t there some kind of standard?
>
>
>                                    Gene Levine  (614) 860-4337
>                                    ATT Bell Labs Columbus

I would highly recommend the Nakamichi LX-3.  I have an LX-5, which I
purchased after quite an exhaustive search for  a  decent  tape  deck
that I could afford.  My LX-5 is a year old,  and  it  still  records
music so well that I cannot tell the difference  when  I  A/B between
the source and the tape.  The LX-5 is identical to  the  LX-3  except
the LX-5 has three heads and double dolby.  A friend of  mine  bought
an LX-3 after seeing my LX-5, and he is very pleased with his.

You are correct that Nakamichi aligns their heads  differently;  They
do it RIGHT!  Many of the cheaper brands do not even bother to  align
heads before the unit leaves the factory.  Nakamichi differs in  this
regard; they have very extensive quality control.

Also, all Nakamichi tape decks conform PRECISELY to the IEC  standard
and will give very flat frequency response from any tape recorded  to
these standards.  Some cheaper decks do  not  conform  well  to  this
standard; the people who own these non-standard  decks  will  try  to
tell you that Nakamichi's decks are non-standard.  Don't you  believe
that one bit!

The only caution that I would like to advise you of is the fact  that
you said you will be ordering the deck mail order.  If you  do  this,
make sure that there is a place  that  can  service  your  deck.   In
general, I advise against buying a tape deck mail order,  because the
heads could lose their precise alignment during shipping.   Also,   a
good non-mail order store can set up the deck using the brand of tape
that you intend to use.  Good Service is very important!

                             Dennis

-- 
Call-Me:   Dennis Gibbs, Univ. of Md. Comp. Sci. Center.
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