Yamaha tape desk

[RockE]

I picked this thing up for a song, that could mean its crap - I have no idea about these things and the brands to get but I wanted something to play all my old cassette tapes so I didn't wear the heads out on my boxes since I'm playing them all to convert to MP3, this looks like it might be ok for that task.

 

[ClaretBadger]

I don't know that model

but the 580 got loads of good reviews - and Yamaha aren't a shabby brand

But like all things of this age - the true test is how it performs today

Make a tape - play it back on SEVERAL machines - does it sound consistently good?

Then you have a good deck sir


Personally - i buy old Direct Drive tape decks (no belts to snap or stretch) - like the Kenwood KX 880 or newer Kenwood KX5010 (I used to work in a hifi store that sold Technics/Alpine/Pioneer and Kenwood - and Kenwood made consistently good tape decks in the mid to high price ranges in the late 80's/early 90's) - which have slipped through most peoples radars

 

[Fatdog]

That's a nice looking deck. Find out how it sounds.

 

[Old skewl]

Looks nice! Yamaha made some nice receivers and CD players. I even still have a Yamaha Laser Disc. :sin:

Not real familliar with their home tape decks. I did have one in my car back in the 80's. It was a quality deck in the day. Good luck with your find!

 

[RockE]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll plug it into something and see how it sounds, I picked up an early Kenwood tape player today based on ClaretBadger's recommendations, hopefully with either/both I should be set.

 

[shane higgins]

Yea rocke that 560 is the ducks nuts
It's as good as a good marantz,luxman,Harmon kardon,akaI, nakamitshi
All the top stuff
I,ll Be happy with that for under $100

 

[k2j]

Personally - i buy old Direct Drive tape decks (no belts to snap or stretch) - like the Kenwood KX 880 or newer Kenwood KX5010 (I used to work in a hifi store that sold Technics/Alpine/Pioneer and Kenwood - and Kenwood made consistently good tape decks in the mid to high price ranges in the late 80's/early 90's) - which have slipped through most peoples radars

Good advice and I agree to a point. Just avoid too new a model of deck, like after mid-90's?. I picked up a very modern and highly rated marantz cassette deck (don't remember the model number) for free with purchase of 300+ tapes and the player was COMPLETE garbage . ....Compared to my older Yamaha and teac players there is NO comparison. Half the electrolytic capacitors in the 'made in china' Marantz deck were exploded, what's up with that!

Never thought to look for the direct drive players good advice! I usually concentrate on looking at the play and record head for the unit that looks virtually unused and then rebelt, recap the power supply side, oil captstain and motor, demagnetize etc... Then abuse the hell out of them with my old worn out tapes

 

[ClaretBadger]

these are what i use

 

[k2j]

Hey Claret, do they say 'direct drive' on the cases anywhere? Or does one just need to know which models are belt-less?

Just wondering for my in the wild sightings.

Those both have a great look

 

[ClaretBadger]

Yes DIRECT DRIVE will feature somewhere on the deck

Not to say they will completely beltless - there maybe one for the counter or on the idler drive

Your next tip - is to make sure they have amorphorous heads

these generally last longer

 

[ledmeter]

I picked this thing up for a song, that could mean its crap - I have no idea about these things and the brands to get but I wanted something to play all my old cassette tapes so I didn't wear the heads out on my boxes since I'm playing them all to convert to MP3, this looks like it might be ok for that task.

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I got mine for a song also.., as the ladies at the shop thought it was missing the cassette door. I love it but my pause became stuck. I got it to go with my yamaha amp from a similar time, the CA-710.