Whats playing on your system today?

@uberwaltz reminded me of a Luc Ponty cassette I have in my collection...

Jean Luc Ponty - The Gift of Time. Columbia 1987

Cassette

Makes for nice Sunday morning listening.

Billie Holiday - All Or Nothing At All. Verve 1987

Cassette

Obviously a reissue/collection, but man, does this have wonderful sound quality. Really really nice. You just get lost in it.

Bkeske.
As far as nak decks go.
Maybe consider a 480.
Yes it's only 2 head but unless you are doing a lot of home recording it's not really a big deal.
The 480 uses the older better transport and controls and is affordable IMHO.
Think $150 to $200.
In fact I am planning on buying one as a back up and to share the playback load.

@uberwaltz

I’ve been looking. I have also seen the the 480’s, but not sure if it would be a step-up from my CR-1A, which I am fairly pleased with, albeit it needs belts replaced, at minimum. But really, the CR-1A sounds pretty darn good, and I do keep things clean and demagnetized. The CR-1A also has the Dolby B/C option which the 480 does not seem to. Granted, I almost always play back on Dolby B, as that is what most all retail tapes that had Dolby processing used (I believe Dolby ‘pro’ was Dolby B). I have only used Dolby C, In most cases, if I recorded a tape with that option, but that’s more rare than years ago.

I kinda agree that 3 head decks are more geared to recording though, something I don’t do much of, as I’m actually starting to purchase old retail cassettes instead of recording a lot as I once did back in the 80’s and 90’s. That just isn’t that important to me now.

The DR-10 looks interesting, but they look to be running about $600-700. There is also a ZX-5 on ebay being sold by a dealer at $666, free shipping.

I’m inclined to stick with my CR-1A unless I make a substantial leap forward.

10-4!
If you can change the belts or have a local dealer do it for a fair price you could well be right.
Not much point making a sideways step.