What makes tape sound better than vinyl ?

Revox B710 and B215 should be good for your purpose, but they are expensive as well.

I have no idea why I'm wasting my time trying to help somebody find a cassette deck when it makes absolutely no sense; right now I'm listening to the 2 track, and no cassette deck I've ever heard is even in the same ball park.

I "gave" my ton of cassette tapes away, and never looked back. A good cassette deck is not cheap, and with a few more hundred, you could have a good reel to reel. Plus I've seen reels that cost no more than expensive cassette decks, but audiophiles can rationalize the irrational.

@orpheus10 
I certainly appreciate the help and advice and seriously hope you do not think you are wasting your time!
Since when has any audiophile been accused of being rational.....lol.
It may be a passing phase but its one I am interested in right now.
R2r may follow who knows?
From what I see of the successful sales of cassette decks on eBay I would have little problem moving a deck on again at a later date.

@inna 

The main problem with ever increasing budget is that pretty soon I will be approaching r2r prices and then its well just a bit more will get an even better model , repeat ad infinitum!
I am in no rush, tapes have sat in boxes for 6 or 7 years now so a while longer will not hurt.
Lets see if I can find any Xmas bargains!

That's actually what I was thinking of suggesting. You just got Nottingham, set it up, see how it sounds. What if you will want to upgrade your phono stage to make it right, or replace the Shelter cartridge it will come with ? I always do one source at a time.
orpheus10, you were helping with cassette decks because Kevin asked for an advice. He also has a lot of recorded tapes to play.
As for open reel decks ebay prices, I would say you need at least $1k to get Otari or better Revox, then you would have to pay a few hundreds or more to have it serviced, plus blank reels and plus good cables, XLR in case of Otari. I will not approach all this until I have at least $2.5k to spend. And Studers are usually around $5k or more, condition unknown.