"A cassette playback system is no match for a decent analog front end. That is not debatable."

Aodiofeil has spoken...I guess there's nothing more to say!??
No i don't think so. If just for the fact that in many countries pre recorded caste tapes never sold well. I know here in the Netherland we went from LP to CD. Tapes never sold well.
I agree with Audiofeil. None of my NAK decks stand up to my current vinyl set up. Not that they sound bad, but vinyl is clearly superior. Now my Otari MX-5050 reel is another story using 15ips tapes.
Clio, I concur.

My Sony reel to reel makes scary good copies of vinyl.

Cassettes are cute, handy, and cheap but not serious analog. Then again, in some systems I've seen here, the cassette deck is actually better than the vinyl front end it's compared to. That may account for the cassette cheerleading.

IMO
"Let's bring back VHS! Everyone knows it is as good as DVD and Blu-Ray! :-)

-Wendell"

What is real strange is SONY still markets blank BETA MAX tapes, but noone makes or sells VHS tapes. Why did VHS vanish so fast when one can goto the nearest FRY'S store and still buy a cassette deck? What is up with this? Someone must still be using cassettes and doing it in the closet or something. I know I tossed all cassesttes and the player about 20 years ago. I hated the format!! What is odd too, is Lexus still offers cassette players in some models because they precieve there customers as being older and not tech savy and stuck in the past!!?? What is up with this line of thinking? If i am 50, im too old to know about CD?

btw, IF tubes are better, then why no modern tube amps for auto?