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From: rctracy@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: RE: Medium price cassette decks - (nf)
Message-ID: <6004@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 3-Mar-84 23:59:56 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.6004
Posted: Sat Mar  3 23:59:56 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 5-Mar-84 00:47:01 EST
Lines: 37

#R:vice:-130600:uokvax:1000004:000:1614
uokvax!rctracy    Feb 29 18:18:00 1984

(...just had to put in my two cents worth on Sony equipment...)
I own a Sony TC-152SD which some of you might remember as one of
the earliest decks to combine stereo, Dolby, and portability.  I
have only two complaints about the deck:

	(1) When it is operated as a portable, i.e., on batteries,
	    it consumes the best alkalines money can buy at a truly
	    voracious rate!  Forget about Ni-Cads unless you enjoy
	    seeing a great recording opportunity disappear in the
	    fading glow of your illuminated VU meters.
	    (I can live with this problem...)

	(2) Sony REALLY screwed up with the ferrite & ferrite
	    head!  Supposedly, this was Sony's answer to the various
	    "sandpaper" cassettes that are still being passed off as
	    bargain tapes.  Admittedly, the ferrite & ferrite head is
	    extremely durable, but head magnetization is so severe that
	    the head has to be demagnetized after every 90 minutes
	    of recording time to avoid "popcorn" cymbals and
	    other attrocious-sounding distorted highs.  ALSO,
	    on playback, a head in dire need of demagnetizing
	    can be discerned by the effect that it has on the
	    speed regulation.  The forward travel of my Maxells
	    has actually halted due to this "feature" (no, there
	    weren't any mechanical problems with the cassettes
	    and/or the deck itself).
	    (I'm living with this problem, but not liking it!)

Any serious suggestions on what to do about problem 2 (short of
ditching the deck) will be appreciated.  Gee, that felt good!

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