Knock off the knockoffs: A plea to cassette deck manufacturers

Comments · 955

• DE

  @denniseldridge2936 · 6 years ago

  What's sad is seeing such names as Marantz and Alesis amongst those names.  Neither was known particularly for cassette decks, but both did at least have some standards to live up to...

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• VW

  @vwestlife · 5 years ago (edited)

  <b>UPDATE:</b> According to Marcelo Inoue from the Audio Business Sales Department of Tanashin, they have not manufactured any new cassette deck mechanisms since 2009, and all mechanisms made since then have been unauthorized clones manufactured by other companies. But there are varying degrees of quality control of these clones; for example, &quot;CSG&quot; mechanisms are notably superior to &quot;JS&quot; mechanisms.<br><br>Also, according to Bill Petrosky from Mabuchi Motor America, Mabuchi discontinued production of their EG-series DC motors almost a decade ago (as of 2021), so any cassette deck motors made since approximately 2012 with the &quot;Mabuchi&quot; logo on them are counterfeits, not genuine Mabuchi motors.

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• LO

  @lohs117 · 6 years ago

  I thought that having only Tanashins today was rock bottom. But clearly the bottom can get worse. It’s like when I found out the people actually faked crosleys

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• BE

  @BessieBopOrBach · 6 years ago

  This is legit audio investigative journalism. Bravo, vwestlife!

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• MI

  @mida8261 · 6 years ago

  I didn&apos;t think I was going to get gravitated towards learning about the workings of a cassette deck. You earned a sub!

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• SA

  @saysbadman · 6 years ago

  What I like most about the brand Pyle is how up front they are about their products. “Is that a piece of sh*t? Not just that, It’s a Pyle!”

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• IA

  @ian_b · 6 years ago

  It&apos;s sad how far analogue electronics has fallen.

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• AL

  @alexandermikhailov2481 · 6 years ago

  I repair vintage audio equipment and own quite a bunch of it too. I&apos;m amazed how cheap and low-tech these modern-day units are compared to the specimens from the 1970s-90s. Even the bottom of the product line decks from those days are head and shoulders above this garbage, let alone the top of the line units.

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• AP

  @Appleboy78165 · 6 years ago (edited)

  I really wish more companies would start making decent cassette mechanisms again. There&apos;s clearly enough demand for it

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• 62

  @620film · 6 years ago

  An enterprising person might consider offering an &quot;upgrade kit&quot; for these cassette decks (new Mabuchi motors, metal flywheel, better belts,) to make these better machines for cassette fans. I know they won&apos;t be &quot;Nakamichis,&quot; but at least they would be better than they are now.

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• 19

  @1980sGamer · 6 years ago

  That one cassette deck sure is a &quot;Pyle&quot; alright. ;)

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• PF

  @pfink70 · 5 years ago

  I recently bought a 1992 Sony cassette deck (made in Japan) at a thrift store for $10, replaced the 4 belts for $30, and it works great. &nbsp;That&apos;s totally the way to go.

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