Tape Deck

Hi fellas,
I' about to release a beat tape in a small bunch of actual tapes.
The problem is, my tape deck is broken somehow and I don't want to fix because it's not worth it.
I don't know much about tape decks, so I want your knowledge in that sector.
What do you think to go to a newer dual tape deck, in order to dub tapes faster or to a vintage(ish)
The vintage choices I have is the following: TECHNICS Μ205
marantz sd 1000
PIONEER CT-200
AIWA AD- 6500
jvc cd-1920
ΑΚΑΙ CS-Μ01Α
SONY TC-Κ22

The dual ones: Marantz SD-275
sony tc-we635
TECHNICS RS- TR333
AIWA AD - WX828
marantz sd-525
Technics RS- TR575

Some others which might be good are tascam 102 mkii and some sankyo
I didn't find "xxx vs yyy" posts in google only one deck review at a time and some reviews weren't so helpful.
I also searched in the forum but I didn't find something useful either.
Any answer is acceptable.
Thanks in advance

i dont know what you mean by newer... but i say look what is available to you second hand and get the highest quality one... a older but higher end one will be better than a newer cheapo one even if you have to give it a cleaning.

As I searchead at internet for cassette decks in general I read that the "newer" dual ones (90s era) lack in recording quality but do the dubbing more quick than the single decks, obviously.
Also I read that tape duplicators lack in sound quality also.
I'll go with one of the old decks.
Any idea, witch one of those I have listed could be the best choice?
As the sellers say all of them are in excellent condition, working and cosmetic.
Thanks for the replies!

the quality between any of those decks is going to vary by each particular unit as much as it will by brand so it doesn't help to ask which is better. also, because it works now doesnt mean it will work after 5, 10, or 100 tapes. the belts wear out, it is a fact.
also if you are talking about high speed dubbing with a consumer dual deck, you are not talking about quality at all - that's about as low as you can get. if you are really serious about mass producing tapes, then an actual high speed duplicator is going to be your best bet. they are HEAVY, but they are extremely fast as they do both sides of the tape at once.

but for what you are talking - it is not going to matter. get whatever you can find locally, or step up and get a real duplicator.

tapedeck wrote:the quality between any of those decks is going to vary by each particular unit as much as it will by brand so it doesn't help to ask which is better. also, because it works now doesnt mean it will work after 5, 10, or 100 tapes. the belts wear out, it is a fact.
also if you are talking about high speed dubbing with a consumer dual deck, you are not talking about quality at all - that's about as low as you can get. if you are really serious about mass producing tapes, then an actual high speed duplicator is going to be your best bet. they are HEAVY, but they are extremely fast as they do both sides of the tape at once.

but for what you are talking - it is not going to matter. get whatever you can find locally, or step up and get a real duplicator.

Good advice right there. Also for a good single cassette deck, the Technics direct drives seem to last a long time and have less wow and flutter than belt driven decks. I was gonna pick one up myself. But ended up with a Harman Kardon for cheap which I'm waiting to arrive in the mail.

so... let's settle this:

Duplicator; Yea or Nay

I vote Yea

mr_debauch wrote:so... let's settle this:

Duplicator; Yea or Nay

I vote Yea

if one is literally trying to duplicate tapes en masse, that's what duplicators do best. not all duplicators are created equal, but if the specs match and they work good, they are a great option.

if however one is trying to save money and decide which is the best cheap tape deck, it doesn't matter. they're cheap for a reason and yer gonna have to learn to fix them or keep replacing $5 units as the belts wear out.

trust me - i did a project working my way through playback of 400 tapes and after fixing the first one's belt, i just kept adding on $5 tape decks until the project was done. some of the decks lasted a day, some of them lasted a month. i dont think any of them work right now.

another story re: tape duplication is the my buddy was mass-producing tapes with a high speed dubber and he had almost the same experience...tried about 3 decks before he found one that consistently worked. total equipment cost = $15.

yeah and let's not bring up the fact of not all cassettes are created equal... etc...

Thanks for your replies guys, I really really appreciate!

First I know that what you pay is what you get
Second I try to do the best possible with my budget which is limited, but I'm not talking about cheap as f@ck decks (I guess).
Third locally I can't find a variety of decks only commercial-type ones.

Keep posting your thoughts about that topic because others in that thing too.

Thanks a lot!

Also @tapedeck (or anyone else) if you can post the minimum specs you think, a good duplicator, must have.
Thanks in advance again

I go the thrift store (2nd hand stores) for tape decks. I've gotten a Marantz and Technic decks from there in the past. I live in Chicago, so there are thrift stores everywhere. I get blank tapes too. Get a toaster for 79cents. I can buy a gun in the parking lot too.

check this out

http://www.vintagecassette.com/