Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site usl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!akgub!usl!sigma From: sigma@usl.UUCP (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos) Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: stereo cassette player Message-ID: <577@usl.UUCP> Date: Wed, 26-Jun-85 17:07:31 EDT Article-I.D.: usl.577 Posted: Wed Jun 26 17:07:31 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 27-Jun-85 08:11:57 EDT References: <2693@decwrl.UUCP> <1266@cbosgd.UUCP> Reply-To: sigma@usl.UUCP (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos) Organization: USL Computer Science Dept. Lines: 49 Summary: In article <1266@cbosgd.UUCP> mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) writes: > >Assuming what you mean is a portable unit that can get AM-FM and also >can play cassette tapes, the typical arrangement is a cassette player >and a separate cassette which is really a radio. Not only is this expensive, >but it's silly, redundant, and inconvenient to change stations. I also >wonder how good the reception can be - it's hard to put an antenna on >a cassette. > Ha!. I have owned three portables, two w/radio. My current one is a Toshiba with Dolby (TM), auto reverse, and recording, plus a pair of headphones by Kenwood. The quality of the FM reception is *excellent*. I can't see why it is redundant and silly. It still uses the headphones as an antenna. And it is very convenient as well, as you don't have to carry a bagful of tapes. Also practical when batteries drop. > >I own a box made by "AI Rhapsody" (Hong Kong) called the RY-90 >which is sold under the name "Stereo to-go". Our local Sun TV is >always advertising their AM-FM radio for $10 or so. This version >is a combined radio and cassette player, with no funny cassette. >The tuner knob and am-fm switch are on the outside, handy where you >can get at them. The headphone cord is the antenna. As a bonus, >it also records with a built-in mike (in stereo, but the mikes are >an inch apart, and there are no provisions for an external mike.) > The Toshiba has external mikes, but the quality is LOUSY. I mean LOUSY. It can't record a lecture, even worst FM/AM. Putting knobs and dials on the thing increases size considerably, also. Most other casseteradio types do the same. I don't find it inconvenient. > >The best news is that it wasn't that expensive - I got it for slightly >under $50. However, it was their demo copy, and I got the >impression that it had been discontinued (2 years ago, I think.) > >It works fine, although the plastic door over the tape area popped out when >I dropped it (which is easy to do when you have a short headphone cord >and are constrained in location due to crummy reception in a metal >building. The reception is fine as long as the batteries have >a good charge on them (I use nicads.) > > Mark You get what you pay for. I paid $145 for the tape deck and $30 for the headphones. But I have a really nice setup. Cheapos tend to deteriorate their performance very rapidly. Happy jamboxin' Spiros