Cassette deck head wear

Appreciate your responses.I use TDK and Maxell metal tapes for the obvious reason-they are so much better than other types.Rockvirgo,I am inclined to agree with you on the affect of a good metal tape.For the last 1.5 years and after about 500 hours I cleaned the head once, and it was absolutely clean-nothing.Another thing.Is it just me but I don't like Dolby C and use only Dolby B or nothing.I believe that Dolby C interferes too much and takes some sounds away along with the noise.

Wow Inna, 500 hours is incredible. I feel I'm pushing my luck if I wait 50. Nak recommends cleaning every ten hours.

Dolby C was relatively new on the scene when I got my Nak. The extra 6dB of published signal to noise ratio for C vs. B sold me. I record everything in Dolby C using TDK MA, leveling the hottest signal at a hair under +10dB and pre-adjusting the bias until I can't tell the difference between the source and the tape.

But yeah, sometimes at low playback levels I get the feeling I'm missing something. At normal volumes and beyond though, the sound comes into itself and becomes quite natural. Then I'm glad the tape doesn't sound too hot. Tell you what, I'm still so chuffed over the extended playing time of tape that I prefer it to spinning the original records. Along with the confidence that good metal tape imparts, it's just too easy.

You push it to +10?And no distortion? I do +7 or +8.I also found out that TDK sounds slightly better than Maxell and hear no difference between TDK MA and TDK MA-X though the latter may be a little better mechanicaly.I have tapes that have been played at least 50 times;no sound degradation.Have you ever tried TDK MA-XG? I've got a few sealed but just can't justify unsealing them for now.

agree that Dolby C breathes & pumps levels excessively

don't forget to degauss those heads & capstans, even though you're not having to clean very often

Using TDK MA, the average level on rock rides around 6-7. I'm happy with the level so long as the ten bar only momentarily flashes. I haven't tried the MA-X's rationalizing that my deck, the least of the three-head designs, would not take full benefit from their higher performance.