WTB: Late 80s/early 90s 3-head cassette deck

Tenebrous · March 2023

I recently inherited a really nice collection of blues/jazz cassettes & I'd like to give them a listen, while also enjoying the nostalgia of some of my earliest music memories.

Looking for a mid/high-ish tier Japanese deck with strong playback features (all formats, HX pro, recording capabilities etc), & in good working order (refurbed would be a bonus)!

Budget will depend on the deck, but I'm not going to go far over £125 unless it's something spectacular - I mean, if someone wanted to sell a Nakamichi Dragon for super cheap, who am I to say no?

Let me know what you have!

Tenebrous · May 2023

Updated & bumped

There seem to be a lot of units up on eBay at any given time so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out there, but if someone here has something nice I'd definitely be interested!

robinbowes · May 2023

Make sure you factor in a belt replacement and service, unless it's already been done.

I picked up a Sony TC-K570 a while ago and the the belts were just mush.

R.

FelineGuitars · May 2023

I still have my Nakamichi , but it's not the Dragon unfortunately- it's a BX-2 , but still a great deck . (not that I'm selling it)

Tenebrous · May 2023

FelineGuitars said:

I still have my Nakamichi , but it's not the Dragon unfortunately- it's a BX-2 , but still a great deck . (not that I'm selling it)

Very cool! I almost bid on a "Cassette Deck 2" a while back because the price seemed reasonable compared to previous sales, but chickened out in the end. I think I'd be too scared to own/use a Dragon in all honesty.

robinbowes said:

Make sure you factor in a belt replacement and service, unless it's already been done.

I picked up a Sony TC-K570 a while ago and the the belts were just mush.

R.

Cheers for the advice

I was hoping, perhaps naively so, that it'd be something I could do myself... Surely it can't be too difficult to crank the top off & install a new belt?

robinbowes · May 2023

Tenebrous said:
Cheers for the advice I was hoping, perhaps naively so, that it'd be something I could do myself... Surely it can't be too difficult to crank the top off & install a new belt?

This is a 670 (similar to the 570):

thermionic · May 2023

Keep a look out for a TEAC V-1050. I picked one up on ebay a few years ago for a reasonable price, and apparently they have the same quality mechanism as was in the Tascam Portastudios.

MartinBush · May 2023

Does it have to be three head?

The Yamaha KX series is very good - I have one and they are worth considering.

Tenebrous · May 2023

MartinBush said:

Does it have to be three head?

The Yamaha KX series is very good - I have one and they are worth considering.

Not neccessarily

I'd just like to buy something quality the first time & not leave myself thinking "what if" & contemplating an upgrade just a few months later.

MartinBush · May 2023

Have a read of this - it's a thread I started on another forum. In the end I was offered a 3 head deck by a local audio engineer who, when he checked it out, found it had developed a mystery fault. I stuck with my collection of 2 head decks in the end just for ease and because they all sound good to me.

The thread below is just to offer a bit of opinion from those who know more than me. At the end of the day if you find a machine you like and its well maintained you will have fun. Good luck

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=191863

Tenebrous · May 2023

MartinBush said:

Have a read of this - it's a thread I started on another forum. In the end I was offered a 3 head deck by a local audio engineer who, when he checked it out, found it had developed a mystery fault. I stuck with my collection of 2 head decks in the end just for ease and because they all sound good to me.

The thread below is just to offer a bit of opinion from those who know more than me. At the end of the day if you find a machine you like and its well maintained you will have fun. Good luck

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=191863

Just made it through the first page! Seems like a lovely forum & plenty of helpful advice to be had there

Thanks a lot for the link. I'll broaden my net a wee bit then, yet perhaps tighten it in others. I almost bid on a very pricy Technics deck yesterday but it went for nearly double on what I was planning on bidding anyway!

Chris.B · May 2023

I have a Denon DRS-810 (black). Bought it many years ago, but after the initial testing, it sat unused. It's not quite a Nakamichi, but was very well regarded when released.

Having been unused, it looks immaculate, just as it did when new, I even have the box.

If you are interested, make me an offer. I see that you are based in Birmingham, I'm not far away in Stone, so we can meet halfway, or you are welcome to come here and have a look.

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WTB: Late 80s/early 90s 3-head cassette deck

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