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From: rctracy@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: RE: Medium price cassette decks - (nf)
Message-ID: <6114@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Mar-84 22:57:16 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.6114
Posted: Fri Mar  9 22:57:16 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Mar-84 01:22:54 EST
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#R:vice:-130600:uokvax:1000006:000:3117
uokvax!rctracy    Mar  8 13:26:00 1984

(This reply is directed primarily to hound!rfg, whom I would have
replied to via electronic mail if possible, but since this is my
only independent way of getting outside the local network...
I apologize in advance to readers of this group if discussing Sony
cassette decks doesn't appeal to you :-).

I received your letter concerning possible problems with the head
on my TC-152SD.  It sounds like it would definitely be worth checking
out, IF I can find a qualified individual in the Norman-Oklahoma City
area to do it...  Maybe some further details might help track the
problem down:

	The quality of the tape definitely matters.  I can
	play Maxells, TDKs, DAKs "forever" without running
	into the motor speed regulation problem mentioned
	in my previous note.  On the other hand, after
	demagnetizing the head, the problem will set in
	rapidly (approximately 2-3 hours of playing time)
	when I'm playing commercially pre-recorded tapes.
	MOST of the time, I can then play a Maxell tape right
	afterwards without any head maintenance being performed
	and the problem goes away until the pre-recorded
	cassette is reinserted.

	The head alignment was checked out and corrected by a
	dealer in OKC that is authorized to do warranty work
	for Sony.  Assuming that the deck was checked out
	thoroughly (BIG assumption, but it seems to hold up since
	the guy checked out several things I didn't specifically
	ask him to) nothing was found that the dealer thought
	he should call to my attention.  The alignment job was
	done correctly, so I have no reason to doubt the man's
	competence.

The battery consumption problem MAY have been exaggerated slightly.
I can get more than enough time out of fully charged batteries of
any type to make it worth my while to use them.  Ni-Cads and I
just don't get along well at all, unless they are in a calculator.
Sony's battery pack for my deck used to cost $15.95, and it
lasted all of two months before one of the cells developed an
internal short.  After rigging up a Ni-Cad "zapper" similar to
that described in a past issue of Popular Electronics (does anyone
remember that magazine??? :-), I managed to salvage an additional
month out of the battery pack before deciding that heavy load
applications and Ni-Cads are less than a perfect marriage.  Defective
cells?  I considered that and rebuilt the battery pack using size
C Generous Electric Ni-Cad cells.  These lasted about nine months
before one of the cells failed in a manner similar to that described
above.  The price/performance ratio is just too high for me.  As
little recording as I do that requires batteries, I'm better off
biting the bullet and sinking megabucks into a good set of alkalines
when I need them.

In any event, I haven't started to despair yet!  Even with all
its problems, my Sony still turns out better quality tapes than
decks costing three times as much (SUBJECTIVE OPINION, which has
been taking quite a beating in this group as of late, hence
this explanation, because I can't afford an asbestos suit :-)!

		--Bob Tracy
		AT&T Technologies, Inc. - OKC Works
		...!ctvax!uokvax!rctracy