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From: mohler@drune.UUCP (MohlerDS)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Cassette Recorders
Message-ID: <30@drune.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Aug-85 20:58:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: drune.30
Posted: Wed Aug 28 20:58:38 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 08:57:02 EDT
References: <21@drusd.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 44

I am answering your question on the net in case others are interested
in similar issues. 

First a disclaimer: I own a NAK BX-100 deck and like it. I must state
that unless you are going to spend 800.00 or more on a cassette deck
(read: too much) that there are several other companies decks you should
consider. AKAI, B&O, HARMON-KARDON, KYOCERA, NAKAMICHI, ONKYO, SONY, and
TANDBERG all make at least one great deck in this price range.

I suggest that the features you might look for to provide good sound and
reliability might include the following:

Direct drive capstans
Closed loop - dual capstans
Sendust alloy head with straight cut gap
LED or fluorescent meters driven from the monitor head (assumes 3 head deck)
3 heads for record monitoring
Solid head block mounting
No auto-reverse unless it is electronic or like NAK'S new type - any head
   rotation type auto-reverse deck is suspect when it comes to reliability
   and recording quality.
Tracking or matched noise reduction encode/decode - see later comments
DBX unless compatibility with Dolby B/C is needed
Dolby HX or HX/PRO unless compatibility with Dolby B/C is needed
Reference mark on meter system of where Dolby cal. level falls
Clean, "mother-board type construction

To answer your question about a NAK recording being incompatible with other
machines - yes this is sometimes true, but it is with other companies decks
too! The problem comes down to tape head gap, tape tracking and complementary
noise reduction encode/decode. The best way I know of to avoid this is:

1) Buy a deck with a Straight Cut head with a typical gap size
2) Get the best noise reduction circuitry you can in your price range
3) Buy a Closed Loop - Dual Capstan tape drive mechanism

Even if you do all of this I can just about assure you that tapes you make
will sound substandard on some decks, this is especially true of car deck
compatibility.

I hope this helps answer your questions.

			David S. Mohler
			drune!mohler