Cassette deck enthusiasts......


Looking for 3 head deck from 79-81 era with vu meters that is easy to service and find parts for...belts,etc...any brands come to mind for low cost service and above average performance?
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Look for the 682 with dolby B & C. The 680, 681, ZX7, 1000, and nearly all the Nakamichi Decks sound very very good. The 680 had a 1/2 speed selection. The 582 or the 500 series that had all the adjustments was a great deck which led to the 670 and 680 series of decks. The 580 sereis reign supreme for years until then. We use to use that with DBX or Dolby C or S and it reduced the noise tremendously. Also, I would make tapes for my car and I would change the setting for metal tape from 70us to 120us. That would give me an extension or boost on the top end. Used with Dolby it was an alternative to an equalizer. My cassette days have been behind me for over 24 years and I hope I remember correctly. Good Luck!
Two (or three) options with very good performance but less hype than the Naks (which were good once you got above the 400 series) were any of the three-head versions of Aiwa and Pioneer and Pioneer Elite.
I have a 680zx and is a great deck. If you carefully calibrate and bias the deck for half speed, the quality of the sound in half speed is quite stunning.