I need a Cassette Deck

[Shadowfax]

So I gave up trying to repair my old Onkyo-Integra TA-207 Cassette Deck but still have a boat load of tapes I want to play and or rip to digital. There surely are not many options available anymore.

I can only find about 4 New Player options and can't decide which way to go.

I could go with a Pyle (of crap) or the ION to USB players, but the reviews on SQ are really mixed and not written by people with discerning ears.

The other options are mostly used, or ridiculous pricing on discontinued Onkyo, Sony, TEAC players

Does anyone have a deck they may want to sell or offer any suggestions.

Without many to choose from, maybe the best idea is a $100 Pyle or ION and just rip my collection to digital and back to CD if I choose. (ease of play for the wife)

Thanks for any suggestions

[mep]

I have a Nakamichi RX-505 that I would be willing to part with. It no longer flips the tape automatically (should be a cheap fix), but I just flip the tape manually so it's no big deal to me.

[Shadowfax]

Mark, thanks for that offer but because of age and what I see them selling for today, I am just a bit apprehensive and it's really more than I would want to spend.

I watched some videos and it looks like a killer of a deck for many years.

Thanks again

[Shadowfax]

Oh well, not too many options on a new deck these days and I am just leary to take on a used 20 y/o deck which seems to be all I can find available.

I decided not to go for the Pyle of junk, or the one with one ION of quality.

What I did find was a Marantz unit that although looks cheap as crap, it just has to be better than the other two above.
Marantz Professional PMD-300CP | Dual Cassette Player & Digital Recorder with USB Output I have no idea what in the world can be Professional about this unit.

If I can rip my old collection to digital and my wife can listen to her old Xmas Tapes, all will be good. Unit arrives later this week.

[Melbguy1]

Brian, glad you were able to settle on a deck. Let us know how it's playing when you get it up & running :thumbsup:.

[Dguitarnut]

Anybody have an 8 track available? ✌️

[Shadowfax]

So the Amazon package was on my doorstep Sunday morning as indicated by the Status.

I hooked it into my main system and let it warm for a bit before playing one of my oldest tapes. It was a little sluggish at first but seemed to get past that. Who knows, it could have been the 30 y/o tape. (a BASF) First up was a local band from the 70s here called Spaces. Funky Jazzy tunes with great Sax, the player lived next door to a friend's brother. Then I played what was an odd Black Sleeved EP of Steve Miller's Abracadabra, and the great long live version of Macho City.

As cheap and cheesy as this player is, there is still something about analog that beats digital. Behind the expected tape hiss, there is still more emotion and other qualities that sound better than the same music on CD.

The player does not have enough Gain for my Pre Amp so I had to switch to the High Gain setting for good volume. Bass was just fine at that point too. It does have a Gain knob for when used to record to PC. I plan to do a bunch of that this winter in case these tapes decide to go bad on me. Most are Dennon HD8s which was my favorite back in the day.

I'm still a little surprised that Marantz would even put their name on this unit and totally baffled as to how they decided to include Professional in the name.

The wife is now happy to be able to play her tapes so it's all good now.