8 track tape vs 1st press vinyl

Experiences are powerful. It was ’78, and my buddy’s parents had just bought a new Monte Carlo. As it turns out, between my family’s Sony 8-track player for the home, and his family’s old "all in one" console with TT, the Monte Carlo had the best sounding audio (cassette). My memory is of us, sitting in that car (in the driveway), playing Chuck Mangione’s "Feels so Good" release over and over, marveling at the sound quality. That experience threw a switch for me. The following summer, I worked my ass off at various odd jobs, {raking, mowing, babysitting, and delivering newspapers), just so I could buy a nice stereo system. I was 12 by that time, and already had the bug.

The problem with prerecorded tapes, and especially 8-track, is that the tapes are mass produced at speeds that do not transfer well, because the transfer equipment is set up to go as fast as possible.  What kind of stereo cartridge are you comparing to 8-track?

8-track is an adaptation of the Lear Jet flight recorder, because Mr Lear wanted the cheapest think he could get away with. As it unwinds, it scrapes off the magnetic recording medium, and was not too good to begin with.

I had 8-track built into my Sound Design all in one stereo back in 1976. I used to find QUAD 8-tracks in the cutout bins all of the time all around San Diego County. They were fascinating to listen to on a regular 2-track player. Especially the Isaac Hayes Enterprise releases like SHAFT, Truck Turner and Tough Guys.

I had an older Lamborghini for several years on a limited license that mandated period accessories including radio. It was fitted with an 8 track player. Aside from the fact that every time I shifted into first, third or fifth gears I pushed the tape in and it started playing, the sound was plagued by that stretched tape issue to the point that I only ever used the radio to listen to.

Budget medium and basically flawed - a decent (used to have a Nakamichi) cassette player would easily exceed fidelity even on an new 8 track tape.