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So I gained a few pounds and that lost love!

My casual dress coats from 15 years ago no longer fit me. Yes, I have grown more around than up. I would rather spend my money on audio related expenses than a new suit. Went to the local Goodwill and found 2 retro sport jackets. Pretty cool. $7.99 a piece. A little dry cleaning and good to go. While there, I find a Sony tape deck. Aha moment! My Grateful Dead bootlegs have been sitting nicely stored for the last 15 years. Not listened to once. $12.99 for the deck. Needs some cleaning, plug it in, everything seems in fine order. What the heck. Let's do this. Heck of alot lot risky than an $800 Nakamichi. Set it up and wow! Not talking about the quality of the sound. Talking about putting on a side that flow seemlessly for 90 minutes as only the Dead and a few others could do. 
So this is my question. In the end, it is an 80s tape deck. It can only be so good. I have made relatively economical cable and power cord upgrade purchases over the last year. Have been sticking with Morrow and Schmitt Custom Audio. Been very happy with those purchases. Clearly better than stock cords or Monster cables. 
However, does it make any sense to spend a couple hundred dollars to upgrade RCA cables for an 80s Sony tape deck? I highly doubt it will make any difference. I suspect that I should just enjoy this alternative source for what it is and let sleeping dogs lie. Anyone out there ever contemplate this?
ricmci
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
All cables in all locations make a difference, old decks notwithstanding. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Another one, believe it or not, I have actual experience with!

When I first discovered BDR Cones the effect was so amazing I started carrying them around trying them everywhere. Including to a party where the stereo was even less than expected- plastic tape/CD/receiver amp with hair thin wire going to equally crappy speakers. But my friend was up for it so first we positioned the speakers on the trunk coffee table (are you getting the picture?) sat three feet away on the sofa, and played a CD. Then with the Cones and were both amazed to easily hear the difference. In this case the $60 set of cones was probably three times the cost of the "system"!

Okay so not once not twice but several times since then I have used interconnects and power cords on dirt cheap budget gear, just to see exactly what you asked- is it worth it? And I have to say I don't know if its worth it to you, but I do know you will definitely, easily, notice the same improvement as with anything else. It is not at all like you can only hear the interconnect if the speakers are good enough. Or the amp, or the source. Nope. Sorry. Does not work that way. I once put a $1200 interconnect into a $1200 system, was astounded at the improvement.

Look at it this way. You just bought a $8 sport coat. Are you gonna wear it only with a $4 T-shirt? Or is it gonna actually look pretty good with a decent pair of slacks and some nice shoes?Nuff said.
atdavid
736 posts
 
Or does an expensive pair of shoes and slacks change the fact it is a $8 sport coat? 


Do you really think $200 of cables is an appropriate way to upgrade a $13 tape deck of middling quality? If you want people to tell you it is, this would be the place for that. If you want someone to say that in no world is the cable the weak link ....
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
It was not always a $8 sport coat. At one time it was probably a $400 sport coat and it very likely retains the qualities of the $400 sport coat.

The suggestion, if a cable is the item of choice... is to consider a used cable for the used deck. At a price range that might be more appropriate for the scale of possible improvements at hand. Who knows.

The big problem is that used old decks, unless evaluated and serviced... can fail at any time, due to old belts, parts and whatnot.
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