braxus
05-21-2008, 07:45 PM
Realizing I dont really need another tape deck (I already have too many- yes I have a problem), and the fact the market today will probably never get back into cassettes (not like Reel to reel decks that are making a comeback) and make such a deck, I would trade the majority of them in for a dream deck like this one. I was milling around remembering the days when cassettes were popular. Had CD-R not killed the format for mainstream use, I wondered what kind of ultimate cassette deck could be made with what technology we have today. I came up with a Sony/Aiwa/Tandberg/Nakamichi/Revox hybrid. I'd love to hire the techs that worked on the best Tandberg (3014A), Nak (ZX-9), Aiwa (S9000), and Revox decks and get them to design this new deck. If I had the chance to design a high end deck for professional and consumer use today, here's what I'd ask for:
-High quality build with pro grade parts inside.
-3 choices of output stages (all class A design)- A: Solid state. B: Tubes in output stage. C. Digital output with choice of 24 bit 384/ 192khz or 1 bit DSD being output by choice of hdmi (HATS like Sony) or iLink (like Denon). Also would have 16 bit output via rca and optical digital out
-4 motor dual capstan with pressure pad lifter (capstans able to handle faster speeds)
-3 choices of speeds- A. 1 7/8 IPS. B. 3.75 IPS. C. 7.5 IPS.
-fast forward and rewind speed brakes to slow down cassette before stop
-real time tape counter with memory point programable
-4 choices of noise reduction with HX-Pro and Actilinear hybrid, plus DynEQ (Tandberg)- (all usable at all speeds) plus OFF (no noise reduction)- A. Dolby B. B. Dolby C. C. Dolby S. D. DBX type 2. Dolby circuits use discrete NR circuitry to avoid IC chips for NR. Deck has multi adjustments to keep discrete circuitry in proper calibration to avoid issues with out of adjustment NR use problems.
-seperated sections for power, input, and output with center cassette position (Sony TC-K909ES).
-best material for heads for sound quality (aka Naks), but also capable of very high input/output levels
-6N pure copper wiring inside
-Discrete 3 head system with seperated record and playback heads (aka Naks and Tandberg)
-cassette shell damping clamp (aka Sony and Aiwa decks)
-digital display VU meters from -40 to +20 db with *post-equalized* metering and 0 dB corresponds to a 250 nanoweber/meter (nwb/m) flux level
-input direct mode bypassing balance control and other sections
-seperate fine bias control for left and right channels (aka Naks and Teacs)
-return of the type 3 setting for recording/ playback, as well as type 1, 2, and 4 settings
-record EQ setting plus record level for Dolby/DBX
-auto tape bias/level control/head alignment for recording with 4 test tone generator (aka Pioneer CT-93)
-record mode that turns off erase head for better signal to noise ratio on virgin tapes (aka Aiwa XK-S9000)
-balanced signal paths (aka Rotel), common ground paths (aka Luxman), and dual mono audio board (Sony TC-KA7ES)
-manual record azimuth adjust and manual playback adjust(aka Naks)
-computer controlled transport system for very high head contact capability and accuracy, plus reduced head wear (aka Naks)
-speed adjust trim for slower or faster playback (pitch like control) with on-off bypass switch
-double plated copper chassis with shielded sections between stages, plus copper metal base of unit with honeycomb stamps for rigidity (aka Pioneer) and a wood base below that for added rigidity, plus oversize cone tip feet to further reduce resonances
-external isolated twin R core power transformers (aka Aiwa XK-S9000/ Excelia XK-009 and Sony TC-KA7ES)
-quartz locked direct drive with low wow and flutter
-transport safe enough to use with 120 minute length cassettes
-15hz to 27khz +-3DB at -20db normal speed, 20hz to 27khz +-0db at -10db level 7 IPS mode with metal tape
-flat frequency response from 20-20khz +1/-2db at all speeds at 0db level
-65 to 70db SNR without noise reduction
-XLR mike inputs with phanton power
-switch for mike or line level inputs via RCA connections
-choice of RCA or XLR output jacks (connected to the two optional analog output stages)
-external battery pack attachment for use on location
-internal power conditioner
-less IC circuits and more discrete circuitry
-tight tollerance high grade long lasting parts with deck expectancy of 20 years
-real time counter with tape length counter below, and switch for time ellapsed or time left
Did I miss anything? This deck would have to be on par and beat the performance and sound quality of the best decks including the Tandberg 3014A and the Nak ZX-9. Also to be released with this deck are the return of a modified Metal cassette designed to be used in this deck at high speeds, plus a modern (coating -layers less prone to wear off) version of the type 3 cassette. This deck would be for people who want reel to reel sound quality on cassettes that are still available, plus to kill by offering better then CD sound quality.
Target sales: To prosumers to convert their tape collections to digital, people who need a high end analog recording system with still available cassettes, or people who just want the best freakin' deck possible to get.
Price-$5000 or so
I'd suspect at that price point they could sell enough to merit it, especially since there are still die hard analog users out there with decks that you cannot get parts for anymore. And with the fact many burned CDs dying within a few years of being made, and that cassettes have better longevity, then it might be a good time for a return of one good deck out there.
My second option would be to produce a 1/4 inch reel to reel deck with cassette deck like features. Many reel to reel decks never used technology put into cassettes and this would be a good place to do this. A reel to reel deck with features I'd like is: 3 3/4, 7.5 and 15 IPS, 5 heads (1 erase 1/2 track, 1 1/4 track playback for 3 3/4 and 7 1/2, 1 1/4 track playback 15 IPS, 1 1/2 track playback (7 1/2 and 15 IPS only), and 1 1/2 track record (7 1/2 and 15 IPS only), Dolby B & S with optional DBX NR, 1/4 track playback, 1/2 track play and record, bias fine with calibration mode, metal tape feature to use digital reel to reel tapes on, high headroom electronics, XLR mike inputs with phantom power, 3 choices of outputs similar to above list (tube stage, solid state, digital output (PCM and DSD), and pitch control.
-High quality build with pro grade parts inside.
-3 choices of output stages (all class A design)- A: Solid state. B: Tubes in output stage. C. Digital output with choice of 24 bit 384/ 192khz or 1 bit DSD being output by choice of hdmi (HATS like Sony) or iLink (like Denon). Also would have 16 bit output via rca and optical digital out
-4 motor dual capstan with pressure pad lifter (capstans able to handle faster speeds)
-3 choices of speeds- A. 1 7/8 IPS. B. 3.75 IPS. C. 7.5 IPS.
-fast forward and rewind speed brakes to slow down cassette before stop
-real time tape counter with memory point programable
-4 choices of noise reduction with HX-Pro and Actilinear hybrid, plus DynEQ (Tandberg)- (all usable at all speeds) plus OFF (no noise reduction)- A. Dolby B. B. Dolby C. C. Dolby S. D. DBX type 2. Dolby circuits use discrete NR circuitry to avoid IC chips for NR. Deck has multi adjustments to keep discrete circuitry in proper calibration to avoid issues with out of adjustment NR use problems.
-seperated sections for power, input, and output with center cassette position (Sony TC-K909ES).
-best material for heads for sound quality (aka Naks), but also capable of very high input/output levels
-6N pure copper wiring inside
-Discrete 3 head system with seperated record and playback heads (aka Naks and Tandberg)
-cassette shell damping clamp (aka Sony and Aiwa decks)
-digital display VU meters from -40 to +20 db with *post-equalized* metering and 0 dB corresponds to a 250 nanoweber/meter (nwb/m) flux level
-input direct mode bypassing balance control and other sections
-seperate fine bias control for left and right channels (aka Naks and Teacs)
-return of the type 3 setting for recording/ playback, as well as type 1, 2, and 4 settings
-record EQ setting plus record level for Dolby/DBX
-auto tape bias/level control/head alignment for recording with 4 test tone generator (aka Pioneer CT-93)
-record mode that turns off erase head for better signal to noise ratio on virgin tapes (aka Aiwa XK-S9000)
-balanced signal paths (aka Rotel), common ground paths (aka Luxman), and dual mono audio board (Sony TC-KA7ES)
-manual record azimuth adjust and manual playback adjust(aka Naks)
-computer controlled transport system for very high head contact capability and accuracy, plus reduced head wear (aka Naks)
-speed adjust trim for slower or faster playback (pitch like control) with on-off bypass switch
-double plated copper chassis with shielded sections between stages, plus copper metal base of unit with honeycomb stamps for rigidity (aka Pioneer) and a wood base below that for added rigidity, plus oversize cone tip feet to further reduce resonances
-external isolated twin R core power transformers (aka Aiwa XK-S9000/ Excelia XK-009 and Sony TC-KA7ES)
-quartz locked direct drive with low wow and flutter
-transport safe enough to use with 120 minute length cassettes
-15hz to 27khz +-3DB at -20db normal speed, 20hz to 27khz +-0db at -10db level 7 IPS mode with metal tape
-flat frequency response from 20-20khz +1/-2db at all speeds at 0db level
-65 to 70db SNR without noise reduction
-XLR mike inputs with phanton power
-switch for mike or line level inputs via RCA connections
-choice of RCA or XLR output jacks (connected to the two optional analog output stages)
-external battery pack attachment for use on location
-internal power conditioner
-less IC circuits and more discrete circuitry
-tight tollerance high grade long lasting parts with deck expectancy of 20 years
-real time counter with tape length counter below, and switch for time ellapsed or time left
Did I miss anything? This deck would have to be on par and beat the performance and sound quality of the best decks including the Tandberg 3014A and the Nak ZX-9. Also to be released with this deck are the return of a modified Metal cassette designed to be used in this deck at high speeds, plus a modern (coating -layers less prone to wear off) version of the type 3 cassette. This deck would be for people who want reel to reel sound quality on cassettes that are still available, plus to kill by offering better then CD sound quality.
Target sales: To prosumers to convert their tape collections to digital, people who need a high end analog recording system with still available cassettes, or people who just want the best freakin' deck possible to get.
Price-$5000 or so
I'd suspect at that price point they could sell enough to merit it, especially since there are still die hard analog users out there with decks that you cannot get parts for anymore. And with the fact many burned CDs dying within a few years of being made, and that cassettes have better longevity, then it might be a good time for a return of one good deck out there.
My second option would be to produce a 1/4 inch reel to reel deck with cassette deck like features. Many reel to reel decks never used technology put into cassettes and this would be a good place to do this. A reel to reel deck with features I'd like is: 3 3/4, 7.5 and 15 IPS, 5 heads (1 erase 1/2 track, 1 1/4 track playback for 3 3/4 and 7 1/2, 1 1/4 track playback 15 IPS, 1 1/2 track playback (7 1/2 and 15 IPS only), and 1 1/2 track record (7 1/2 and 15 IPS only), Dolby B & S with optional DBX NR, 1/4 track playback, 1/2 track play and record, bias fine with calibration mode, metal tape feature to use digital reel to reel tapes on, high headroom electronics, XLR mike inputs with phantom power, 3 choices of outputs similar to above list (tube stage, solid state, digital output (PCM and DSD), and pitch control.