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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