Vintage Cassette Deck Review - 1979 Pioneer CT-F1250

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

One of the best decks by Pioneer 👍🏻

[@millervintagehifi3034]

Can't argue with that. Early CTF lines had issues with clutches and sketchy reliability. I really liked this deck, but it's too large PLUS I think I like Nakamichi a smidge more.

[@bmboldt]

I restored a CT-F700 last year for someone. Needed belts, restored the idlers, adjusted the speed. When I would play an XDR tape with Dolby off one channel would go haywire. I gave up after a while and told the owner just to make sure Dolby was on for those types of tapes. I have 3 cassette decks (nowhere near as nice as yours) and I never use them.

[@millervintagehifi3034]

I try to use mine decks at least once a month (or more). I have a few Nakamichi (BX300, BX125, BX100, 480Z). I pick them up when they're cheap, assuming they are cosmetically nearly perfect and usually flip them to the shops when they need some. One will be going down to 402 soon once I install the belt kit (a BX 100). I also have a a Denon DRM24 that I really like...got it for a song...it's a great deck.

[@bmboldt]

@@millervintagehifi3034 getting hard to find cheap stuff. Just finished fixing the balance control on my Yamaha C-60 that I found for $10. It had been dropped, balance pot and knob smahed and needed parts. Spent $45 on missing parts and it is good to go with my M-60 I got at Goodwill for $20.

[@millervintagehifi3034]

Unfortunately some folks think this vintage gear is like a lottery scratch ticket. Did you see the local FM listing for the Pioneer SX 838 for a measly $5000?? No kidding...the initial listing was for $5K. It has dropped but it's still overpriced...at least it's down to $750...for a middle of the pack Pioneer that hasn't been serviced or restored. It might be worth $400 on a good day. I guess folks don't realize that if it's still for sale the price doesn't reflect the actual value :)

[@tcrutch65]

Blows away my Pioneer CT - A9 from the late 80's which was top of the line then

[@millervintagehifi3034]

I had an A-9 for a short while and really liked it, BUT it's only because my first 80s stereo was an ultra cheap Fisher Studio Standard (very similar design vibe) and there was a bit of nostalgia that colored my experience.

[@ColtLuger]

What app do you use for the frequency test?

[@millervintagehifi3034]

I have a spectrum analyzer on my phone that I typically use with a calibration cassette. It's called Sound Spectrum Analysis.

[@douglashoff95]

Got one on the Pioneer employee purchase program and still have it. The Pioneer advertising called this "The Year of Fluroscan".

[@millervintagehifi3034]

That's pretty cool!

[@bmboldt]

Someone just gave me a CT-F750. Three belts were melted. Replaced them with what I had laying around for now. It works on some tapes but not others. It looks like the pinch rollers are a little worn out and if the tape has some resistance it slows way down. If you press up on the tape when it is slowing down it speeds back up. I need to track down some pinch rollers. I tried sanding it a little and put rubber renue on them and no luck. Glad I didn't pay for it.

[@millervintagehifi3034]

One of the reasons I dislike tape decks...time and labor is ridiculous for repairs. I will sometimes order from WJOE Radio if I'm looking for belt/roller kits. He sends instructions :)

[@elli0tgx554]

Hello sir, I would like to know where I can buy one of these cassette decks today or do you know of any place where I can find cassette decks that are not scams?

[@millervintagehifi3034]

eBay or a local shop that has one

[@elli0tgx554]

@@millervintagehifi3034Thanks man, but when you refer to a local store, are you referring to a specific one or like a garage sale?

[@Hwords1]

Is this one for sale

[@millervintagehifi3034]

At 402 Vinyl in Bellevue, Nebraska

[@watdanuqta-mf5ms]

If you're going to talk about better tape decks you have to make recordings on them and review that. Who cares what some fifty year old pre recorded tape sounds like. If you want to check speed stability, record some piano music from CDs with long sustained notes. You should be able to hear any wow or speed inconsistencies easily if they're there and you have a decent ear( most people do not). Also works well with turntables. You would be surprised at how many turntables fail that test. A local record store, "Tone Deaf", produces indie bands and they release new cassette tapes. Go figure. I got rid of my decks years ago. Parts and cost of rebuilds just went through the roof plus the fact that being able to record off of some quality reel to reel tapes hard to come by. I do have some copies I made from Analog Production open reel releases and they sound great. There's just not much to record and prerecorded tape sounds awful; high speed dubbing, dubious tape quality. Still have a lot of high quality tape though, TDK MAXG 90's, close to two boxes Maxell Metal Vertex 90's, plus some Sony Ceramic Composite Metal Master 90's and three Super Ceramic 90's purchased from a local record shop for two or three bucks a piece years back. They had a hodge-podge of blank tapes that just sat on a shelf years ago and no one was buying them. I bought everything they had. The thing about cassette decks is if someone asks me what's best in some audio equipment, I haven't a clue, too much stuff I haven't heard. But if you ask me aboutt cassette decks? That I know. I've heard all of the top machines and owned many of them.

[@millervintagehifi3034]

Casual observation working in a shop that sells decks, pre-recorded tapes, and blank tape... Best sellers are pre-recorded tapes, then decks, with almost zero blank tape sales. I only listen to pre-recorded...not for the sound quality but for the novelty. If I want quality on tape I record on my R2R deck(s).