Cassette decks....reliability and build quality...

NAD 6300. Tandberg electronics wih a really great set of heads. I have 2 that need service, but when they run they sound awesome.

Denon and Yamaha decks were quite reliable. NADs had a spotty record. Naks are fussy and produce non-standard tapes. Tandbergs and B&Os sound awesome, but can be service nightmares.

I'd go with Denon or Yanaha if I were you...

-RW-

Cassette decks are fairly complex devices. I would stay away from used, older decks due to maintenance issues. Even the best built ones require a good deal of TLC. A decent quality new Tascam or Denon deck will cost around $400. You could get lucky on an older deck, but you could get unlucky just as easily.

In a different direction, any sub-$200 USB A/D attached to a computer with recording software (usually bundled free with the A/D) will allow equal to if not better than cassette quality recordings, plus editing.

Last night, I was listening to a Bela Fleck cassette on my Dragon. I sometimes forget the extrordinary fidelity and naturalness of sound that this Nak produces. Even my least expensive Nak (CR-1A) is capable of outstanding playback of well-recorded tapes. The ZX-9 still makes excellent copies and also has outstanding playback. Connect it with a good quality IC even though you’ll read that, with cassettes, ICs don't make a difference. Bull-ca-ca!

Granted, they do need a lot of TLC and a periodic trip to the doctor, but they are worth it if you have a large library of pre-recorded tapes. If you are used to fussing with your vinyl, then cassette ownership is no more painful. I do not recommend double-wells decks except to use as rewinders.

Periodically browse at your local Salvation Army store. You’d be surprised how many good and hardly-used cassette decks get put for sale. My CR-1 was a SA rescue and it cost me $20.00. The heads were practically new.

Good luck,

8^(

Over the years I owned H-K, Aiwa, Nak, Tandberg, Onkyo, Yamaha, and Pioneer. The only two I had trouble with were the H-K and Tandberg. I would say the best performance per dollar came from the Aiwa and Pioneer. Although it is seldom used, I still have the Pioneer which I kept because it was my favorite for quality recordings and features. It was their top of the line nest to the Elite, mostly the same specs but about half the price (but no wood side panels - 8^) ).

As I posted elsewhere, I never found prerecorded tapes offered much quality (high speed dupes) but recently a friend played a couple of prerecorded jazz cassettes for me that sounded very good. Perhaps it is worth trying a few.