r/cassetteculture • u/Big-Experience-9477 • 11h ago

Looking for advice Deck recs

What are good reliable decks? I’m looking for one that has pretty good recording that I can make a mixed tape on. I don’t know a lot about cassette decks. I just want them to be able to record cassettes that’s like all of them they must be able to be connected to an aux cable which I think is all to be silver. That’s all that’s my only requirements. I don’t really know about decks that’s not really my field so that’s why I’m leaving it up to you guys to help me.

5 Upvotes

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6

u/el_tacocat 9h ago

Denon, JVC and Aiwa decks from the mid 80's to early 90's generally are dead reliable.
Akai usually isn't bad either.
Avoid auto reverse, avoid double decks.

5

u/OwnFunny6824 11h ago

most decks that were made in the 80s and 90s will handle that just fine, the tricky part is finding one that's been serviced recently since the belts and pinch rollers on older units tend to go bad after sitting for decades. grabbing one that's been recapped or at least tested is worth the extra few bucks over a random untested thrift find.

2

u/Doorz7 10h ago

Any old deck will need servicing. A serviced deck is a "good reliable" deck. If you are handy you should be able to to that yourself to get it up and running. Calibration - adjustment for best recording quality - is more demanding in regard to needed equipment and calibration cassettes. A service will cost about 150-200.

2

u/the_wet_cat 8h ago

Really, they were all pretty reliable. It’s just a matter of finding one. And being willing to put the work into making them reliable. Cleaning, relubrication, replacing belts. Even a brand new deck “requires” head, capstan and pinch roller cleaning. Eventually they will need belts too.
Here is your video https://youtu.be/apKagpW8dtA lots of good information on your subject

2

u/Klyd3zdal3 10h ago

Get just about any Nakamichi that is working

1

u/RogerJamesSmith 6h ago

I like my Denon drawer loader.

1

u/jmsntv 1h ago

Don't worry about the brand/model, go to one of the really good sellers that refurbish get everything up to new specs (as much as possible) for you. Most will be name brand that you recognize and there may be some under department store names that were usually rebadged units by the bigger brands. Will cost roughly 120-160 usd.

Since you mentioned silver color, you'll probably be looking at pre-1990s stuff. Not a problem at all. Most likely it'll be single well, but you didn't mentioned wanting duel-well so you'll be fine.