JVC KD 85 Cassette Deck

From 1978 a great example of the JVC KD-85 Cassette Deck. A time capsule of another time where music was the reason.

[@xray111xxx]

Technically not mic to line mixing in the true sense. It will allow either/or of the mic/line recording but not true mixing as you cannot isolate the play record relative to your source you may record from, unlike my most current TEAC A-7300 which is true line to mic mixing. That machine elsewhere on my channel for reference. Apologies for the possible confusion.

[@randolphblack2554]

I purchased a JVC KD-65 back in 1978 and loved it. My friend bought the KD-85 upon my recommendation and he used it for 20 years before it quit. He could not afford to get it repaired so it met an untimely end . Good summary.

[@xray111xxx]

I always share with folks, JVC was nice to have in the 70s, 80s, part of the 90s. JVC now partnered with Kenwood are mere shadows of their once great selves. I hear you on the demise of the machine. Costs and parts is not an easy haul. I was fortunate on mine, it doesn't have allot of use on it. I will continue to keep it up to date. Things like electrolytic Capacitors, and noisy transistors, bad diodes and the like will show up at some point. These are not an easy machine to service. These are machines from a long gone Era. I try to enjoy mine while I can. Thanks for your view, and comment.

[@randolphblack2554]

I love my JVC cassette decks. After my KD-65 I purchased a JVC KD-A77 for the 3-head setup and I became even more addicted to recording my vinyl on tape The JVC KD-A77 did well until 3 years ago. It died from being in storage for over a year. I was desperate and went on eBay and bought a JVC DD-5 for 125.00! I was totally shocked when I received a JVC DD-7 instead! It worked for 90 days or so and quit. I had it refurbished by Bob in Williamsburg. He informed me that he had never worked on a deck with such low Wow & Flutter and DC configured amps throughout. I fired it up and it was amazingly clean and lifelike. It should outlast me!

[@spitfireaace]

Rock on brother!

[@ЭдуардВасильченко-х9я]

Отличная дека!👍 Давняя моя мечта! У меня в коллекции много аппаратов JVC, но такого нет!)

[@rcnthusiast]

Thank you for the review of the KD-85. I bought mine from Macy's (of all places) on SALE for $400-ish - maybe $480? I can't even recall anymore. It must have been '78 or '79 and I was nearing my twilight years of junior high... so long ago. Yes, I still have it. Had it refurbished 20 years ago because the solenoid/transport mechanism kept dropping out during all modes of operation. The A/V tech diagnosed it as a weak transport motor. As it was explained to me, the transport motor runs all the time the KD-85 is powered on, and I often left the machine on overnight during those evenings when I would set up a recording before bedtime. The A/V tech found a transport motor in his boneyard of salvaged parts and got it going again. I enjoyed it for a few more years but then my car's radio/cassette player died, and so did my motivation for making tapes for driving. Well stated as a "time machine." That and my JVC RCM-70.

[@coctailer]

I just bought a KD-85 last week for $91. Super stoked!

[@xray111xxx]

Awesome. This is a special and JVC will never build these again. Congratulations!

[@xray111xxx]

The wood cabinet is a laminate not MDF as I mentioned in my commentary.

[@MyJoyDepecheMode]

🥰👍🥰

[@samuelfellows6923]

😕 ~ the LEDS for the peak spectrum analyser bars weren’t bright ~ if there was a bright light shining off the front of this deck, you’d only be able to see the analog meters and the cassette in the recorder, as it is - it would be more appreciated seeing it in dim light or darkness as the spectrum analyser would be more visible

[@vrkiran]

Is there someone that can repair a KD85?

[@edgardorecites-iu5bu]

I have like this cassette deck.who want to buy this.i sell it I'm in Philippines👍

[@janisnovickis2013]

Hello Can you please explain what the REC EQ button is for?

[@xray111xxx]

Record Equalization is for setting the appropriate eq in microseconds. Normal bias on a Cassette is typically 120 microseconds, the chrome or chrome equivalent is typically 70 microseconds. This gives the tape the proper emphasis or de-emphasis, escapes me at this moment which so the tape offers the most linear response possible and also since this is an industry standard playable on most other cassette decks. Nakamichi is a bit odd in that they hold to the earlier 80s time equalization vs. the rest of the cassette deck world. FeCr I do not remember its eq setting as I never used that tape. In my time Normal Bias, Chrome or High Bias tape, or Metal Particle tape which this machine will not record on. Playback is fine since it uses the 70 microsecond eq time constant too as chrome or chrome equivalent tapes do.

[@xray111xxx]

Also keep in mind that eq is also used in play back though bias is only used in record only.

[@janisnovickis2013]

@@xray111xxx 👍👍👍

[@monishmanjunatha3751]

ഡിജിറ്റൽ സറൗണ്ട് സൗണ്ട് അൾട്രാ സ്റ്റീരിയോ ഡോൾബി ഡി ടി എസ് അൾട്രാ സ്റ്റീരിയോ സൂപ്പർ