Best cassette deck for transferring to cdr?

My TEAC 8030S sounds different from my Nak Deck 1.5. Not better, I think. Equally good, but different. With Dolby S, the TEAC makes quieter recordings with slightly superior dynamics. The Nak's bias and level were not as easy to set, the cueing was not as simple, and there was no remote, but it sounded great, very open and natural, and that's the one the robbers got.

Unless you made all of the tapes on the same deck, or at least with the same azimuth, it is going to be difficult to get the most from your tapes without spending quite a lot of money (say $1k or so).

I suggest you visit the Electronic Services Labs (in CT)website, and check-out their Nakamichi pages. This will put my comments into perspective. This would be your high-cost alternative.

If your tapes are from a variety of sources, including pre-recorded, I would e-pay a low mileage Nakamichi deck, have it serviced for playback only, and have at it. This is the low cost alternative.

Nakamichi hit its pinnacle in terms of best parts and high-tech by the LX series. Many compromises were made by the bean counters as Nakamichi began to compete in the mid-fi arena. I submit a properly aligned and serviced LX-3 would do the job, unless of course you want azimuth adjustment, in which case the price goes up even if the overall quality is _slighlty_ compromised (effecting longevity).

-Kurt

Second the vote for the C7A. it is one of the few decks that allows azimuth adjustment for playback. Most high end cassette decks had all sorts of adjustments for recording but playback adjustments were not found other than the usual tape type selection and dolby B or C.

I have to say Nak , also . Ive had two , and I have had various other Pioneer ( ct1000 , ct9191 ), Teac , Yamaha , decks . A cd taped on a Nak is almost identical . Tandberg and Revox would be my other options .

Tandberg 3014 is the best. Dragon is good but not dependable.