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View Full Version : My History with the Compact Cassette

MacGyver
08-19-2008, 09:17 AM
i am 26, but i totally grew up around tape. the compact cassette has been a part of my life since my very first coherent childhood memories, (i can remember all the way back to when i was less than five.) and has never left my life. my very first audio component was a mid-90's low-end SONY cassette WALKMAN. after that, i inherited my mother's PANASONIC cassette boombox. made many tapes on that thing, then in 2000, i received my very first component Hi-Fi, inherited from my biological ex-father. of the three components, one was my first cassette deck...



PIONEER CT-980W (1988)

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-980W.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-980W4.jpg

made many more tapes still on that one, to be replaced three years later with one of these...


PIONEER CT-W603RS (1994?)


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-W603RS1.jpg

paid $10 at a yard sale. only made a tape or two on that thing, never liked the cosmetics one bit. still had it when i ran across one of these for $5.00...


CT-F2121 (1975)


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-F21211.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-F21212.jpg


mine had no wood cabinet, and worked for all of the five minute recording session i put it through, then worked no more. i sat tight with that awful 603RS for a year or two, then found me one of these for $18.00 at the GRESHAM,ORE. sally-ann...


PIONEER CT-W600R (198?)


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/DSCF0398.jpg

(LARGE INSULATORS/FEET WERE ADD-ONS BY ME)

that lasted me a year, one or two recordings made, until just this month or so, when i replaced it with one of my two dream decks...


PIONEER CT-W910R (1989)

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/LA%20SYSTEM/GR-777St.jpg

have made a few recordings on this baby, all SPECTACULAR. this will always be with me, even if i eventually get my number-one dream deck...


PIONEER CT-S800 (1988)



http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-S8009.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-S80012.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/CT-S80013.jpg

absolute no-compromise construction. "Reference Master" cassette mecha, Laser-Amorphous heads with over 20-20khz dynamic range, truly the;

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/Miscelleonous/3excel.jpg

-of cassette decks. IMO, at least...o-o:-)
Marc Hugo
08-19-2008, 11:46 AM
Now, Lady Ayeka, this was a great story!! I had no idea you were, or rather are, so young.

Well done on all your acquisitions so far and good luck for the future - especially that very desirable CT-91. Of course, bear in mind that if you get a nice one, no make that, "when" you get it, it may need some time with a really good techie. Because it will be around 20 years old. Budget for that if you can.

I asked you at some point about the 1280 and 1380 Pioneers (also twins from around the same era as your 980) but I will search for pics myself on another drive and post them here.

Please do a small impression of this new twin of yours, mentioning the music you choose (doesn't matter if its Megadeath, Mantovani or Mendelssohn, don't mind) and the sort of tapes you record on and then, of course, your impressions.

Best wishes - Marc
stuwee
08-19-2008, 01:20 PM
+1! And what about the other MA-XG? I know the music on it isn't your cup of tea, but how's it compare to the one I gave ya?? Sound wise? Dynamic's? highs and lows? I admit I didn't know what I was doing when I made them on the SAE, I still don't know really with the Nak!
MacGyver
08-19-2008, 02:04 PM
well, some of those dance mixes are alright, nearly all in the MA-XG you sent me, in fact!! still, to be perfectly honest, the ones on the cassette you included with the travelling package, well, a lot of them were, well, :-/-> IMO. as far as the sound; superb!! only problem is that you kept the REC. level too low! it still sounds terrific, but the saturation level barely ever hits the red! this is a top quality metal oxide cassette, you want to have the levels kissing the highest increment on the meter during peaks...
stuwee
08-19-2008, 02:42 PM
well, some of those dance mixes are alright, nearly all in the MA-XG you sent me, in fact!! still, to be perfectly honest, the ones on the cassette you included with the travelling package, well, a lot of them were, well, :-/-> IMO. as far as the sound; superb!! only problem is that you kept the REC. level too low! it still sounds terrific, but the saturation level barely ever hits the red! this is a top quality metal oxide cassette, you want to have the levels kissing the highest increment on the meter during peaks...

Well I said I was a noob when I made them what, 20 years ago. I didn't know which one to send round, so I just closed my eyes and pointed at one. I'm still tryin'. I just played with one a minute ago, nailed the levels perfectly, As soon as I can transfer them to something suitable tape wise, I'll have to redo all of them, New Beginings are grand! These Black Watch's are winnin' me over more and more.
Mr. Lin
08-19-2008, 06:00 PM
Lady, I'm actually just a year older than you, so I too grew up with cassettes and I feel like ours was pretty much the last generation to do so in the US. However, I don't have your extensive experience with nice tape decks and quality recording/tapes. Until recently my experience with tapes was limited to grabbing whatever was cheap and available and then making a mix on it. Now I've been enlightened, if you will. Better late than never. Good thread.