Whats playing on your system today?

And my fully factory spec restored Nakamichi ZX-7 is probably going to give me best replay I am ever likely to get on cassette tape.

@uberwaltz 
I picked up an inexpensive cleaned-up but unrestored Nakamichi CR-1A, which is only 2 head, (but understand they are typically better than most 3 head non-Naks out there), deck. Did that at the same time I dragged my old vinyl and cassettes out of hibernation. Goodness knows where my old Akai deck went.

Anyway, as vinyl, was just ‘checking things out’ and seeing if these old formats would stick. And they are. I’m now actually buying cassettes on Discogs as well and vinyl.

And now have my eyes peeled for a nicer Nak deck, as the CR-1A was pretty cheap, so wouldn’t lose much, and could probably sell it for what I paid. Or, at least have it restored, but not sure how smart that would be vs cost/worth.

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - A Night in Tunisia. Blue Note, reissue/remaster 1989

Cassette

As far as Nak tape deck restorations go, Willy Herman is the man to go to, unfortunately he also has a 12 month wait list, thats why he is the master!
Now it really does not cost much less to have a lesser Nak deck restored than a top flight one so financially it probably does not make too much sense to do the cr-1a, if it is playing well, keep it and enjoy it.

I would look around for a good used 3 head, preferably already restored by Willy ( they do exist) or a non working one on the cheap and book it in with Willy and just wait until he can get to it.

I guess it depends on just how much you want to spend on a tape deck?

I had a 582, then went up to a 660, then found a zx7 which worked well for about 6 months then the recording went on the fritz so I got Willy to work his magic on it and could not be happier.

Dark side of the Moon .... Pink Floyd.

Cassette from 1978 that plays perfectly.
Quite a nice surprise in my latest haul.

In fact I would have to say the SQ is quite astonishing.... And no scratches 😂😂

The Doors - The Doors. Elektra Cassette. Unknown release date, but probably mid-70’s ?? No Dolby stamping, so playing it ‘bare’, but sounds pretty darn good.

Cassette