Testing 4 cassette decks I repaired

[@jamesveach6918]

That pioneer cassette deck is not ugly I like it beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

[@DrCassette]

I kept calling it ugly because of the missing display colour filter (had to be removed so that the display could be somewhat visible at least) and the missing transparent piece on the cassette compartment door (had to be removed because it was no longer transparent). In original condition the cassette deck would have looked quite okay.

[@Enigma758]

@@DrCassette If you're so inclined, 12voltvids has a few videos where he has repaired faulty VFDs. It might be a fun challenge.

[@DrCassette]

I have already measured some display related voltages in the main power supply which were all okay, and in the service manual I didn't see any additional power supply components on the display board. So I am not very optimistic that there is anything else that could be repaired. Seems like the display is simply worn out...

[@vdochev]

I like the motorized open/close mechanism.

[@runepedersenDK]

Maybe you could try to "overcurrent" the filament on the Pioneer for a few seconds, then reconnect and check again? Here's a post from EEVBlog: "Yes, and I've done it many times with good results. The filament oxidizes which reduces the number of electrons that can be emitted at the same drive current. Driving it with higher current (constant current power supply is necessary) to white hot condition for 5-10 seconds will breathe new life into the display. It's unlikely that the phosphors are damaged if the whole display is dim. You might find a few "shapes" such as a leading zero or the decimal will be permanently dimmed, but an overall rejuvenation will minimize brightness differences." and: "I hooked up my DC power supply to the filaments with the 3.0VAC transformer taps disconnected. I did 3x short ramps with higher current till they started to slightly glow, each ramp for a few seconds. Hooked everything back up, and fired it up. The display was much much brighter, 100% better." Could be interesting to try doing this for some of the segments in the display - don't know if it's possible to "clean" them all in an easy way.

[@DrCassette]

This is certainly worth a try, if I can't find any other fault.

[@JoshuasRecordings]

Do not throw away that Pioneer. It has Dolby S capability which makes it very valuable. You can easily sell it for over 200 on eBay in its current condition.

[@DrCassette]

I am not sure where you get that amount from. If I look for ended auctions on Ebay I see these exact models in functional condition have gone for prices as low as 25€. The Dolby S is somewhat limited in the CT-S550S, it works for playback or record, but not for both at the same time, so if you want to monitor an ongoing Dolby S recording, the deck will use Dolby B for the monitoring.

[@JoshuasRecordings]

@@DrCassette Must be worth more here in the US. Interesting.

[@DrCassette]

Have you looked at the prices of ended auctions? Those are what counts, of course there are also people on the German Ebay demanding fantasy prices.

[@JoshuasRecordings]

@@DrCassette Yep. There's one that just sold in working condition for 355 USD. Then one that doesn't even turn on for 75 USD.

[@drdolby1585]

Aah, die gute alte `86er SONY HF. Mein "workhorse" in den 80ern. Eine der besten (und schönsten) Kassetten. btw, good job , keep going !!

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

It would be interesting as a follow up video to see if the capacitors are the culprit for the dim display after all.

[@DrCassette]

If there is anything interesting to repair in the display circuit, there will be another video about that. However, I have already measured some voltages in the main power supply which were all okay, and in the service manual I didn't see any additional power supply components on the display board. So I am not very optimistic that there is anything else that could be repaired. Seems like the display is simply worn out...

[@enzoperruccio]

@@DrCassette I don't blame people for leaving this stuff plugged in all the time over the years, but damm, i seriously despise dim displays. It's always great when you get a piece of tech that has a preserved VFD that's super bright.

[@Lachlant1984]

@@DrCassette Could it be that the reason the display is so dim is because even when the unit is switched off, the display heaters are always on? I think VFD readouts do use a heater of some kind, don't they?

[@TravisTev]

Nice video. I like the concept of going back and revisiting previous repairs to see how well they held up. Not something one often gets to see.

[@Sametribeeverytime]

I quite like that Telefunken RC200.

[@DrCassette]

It is indeed a very nice cassette deck :)

[@chromiumcomics]

It’s a real eye opener to see how much speed can drift again on cheap machines after only a few months...

[@namesurname4666]

on a deck i have speed drifts after 1 minute, it's never stable but it sounds good in that minute, it's not a cheap deck but it's from the 70s

[@marianmiko2]

Hello dr Cassette Petfect Presentation And Perfect Tápe Deck

[@ivanigorpollick6690]

I like telefunken most-for it advanced high com which used even mighty Nakamichi

[@RUfromthe40s]

i had in late 70´s bought from a german family that lived in a neighborhood for militar families from a airforce field belonging to Nato ,this with several buildings inside my city in the south of Portugal and i bought from them a system with a design very special for it´s time with t.v. either than a complete stereo equipment, it was the first time i had heard of Normende brand but the system was kind of made with a special good-looking design all worked and with very good sound the deck i remenber i paid almost nothing but when using it i was admired with the quality of the recording i had made with a maxell cassette type I (UL(?)) all was white and the t.v. had already wireless headphones and it seemed to use infrared to transmit the sound,the headphones were light had a eye and volume knob and the remote control was that kind of it as two litle metal contacts ,when pressing the two it transmited some kind of frequency ,if you put it in front of a radio it made diferent sounds each key, and the leds on the deck were equal to the leds on the t.v. but in the t.v that had no knobs ,all hiden by a door, had leds for colour ,brightness and other two functions i was impressed with this Normende brand ,i don´t have nothing anymore because a kid i knew is fan of 70´s everything and i sold it ,the entire Normende system working flawless ,including the t.v. ,also had crystal on/off buttons that you can took them out ,so nobody could use it without those keys in crystall, i always searched for more Normende equipment but not sold in Portugal ,and the internet was far from happening, regards

[@halitmarmaris]

Thank you 🎵

[@Edmilho]

I like the music you use to test. Hugs from Brazil.

[@andrewganley9016]

Throw the Pioneer away?...never!

[@stefanhertweck]

Frequency measurments would be also interesting to see :) Greetings, Stefan.

[@DrCassette]

You mean the frequency response? That would be rather complicated to do with the test equipment I have available.

[@stefanhertweck]

@@DrCassette Not really. There is software (freeware) available, incl. source code. If interested, let me know. I can provide details. Greetings Stefan.

[@altanphedap6361]

Thanks for uploading this beautiful video.... I wish I would have added Telefunken model 🌴🌴🌴💖💖💖🌴🌴🌴

[@runepedersenDK]

I'm a big fan of the auto-B.L.E. systems, especially when using Dolby-C and/or tapes that doesn't follow the norms, like the otherwise very good Denon HD-8. The mechanical state of the Pioneer is rather disappointing, with poor wow and flutter (a dealbreaker for me, it sounds awful, I can hear even low values). It would be interesting to see, if changing those caps on the displayboard would help. Thanks for an interesting video.

[@DrCassette]

The Pioneer doesn't have a very good mechanism, there is no back bearing for the capstan/flywheel, it's all held in place by just a clip on the front. So the W&F is not that great by design, unfortunately. And the motor is not the best either, considering how much the speed had drifted. I have already measured some display related voltages in the main power supply which were all okay, and in the service manual I didn't see any additional power supply components on the display board. So I am not very optimistic that there is anything else that could be repaired. Seems like the display is simply worn out...

[@RUfromthe40s]

i have a similar deck from pioneer and the display is also being losing it´s light but it´s all still seeable ,it´s a CT-S630S , it makes very good recordings ,it seems a bit older in design ,and i ´ve used components from pioneer since the 70´s and this is the first with this problem ,only in vacations i shut it down from the plug ,but other components ,older never faded in terms of the display light, i also have another deck ,i think it is from the same series that it was ofered to me and the display is like new and i can see the the display having the same functions but it is a less expensive deck ,only two heads ,the reference is CT-S420S so lot´s of functions are not lighted but the display seems standart to all references ,my question is if you think that if i install it in the 630 the display will work having the same functions but not lightened in the inferior reference display wich lights as new. Those decks are good when new but it´s the previous decks before the last series of pioneer cassette decks and i had in 93 a 500 and something but that one it was better looking the display had the same effect as in the last ones from pioneer with a bigger display i call it the christmas tree it´s a graphic or three graphics being lighted as the BLE is being done, that one never faded because i trade it with a friend for a bmw 2002tii restored in the 80´s from 74 but that was the first with this type of casing ,having the cassette door in the midle and still today it lights up as new ,regards

[@randyharrigan4790]

if you ever feel the urge to throw out that pioneer don't! I'll pay to have it shipped to canada even if i need to power convert it!

[@DrCassette]

Sorry, I don't ship internationally.

[@joeldecker313]

Nice Video. Great Hifi Components. Last weekend i found a fisher which was for free so i taked it and repaired it. Works now perfect. Can you tell me. What the Name of the song is, what you are using in your video?

[@DrCassette]

The song is just some license-free music generated by the ScoreFitter program.

[@chrislane4637]

Where do you get the music from

[@DrCassette]

It's just some license-free music generated by the ScoreFitter program.

[@dykodesigns]

The ugly duckling Pioneer has some nice features. From a functional / feature set point of view I kinda like it.

[@DrCassette]

If the display was not so dim the Pioneer would be okay, though the mechanism is quite cheaply made, causing those relatively high W&F numbers.

[@tuberadiohistory8093]

I was born in the 1960s. So I know many about cassette players and tape decks from the 1980s. Nice video. Many tape decks are cheap in production and it is terrible to repair them.

[@TheJaHa5]

Hey Doc, what's up? You mentioned something about trashing the Pioneer deck, and I was gonna ask if you'd trash it in my direction, but then I remembered, you're in Germany, (240 volts/50Hz) and I'm in Trinidad & Tobago (120 volts/60Hz). That put together with the slow speed, makes me change my mind, even though there are work arounds for those issues. Great video, and I like that Nordemende deck also!

[@DrCassette]

Also keep in mind that I can only ship to locations in Germany. Shipping elsewhere would be prohibitively expensive and would require great effort for packaging to ensure that the item arrives intact.

[@TheJaHa5]

@@DrCassette for real!!!

[@ssgeek4515]

Help.I have a shaepgf9500 getto that plays but distorts and pops on record from any source.I have a full schematic service manual.Any thoughts?

[@JamesE707]

I must have said this before?, but I really don't like automated cassette loading. How many decks have you now DrC? I have 'only' 13 so far. :o)

[@DrCassette]

I repair cassette decks, but I don't collect them. I don't know how many decks I have at the moment, but there can't be many more than you have. Most of these decks are awaiting repairs.

[@robertdavis5714]

That DOLBY S sticker helped tremendously on making that Pioneer even more ugly. I have owned many cassette decks in my life, however this one I bought on CL for $70 is just plain amazing, inside is very similar to my Yamaha's, direct drive with 1 belt. Vector Research VCX-650.

[@steveoszman8746]

After watching checked my old machines and all of them needed speed adjust. Was able to correct 3 of them. Was unable to correct my Tandberg and Sankyo top loaders.

[@TinLeadHammer]

The Nordmende looks like a Panasonic/Technics machine. I bet it was made by Matsushita.

[@DrCassette]

It was not made by Matsushita, my guess was it was made by Sankyo, but on another video someone commented that it was made by Funai. Definitely some lesser known Japanese manufacturer.

[@suzukisentinel9570]

I have an older Sony TC-WE 475. Dual Cassette. One side not working well. Is it worth trying to fix? I need a new deck, as I have about 600 cassette tapes. Do you sell ones you have refurbished? Can you recommend a unit under $300.00?

[@Alvin-Seville_NBG]

super das noch alles funktioniert :-) kommt das Video (Teac A-2300SX reel-to-reel tape deck repairs) wieder online??? hatte zwar die Benachrichtigung in meiner Glocke , kann es aber nicht ansehen weil es auf Privat steht?? :-) Reel to Reel sind meine Lieblings Sorten gewesen an Kassetten :-)

[@DrCassette]

Das Video kommt wieder online, ich kann aber noch nicht sagen, wann.

[@antonioregordan1659]

Hola,sabrías como cambiar las correas de una pletina aiwa a d f 800? Gracias

[@steviestormmusic5537]

NICE

[@hifijohn]

the Telefunken is from 79, and it still uses piano key controls and analog meters?? more like mid 70's, same for the nordmende.

[@runepedersenDK]

The cheapest Akai model, the CS-M01 from 79/80 also used piano keys and analog VU meters, it's not that unusual.

[@DrCassette]

Piano key controls and analog meters remained the standard on entry level cassette decks well into the 1980s.

[@dominikmichalczak4941]

Piano key tape decks with analog meters is not an unusual look. A lot of entry, mid and some high end models were using the combination of analog meters and piano keys. For example Aiwa AD 6900 - Electronic controls but still analog meters are used. Similiar example is an Akai GXC 750D, also high tier model with an analog meters. Personally I prefer the analog meters. Better look and depends of construction they are more accurate than leds/vfd meters. Also the sound was better for late 70's and early 80's models.

[@sebastianpavon5828]

El equipo Pioneer es el único al reproducir el casette desde cero que no hace WOW las otras deck dejan escuchar como llegan a la velocidad de reproducción

[@walterjosepantolfi605]

Olá aqui é do Brasil, boa demonstração, que música é essa do teste? Obrigado pela atenção...

[@DrCassette]

The song is just some license-free music generated by the ScoreFitter program.

[@davidmorgen4558]

i own a luxman k-90 deck .Im considering upgrading to a used nakamichi or a harman kardon which do you think is best?.I generally just record off the radio.(Fm Broadcasts ) about twice a month like Reggae or grateful live jam rock, luxman seems reliable i dont think it specs super well though compared to the mentioned brands above .I have a soft spot for older H K. but would consider otherwise? thanks

[@1962speiche]

I had found the Telefunken RC 200. its Made by Hitachi.

[@Dutch-linux]

the nordmende cd 1000 has lower play level then the recording level so that does need some adjustments and i think the pioneer did sound a tad better

[@DrCassette]

If you watch the repair video of the Nordmende cassette deck (link in the video description), you will see that the levels have been checked and adjusted.

[@Skyjin0]

What’s the name of the song you used to test the pioneer

[@DrCassette]

The song used throughout this video is just some license-free music generated by the ScoreFitter program.

[@hemiolabooks450]

Dr Cassette, I have an interesting question for you. Sometimes a deck with a separate amplifier either above or below it in a stack will pick up the strong flux from the mains transformer in the amp, leading to excess hum on playback. Apart from repositioning, is there anything that can be placed, sheets of something, between the units to block the flux? Thankyou.

[@Seiskid]

The magnetic flux gets picked up by the heads. You have to physically separate them. I've tried metal and all sort of things but never had any success with anything other than distance.

[@hemiolabooks450]

@Seiskid actually I just solved the problem yesterday with a 1mm thick piece of MuMetal covering the whole deck plus a bit more. It really works wonderfully.

[@professorvoluck9311]

Look for turntable vibration isolators. That will give you a valuable 2”.

[@DaXande135]

Da hat sich das Warten ja gelohnt, gleich 4 auf einmal :-) Jetzt wird aber erstmal Formel 1 geschaut... Ich hoffe mal für dich, dass sich nach den paar Wochen/Monaten keine neuen Standschäden entwickelt haben... Aber wer weiß, bei meinem Radiorekorder ist der fast 50 Jahre alte Riemen auch ohne Vorankündigung gerissen

[@madmoritz1817]

Hi, an dem Pioneer fehlt, glaube ich, die vordere Displayscheibe. Ich habe eine in grau 4,7cm x 15,9 cm extra schneiden lassen für ein 737mkII. Wenn du magst, schicke ich sie dir zu. Kannst sie ja ggf kürzen und einen Rahmen dahinter setzen (ist original hinten auf die Displayscheibe aufgedruckt). Vielleicht bringt das etwas mehr Kontrast...jedenfalls ist es dann vollständig, aber immer noch hässlich. (-; Grüße aus Münster, M.

[@DrCassette]

Der Farbfilter vor dem Display fehlt tatsächlich, ist aber noch vorhanden. Den hatte ich im Reparaturvideo (Link in der Videobeschreibung) absichtlich entfernt. Mit Farbfilter ist das Display gar nicht zu erkennen. Trotzdem vielen Dank für dein nettes Angebot :)

[@MrStarbor]

Amazing JOB !!!

[@DrCassette]

Thank you :)

[@DaXande135]

Mir gefallen diese späteren Pioneer Tapedecks auch nicht wirklich, aber ich würde zumindest noch versuchen, die Kondensatoren für die Displayeinheit zu tauschen/prüfen und erst, wenn sich herausstellt, dass das Problem wirklich das Display selbst ist, das Deck schlachten. Es ist ja immerhin ein kleines Einsteiger-Dreikopfdeck, das für den ein oder anderen von Interesse sein könnte.... Ich habe alledings eine Micro Component Anlage, die sehr lange Laufzeiten hinter sich hat, dort scheint es wirklich das VFD zu sein, das die besten Zeiten bereits hinter sich hat und relativ schlecht lesbar ist. So extrem wie bei dir ist es aber noch lange nicht x)

[@DrCassette]

Mit dem Display werde ich auf jeden Fall noch etwas experimentieren, ein anderer Vorschlag hier in den Kommentaren war, zu versuchen, das Display durch kurzzeitiges Erhöhen der Heizspannung zu "reaktivieren".

[@user-xv8yg1li2t]

Cool music! What the track?

[@DrCassette]

The song is just some license-free music generated by the ScoreFitter program.

[@user-jy7bs9wn6s]

@@DrCassette Holy sh... )))

[@EastAngliaUK]

what music do you like the most?

[@DrCassette]

I mostly listen to Deep House (European Style, not the Pop Music stuff you hear in the radio), but there is a wide variety of music I like depending on my mood, ranging from German hits of the 1980s to New Age and Fusion Jazz. There are some music playlists you can find on my channel, the most up-to-date one is "MUSIC 4".

[@EastAngliaUK]

@@DrCassette I have been getting into tech house.

[@muscledcowboy]

Warum stellst du bei dem dritten Gerät den Wahlschalter auf "METAL", obwohl das Bandmaterial "NORMAL/FE" ist? Dadurch stimmt die Vormagnetisierung ja nicht!

[@DrCassette]

Bei dem dritten Gerät (Nordmende CD 1000) gibt es keine Metal-Einstellung? Es ist "Normal" eingeschaltet, also genau richtig für das Band. Falls du das vierte Gerät meinst (Telefunken RC200): Dort ist der Bandsorten-Wahlschalter zweiteilig ausgeführt. Der rechte Schalter steht zwar auf Metal, dieser ist jedoch nur aktiv, wenn der linke Schalter auf der obersten Position steht. Das tut er jedoch nicht, der linke Schalter steht auf der untersten Postion, und das ist (im Video nicht zu sehen) die Position für Fe (Normal). Es ist also alles richtig eingestellt.

[@muscledcowboy]

@@DrCassette Danke für den Hinweis. Ich meinte natürlich das letzte Gerät. Jetzt wäre aber sehr interessant für mich, wie gut sich die HighCom-Schaltung in den Telefunken Decks bei anspruchsvoller, dynamischer Musik (z.B. Klavier-Solo) schlägt. Damit war HighCom damals ja recht schnell überfordert, zumal die Zuspielung häufig von rumpelnden LP's kam, womit der Compander die Zeitkonstanten völlig durcheinander brachte und es zu häßlichen Rauschfahnen kam.

[@jogmas12]

Can cassette tapes be ruined by playing them on inferior cheap decks, especially cheap automobile cassette players?

[@DrCassette]

If there is anything wrong with the tape path, the tape can be scratched or even creased. This is more likely to occur on cheap cassette decks, but generally these problems are due to bad maintenance. Keep the tape path clean, and you should be safe.

[@RUfromthe40s]

european brands were good but couldn´t live with the high publicity investment and quality devices at the time made in japan so they just disapear but i remenber decks from philips 70´s and grundig 80´s to be much better than japanese brands and having a hi-fi shop i could compare almost all brands

[@hifirulezzz]

It is a pretty hard to hear if that decks are sound fine. Speakers are awful.

[@DrCassette]

The speakers are good enough to tell the differences between the decks and between source and tape playback on each deck. Maybe your sound system is not good enough.

[@hifirulezzz]

@@DrCassette Sorry, I did not mean to be rude. That speakers just cant discover all the flower of capabilities for that nice decks you presented. I am filming own videos with decks and I know how much work it is to restore and film. Sorry again.

[@solarr2]

👍🇵🇱🇵🇱👍🤓😉😁😎

[@izzzzzz6]

The last one doesn't sound that good. I would sell that if i were you.

[@allanredford6070]

bing-bong music is not a good test source. piano/acoustic is. some less-popular brands-rebadged models from big nippon makers. some were playback only tested, it seems. more info on repairs would have been more iteresting;belts;idlers etc. self-congratulatory comments annoying.

[@DrCassette]

Seems like you did not bother to properly watch the video. All cassette decks recorded a section of license-free music which was then played back. Each cassette deck previously appeared in a detailed repair video, links are in both the info cards and the video description.