I think I finally got lucky!

[lordxale]

Pioneer CT-W606DR for $3.99. Looks pretty much perfect except it's missing the plastic logo (which I can probably scarf from my CT-W503R). Heads are still nice and shiny, belts look good (and the main belt is really fat compared to my other Pioneers' ... maybe that means it'll last longer :D), capstans and rollers also good.

It sounds good, too! I'm still listening to my first tape on it, but it seems to have way better top end than any of my other decks. I understand that this deck is still in production, too! Of the three that Pioneer still makes (Wow I can't believe they actually make 3!), this is the middle child: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/AudioComponents/CassettePlayers

It can't possibly be more than a few years old, I wouldn't think. First score in a long time other than a few tapes here and there! Keeps the hunt nice and fresh, that's for sure!

[Warped Bezel]

I'm sorry nobody responded to you in '08 and whether you are there or not I will add my own experience with the deck and why it is so...

The D stands for an analog-DIGITAL/digital-analog converter in the recording circuit.

It was a very clean and QUIET playback that resulted. When it was time to pass it on I sold it for the $5 I paid for it to an elderly man who wanted to play his tapes.

He called me back confused a few days later wanting to know where the speakers plugged in!

I realized he didn't have an amp and also it was dawning on me from experience with a friend that he probably had a dementia type disease (Alzheimer's or similar). My friend here took a long time before he wasn't able to drive etc. Anyway since I wanted to make things work for him I agreed to sell him my Pioneer SA-7500 as it was the only amp I had behaving well and a Sanyo tuner to which I added a slightly dinged pair of Realistic Nova-8 that I had to replace the 8" woofers. Not only did I have to set it up so that a couple switches were all he needed to worry about, measured the wires, added a dipole FM antenna but I charged only $30 dollars more...the parts cost more but when he came it all worked as he wished. He was happy, his wife was pleased, I still miss an amp but I was also happy.

So the deck may have not been the pinnacle of the hi-fi art but it was probably my favorite when all is said and done.

Hope you are still enjoying it!

[lordxale]

I am still enjoying it...or, at least I have the ability to enjoy it if I ever have time. I've fallen out of the hobby a bit, but I still have everything for when I have a place where I can crank it up again. I don't even lurk the forums any more, it's like staring in store windows. I did fire it up a couple weeks ago to play an old SRV tape I have. It was good! It sure sucks having to get the majority of my music fix in my truck. Until then, I guess I'll keep on *reelspin*