Cassettes Playing Cassettes
Before playing a pre-recorded cassette it is necessary to ascertain two important settings: noise reduction and playback equalization.
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Select the correct Noise reduction setting: OFF, Dolby B, Dolby C or Dolby S.
This information will be found on the spine, front or on the cassette
itself. Note if you don’t have Dolby S use Dolby B for playback as
Dolby S is supposed to be compatible with Dolby B and in my experience
it is.
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Select the correct playback equalization 70μS or 120μS*.
Metal and most Chromium Dioxide tapes use 70μS. Standard tape uses
120μS. Some Chromium Dioxide pre-recorded tapes use 120μS EQ instead of
70μS for compatibility with portable walkmans. When loading a
pre-recorded Chromium Dioxide tape look for the words 70μS or 120μS.
Playing a cassette with the wrong settings can either make it sound too
dull or too bright.
* Some Cassette decks will do step 2 automatically
for you as they have an auto-circuit that detects if a tape
uses 70μS EQ by sensing for the larger notch in the top of the
Cassette shell. If the larger notch is absent the deck will select
120μS EQ, if the larger notch is there the deck will select
70μS EQ.
Also
make sure your playback head is aligned for excellent high frequency
response. Unlike Reel to Reel even a slightly out of adjustment
deck can cause mild to extreme high frequency losses. Obtain the
service manual for your deck to locate the Playback Head Azimuth
Alignment set screw. If you can get a test tape use it, if not use any
cassette you have with excellent high frequency response and adjust it
to sound the brightest or use recorded tape hiss and adjust it for the
most hiss. After setting playback azimuth use something to set
the screw to keep it from coming out of adjustment again such as
Loctite. I went cheap and used clear nail polish and my azimuth
is holding well.
The
number one reason listeners are unhappy with the Cassette format
is playback head misalignment. Now you are ready to enjoy your
Cassettes at their sonic best.
Clean
your tape heads and tape path often with a professional tape cleaner or
91% Isopropyl alcohol. To clean the pinch roller use a cleaner stated
"safe on pinch rollers". Do not use alcohol, as it will dry out the
rubber. Every couple of weeks demagnetize the heads either with a hand
held demagnetizer or a demagnetizing tape.
Audiophile Cassettes
The
first audiophile cassettes were from Advent, their Process CR/70
cassettes duplicated (4:1) on chromium dioxide tape from master tapes
of Connoisseur Society, Unicorn and programs they recorded themselves.
They were priced from $6.95 - $9.95 for double play cassettes.
Next
came In Sync Labs recorded on Nakamichi 582 Cassette Decks using TDK
SA-X Cassettes in Real Time (1:1) and they sold for $10.98 direct.
Releases included their sister company Connoisseur Society, EMI Pathe
Marconi and Vox.
Then Mobile Fidelity's MFSL High Fidelity
cassettes duplicated on JVC decks in Real Time (1:1) on BASF Chrome
tape. They released over 100 titles including many famous Rock and Jazz
classics plus excellent classical titles from Decca, EMI and Columbia.
Their spin-off label Cafe also offered many excellent titles. And MFSL
duplicated cassettes for Aesthetic Audio's series of Merlin Fidelity +
recordings.
Then Nautilus SuperCassettes also duplicated Real Time (1:1) on MAXELL UD-XLII tape.
Followed
by other Real Time duplicated cassettes from Sound Ideas,
Direct-To-Tape, Audible Images, Crystal and others. By 1985 Audiophile
cassettes pretty much died up, Audiophile cassettes except for MFSL are
extremely hard to find even on eBay.
10 Recommended Audiophile Cassettes All recommended Cassettes use 70μS equalization.
1. JOHN WILLIAMS: Star Wars & Close Encounters of the Third Kind Zubin Mehta, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL C-008
2. BUDDY RICH & HIS BAND: Mr. Drums Live On King Street Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Cafe C-732
3. RESPIGHI: Feste Romana, Pina di Roma Lorin Maazel / Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL C-507
4. THE STRAYAWAY CHILD - Jerry Reed Smith and Tom Fellenbaum Real Time duplication (1:1) on TDK SA tape, Dolby B Song of the Wood Music 7811-CA
5. THE BEATLES: Magical Mystery Tour Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL C-047 Note: From the German Master Tapes thus all songs are in real
stereo unlike the UK and USA Masters with three songs in Electronically
processed Stereo. The Mobile Fidelity LP version is from the UK masters
thus making the cassette version the one to get.
6. THE MISSING LINC Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues Real Time duplication (1:1) on TDK Metal tape, Dolby B Nakamichi Reference Recording / Sheffield Lab RA-4S10
7. VIVALDI: Flute Concerti Christopher Taylor (Flute) Carl Pini, Philomusica of London Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Aesthetic Audio / Merlin Fidelity + Direct to Stereo MFC-781
8. CAT STEVENS - Tea for the Tillerman Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL C-035
9. EARL KLUGH: Finger Paintings Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL C-025
10. THE MOODY BLUES: Days of Future Passed Real Time duplication (1:1) on BASF Chromium Dioxide tape, Dolby B Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL C-042
Commercial Cassettes
It
was the first high-speed duplicated mass
market cassettes are what gave Cassettes a bad standing with
audiophiles. Cassettes began as a dictation medium because of the ultra
slow 1 7/8 IPS tape speed that had extremely limited frequency
response.
Dolby
introduced their noise reduction system and pre-recorded cassettes were
born. The first pre-recorded cassettes sounded rather poor: very little
high frequency response, limited dynamic range and hissy even with
Dolby B. To this date there are some people who feel this is how
cassettes still sound!
Dupont invented
Chromium Dioxide tape which uses 70μS EQ instead of the standard 120μS
thus new decks were invented to record and playback this tape. This is
what made Cassette a high fidelity medium as Chrome tape has more
magnetic particles and thus could hold more musical information. Advent
released their Process CR/70 pre-recorded Chrome cassettes to
demonstrate the sonics Cassette was capable of.
Also
Standard Normal bias ferric oxide tape was being improved for wider
frequency response and lower noise using more tightly packed magnetic
particles to where the better standard tapes now come close to the best
Chrome. Shortly after Metal tape was invented which offers the highest
fidelity of all.
It
was a while before high-speed duplicators adopted these
improvements. In the mid 1980’s mass market cassettes began
to sound more realistic by using chromium dioxide and better grade
regular tape, improvement to high-speed duplicators to minimize tape
hiss and high frequency loses and increase dynamic range. Mass
market cassettes excellent midrange and low frequency response,
large and realistic soundstage have a lot to do with the overall
impression of listening to real music. Buying mass market
Cassettes is a gamble, so I recommend paying as little as possible.
10 Recommended Commercial Cassettes All recommended Cassettes use 120μS equalization.
1. CHRIS ISAAC: Heart Shaped World Dolby B HX Pro Reprise 25837-4
2. TEN YEARS AFTER: A Space In Time XRD (Extended Dynamic Range) - Dolby B HX Pro Chrysalis XDR F4 21001
3. DOUG KERSHAW: Cajan Way NO noise reduction Warner Bros. M5 1820
4. BONNIE RAITT: Luck of the Draw XRD (Extended Dynamic Range) - Dolby B HX Pro Capitol Records C4-96111
5. COWBOY SUPER HITS - Various Artists NO noise reduction Columbia CT 67738
6. BRUCE COCKBURN: Dancing In The Dragon's Jaws Dolby B Sony Music BT 34083
7. ALISON KRAUSS + UNION STATION: New Favorite BASF tape, DSD Master - NO noise reduction Capitol Records XDR C4-96111
8. JOICE WALTON: Downsville Girl Digalog on Premium Cobalt tape - NO noise reduction Pinnacle Records PR0012
9. ALAN PARSONS PROJECT: Eye In The Sky Dolby B Arista ACB6-8290
10. THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS: Legendary Songs of America's Golden West Dolby B RCA Special Products DMK1-0856
Buying used Cassettes
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Look at
the cassette label or surface for discolorations and stains as this
could indicate liquid spills that may have damaged the tape.
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Look at the pad to make sure it is clean, straight and not discolored, as this is what holds the tape tightly against the heads.
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Make sure the tape is smooth and not creased.
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Do not worry about the plastic Norelco box it comes in as these can be replaced cheaply on the Internet.
Good
luck hunting! There are many sonically and musically wonderful
pre-recorded cassettes out there. If you have pre-recorded
cassettes that you are pleased with and want to share please send
in your reviews.
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