Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihu1g.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!vax135!houxz!houxm!ihnp4!ihu1g!fish From: fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: Cassette Fanatics Message-ID: <415@ihu1g.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Jun-84 14:47:17 EDT Article-I.D.: ihu1g.415 Posted: Fri Jun 8 14:47:17 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jun-84 08:13:00 EDT References: <7421@umcp-cs.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 31 (oo) There is one way to get reel-to-reel quality and still have cassette convenience for car players: buy two decks. It really isn't any more expensive than getting a high-end cassette deck, when you think about it. A good open-reel deck, without frills, can be had for around $600. Throw in another $200 for an outboard dbx 224, and you've got a recorder that will blow away, in terms of sound quality, any cassette deck made. Now, throw in another $300 for a halfway-decent cassette deck. $300 worth of deck will sound OK (but not fantastic) for home playback, and is certainly good enough to make tapes for a car. Total expenditure: about $1100, less than the price of a high-end Nak, and certainly less than a ReVox. And, you have the added advantage of being able to use dbx with your cassette tapes (if you want to -- refer to my previous article) and decode dbx discs. Now, consider the price of recording tape. An 1800' reel of high-quality Maxell or TDK recording tape costs $4.99, mail-order from Tape World. This is only $0.60 more than an MA-90 metal cassette tape, and gives you 96 minutes of recording time, both directions (7.5ips), as opposed to 90 minutes for a cassette. Granted, this is more expensive than the type II chrome tape most people use, but in order to get the most out of a cassette deck, you have to use metal tape anyway. Finally, there's something about an open-reel deck that really sets off the appearance of a sound system, gives it class. I suppose that's because not everybody has one. -- Bob Fishell ihnp4!ihu1g!fish