A good cassette deck... needed for that perfect, crystal clear, powerful sound!

[325addict]

To make your box really stand out, load a cassette that was recorded on a really good cassette deck, with settings matching the capabilities of your boombox. It doesn't have Dolby? Then switch it off on your recording deck too! Make a dedicated tape, specially for your boombox. Take a 60 minutes tape for durability. A mixtape is great fun to make, and is never boring as long as you combine all genres of music you like on that tape. I use either a Nakamichi CR-7E, a Revox B-710 or a Kenwood KX-9010 to make these tapes. Use a high quality tape, preferably a good type 2 or even of high end type 1 tape (Sony HF-S or HF-ES, Maxell XL-I). Does your boombox lack bass? Then, seriously use a type ONE tape... and be surprised how much bass these will take. Drive the tape as hard as you can, don't be afraid to go far into the red zone, as long as no distortion or compression is heard, it's all OK! This makes tape hiss a lot less audible, especially when you don't use Dolby. Good type 1 tapes will take as much as +8dB, good type 2 tapes will handle up to +6dB. On any 3-head deck you can judge the quality of your recording by switching between tape and source. Make some test-recordings to find out HOW hard you can drive a certain cassette. On its way is a new cassette deck... a Tandberg TCD-3014A. This should be, according to those who can know it, be a "Nak killer". I will definitely come back on this, as a really good recording is SOO important. It can make or break your experience with your boombox...

 

[hopey]

True TDK D like 6db all day long.

 

[325addict]

True TDK D like 6db all day long.

I would definitely urge you to try at least a Sony HF-S... once you did that, you will never use any TDK D anymore
Want to stay with TDK? OK, then try an AD cassette... and I could repeat the above... you will never go back to D!

 

[goodman]

The different types of tapes (1, 2, 4 type) are recorded with different levels.
When recording at a louder than recommended level the sound is distorted.
For type 1, the maximum level is about +3 dB.

 

[Hajidub]

To make your box really stand out, load a cassette that was recorded on a really good cassette deck, with settings matching the capabilities of your boombox. It doesn't have Dolby? Then switch it off on your recording deck too! Make a dedicated tape, specially for your boombox. Take a 60 minutes tape for durability. A mixtape is great fun to make, and is never boring as long as you combine all genres of music you like on that tape. I use either a Nakamichi CR-7E, a Revox B-710 or a Kenwood KX-9010 to make these tapes. Use a high quality tape, preferably a good type 2 or even of high end type 1 tape (Sony HF-S or HF-ES, Maxell XL-I). Does your boombox lack bass? Then, seriously use a type ONE tape... and be surprised how much bass these will take. Drive the tape as hard as you can, don't be afraid to go far into the red zone, as long as no distortion or compression is heard, it's all OK! This makes tape hiss a lot less audible, especially when you don't use Dolby. Good type 1 tapes will take as much as +8dB, good type 2 tapes will handle up to +6dB. On any 3-head deck you can judge the quality of your recording by switching between tape and source. Make some test-recordings to find out HOW hard you can drive a certain cassette. On its way is a new cassette deck... a Tandberg TCD-3014A. This should be, according to those who can know it, be a "Nak killer". I will definitely come back on this, as a really good recording is SOO important. It can make or break your experience with your boombox...
View attachment 58335

I use a professionally refurbed BX-300, I would definitely not kick a CR-7 out of bed; along with the ZX-7/9 the CR-7 is a holy grail of recording.

 

[hopey]

I have been playing my metal tapes recorded 30years ago on mini boxes and it blows the roof off. (Technics hx pro Dolby c @8db)

 

[Nickeccles]

I use these to make cassettes for my boomers!

 

[Ghettoman]

i had my GF535 out last week and experimenting Recording with Tapes, i tried a TDK AR90, it recorded ok but a little flat. Then i tried a BASF Super II 90, i wasn't very keen on that neither, i tried a Memorex ( can't recall the model, the tapes downstairs) it was ok but not great, i had the best result with a TDK SA90, well that's what tape my sharp was most comfortable with, but i think these things are weird, one radio (or cassette deck) will work better with a certain tape, and others won't like that tape, but will work better with a different brand of tape. That's why i stick to my Bluetooth cassette adaptor, that avoids all the confusion lol.. i do like to play tapes though sometimes, but it's very rare that i do due to the reasons mentioned..

 

[Hajidub]

i had my GF535 out last week and experimenting Recording with Tapes, i tried a TDK AR90, it recorded ok but a little flat. Then i tried a BASF Super II 90, i wasn't very keen on that neither, i tried a Memorex ( can't recall the model, the tapes downstairs) it was ok but not great, i had the best result with a TDK SA90, well that's what tape my sharp was most comfortable with, but i think these things are weird, one radio (or cassette deck) will work better with a certain tape, and others won't like that tape, but will work better with a different brand of tape. That's why i stick to my Bluetooth cassette adaptor, that avoids all the confusion lol.. i do like to play tapes though sometimes, but it's very rare that i do due to the reasons mentioned..

Could be mistaken, but I think many of decks, stand-alone and boomers, were calibrated with TDK SA90's back in the day.