Compact living room stereo with cassette?

[Joerg]

Just tried to repair our Rio EX1000 which is a tiny 120W stereo,
bookshelf size. It has some firmware flaws, one of which is that the
cassette player capstan motor comes on (and stays on!) after a power
outage. So now it wore out and screeches :-(

Lubed it all, worked for an hours and then ... screeeeeech. It's sad to
throw the whole thing out but my wife doesn't really like a smattering
of pieces for a stereo, should be all in one. Even Amazon has hardly any
stereos left that have cassette players. Since we have many cassette
we'd really like to keep this "dinosaur" feature.

Is there any manufacturer that still makes "living room suitable"
compact stereos with cassettes players?

 

[Joerg]

Interesting SonicBlue was S3, yes the graphics chip company.
Sonicblue is bankrupt. D&M bought them out. D&M brands are Denon,
Marantz and McIntosh Laboratory.

Yeah, I know, we got a good deal on it probably because SonicBlue went
belly-up. It's otherwise a really good stereo.

You can try there, or get one of those neat Cassette-CD-USB mp3
converter decks and convert it all to mp3 or cd.

Sometimes we get cassettes from others to listen to, or have to check a
recording. That would make it a pain.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Just tried to repair our Rio EX1000 which is a tiny 120W stereo,
bookshelf size. It has some firmware flaws, one of which is that the
cassette player capstan motor comes on (and stays on!) after a power
outage. So now it wore out and screeches :-(

Lubed it all, worked for an hours and then ... screeeeeech. It's sad to
throw the whole thing out but my wife doesn't really like a smattering
of pieces for a stereo, should be all in one. Even Amazon has hardly any
stereos left that have cassette players. Since we have many cassette
we'd really like to keep this "dinosaur" feature.

Is there any manufacturer that still makes "living room suitable"
compact stereos with cassettes players?

Have you considered just tranferring the cassettes to digital?

MP3s are more than good enough for cassettes, and there are lots of
compact stereos that play MP3s, from whatever source (optical disk,
USB key, over your LAN).


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[mike]

Just tried to repair our Rio EX1000 which is a tiny 120W stereo,
bookshelf size. It has some firmware flaws, one of which is that the
cassette player capstan motor comes on (and stays on!) after a power
outage. So now it wore out and screeches :-(

Lubed it all, worked for an hours and then ... screeeeeech. It's sad to
throw the whole thing out but my wife doesn't really like a smattering
of pieces for a stereo, should be all in one. Even Amazon has hardly any
stereos left that have cassette players. Since we have many cassette
we'd really like to keep this "dinosaur" feature.

Is there any manufacturer that still makes "living room suitable"
compact stereos with cassettes players?

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=Rio+EX1000&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

[Joerg]

Have you considered just tranferring the cassettes to digital?

MP3s are more than good enough for cassettes, and there are lots of
compact stereos that play MP3s, from whatever source (optical disk,
USB key, over your LAN).

Sure, we could copy a lot onto CDs. But sometimes we have to check
worship tapes and things like that. Other times we'd like to listen to
one of those in its entirety, and having to first port to CD every time
is quite a hassle.

I am quite surprised that the cassette function has disappeared this
fast. When we bought the stereo some years ago there were still plenty
of similar ones with cassette player.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Sure, we could copy a lot onto CDs. But sometimes we have to check
worship tapes and things like that. Other times we'd like to listen to
one of those in its entirety, and having to first port to CD every time
is quite a hassle.

How many do you have? If you just do one a day, I bet it won't take
long to get the lot transferred, then you can discard the media and
get instant access. There are also services such as this one:

http://www.audiomover.com/cassette.php

50 cassettes for $300, not too bad, but they won't transfer commercial
tapes. They may have a deal for churches.

I am quite surprised that the cassette function has disappeared this
fast. When we bought the stereo some years ago there were still plenty
of similar ones with cassette player.

The very last factory car cassette deck disappeared with the 2010
model year- most were gone >10 years ago. CDs are going to be next to
go. Most compact stereos are more concerned with iPod docks, USB
connectors and such like. My musically inclined friends are still
having "CD release" parties, but most of the distribution is pure
digital via iTunes and Amazon.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Joerg]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=Rio+EX1000&_sacat=0&_from=R40

It'll have the same issues ours does, it's old and the motor in the top
is worn. Only a matter of time until it'll screech as well.

 

[Nico Coesel]

Yeah, I know, we got a good deal on it probably because SonicBlue went
belly-up. It's otherwise a really good stereo.



Sometimes we get cassettes from others to listen to, or have to check a
recording. That would make it a pain.

I guess you're up for a good old cassette deck I have a brand new
one on the shelve. When my old Akai finally died I bought a new one. I
never really used it because someone invented MP3 so all of the sudden
it was possible to download all the music I had on tape & vinyl from
internet.

 

[Martin Riddle]

Yeah, I know, we got a good deal on it probably because SonicBlue went
belly-up. It's otherwise a really good stereo.



Sometimes we get cassettes from others to listen to, or have to check
a
recording. That would make it a pain.

Sort of a no name brand
<http://www.audiobuys.net/?type=Stereo+System>

Jensen
<http://www.adorama.com/JEJTA980.htm...g Site&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=dealtime>

Sony
<http://www.dvdoverseas.com/store/index.html?loadfile=itemmhcrg270st.html>


Looks like the last of the cassette tape.

Cheers

 

[Roberto Waltman]

... But sometimes we have to check
worship tapes and things like that. Other times we'd like to listen to
one of those in its entirety, and having to first port to CD every time
is quite a hassle.

I don't have one, (so this is especulation,) but I would expect those
"Cassette to MP3" converters already mentioned to consist of the
cassette mechanics and basic electonics, plus an analog to
digital-USB-audio converter with the actual digital-audio to MP3
conversion done by software in a PC.
In other words, it may possible to use them as a plain cassette player
together with a low-end (read: physically small) computer hidden
between the rest of the audio setup.
Failing that, the conversion software may have a "preview"
("prelisten"?) function.
Failing that, I expect cassette boomboxes to be available for a while
from family, friends and eBay.

[My 20 years old Aiwa not-so-compact system still plays cassettess
with no problems]

 

[Joerg]

I guess you're up for a good old cassette deck I have a brand new
one on the shelve. When my old Akai finally died I bought a new one. I
never really used it because someone invented MP3 so all of the sudden
it was possible to download all the music I had on tape & vinyl from
internet.

Another big box is what SWMBO absolutely positively does not want.

 

[Joerg]

Sort of a no name brand
<http://www.audiobuys.net/?type=Stereo+System>

Jensen
<http://www.adorama.com/JEJTA980.htm...g Site&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=dealtime>

I was thinking about a tad higher quality

Sony
<http://www.dvdoverseas.com/store/index.html?loadfile=itemmhcrg270st.html>


Looks like the last of the cassette tape.

Yeah, one can get some karaoke type box overseas, a friend pointed one
out in Ireland. I guess I'll hit the thrift stores then ...

 

[Joerg]

... But sometimes we have to check
worship tapes and things like that. Other times we'd like to listen to
one of those in its entirety, and having to first port to CD every time
is quite a hassle.

I don't have one, (so this is especulation,) but I would expect those
"Cassette to MP3" converters already mentioned to consist of the
cassette mechanics and basic electonics, plus an analog to
digital-USB-audio converter with the actual digital-audio to MP3
conversion done by software in a PC.
In other words, it may possible to use them as a plain cassette player
together with a low-end (read: physically small) computer hidden
between the rest of the audio setup.
Failing that, the conversion software may have a "preview"
("prelisten"?) function.
Failing that, I expect cassette boomboxes to be available for a while
from family, friends and eBay.

[My 20 years old Aiwa not-so-compact system still plays cassettess
with no problems]

I guess that's the avenue I'll take. Didn't want to but have to.

 

[MakeNoAttemptToAdjustYourSet]

... But sometimes we have to check
worship tapes and things like that. Other times we'd like to listen to
one of those in its entirety, and having to first port to CD every time
is quite a hassle.

I don't have one, (so this is especulation,) but I would expect those
"Cassette to MP3" converters already mentioned to consist of the
cassette mechanics and basic electonics, plus an analog to
digital-USB-audio converter with the actual digital-audio to MP3
conversion done by software in a PC.
In other words, it may possible to use them as a plain cassette player
together with a low-end (read: physically small) computer hidden
between the rest of the audio setup.
Failing that, the conversion software may have a "preview"
("prelisten"?) function.
Failing that, I expect cassette boomboxes to be available for a while
from family, friends and eBay.

[My 20 years old Aiwa not-so-compact system still plays cassettess
with no problems]

I guess that's the avenue I'll take. Didn't want to but have to.

I still use a stack for my home entertainment.

No cassette deck or turntable for a long time though.

My cassette deck wasn't a Nachamichi Dragon (considered to have been
the best), but it was up there on the list.

I have a BIC dual speed, in mint condition. The push for about $350 on
Ebay, but they only get about half that. Some do not get much at all.

The Dragons, however, are still medium to high demand devices.

http://tinyurl.com/ahg5msy

 

[Joerg]

... But sometimes we have to check
worship tapes and things like that. Other times we'd like to listen to
one of those in its entirety, and having to first port to CD every time
is quite a hassle.
I don't have one, (so this is especulation,) but I would expect those
"Cassette to MP3" converters already mentioned to consist of the
cassette mechanics and basic electonics, plus an analog to
digital-USB-audio converter with the actual digital-audio to MP3
conversion done by software in a PC.
In other words, it may possible to use them as a plain cassette player
together with a low-end (read: physically small) computer hidden
between the rest of the audio setup.
Failing that, the conversion software may have a "preview"
("prelisten"?) function.
Failing that, I expect cassette boomboxes to be available for a while
from family, friends and eBay.

[My 20 years old Aiwa not-so-compact system still plays cassettess
with no problems]

I guess that's the avenue I'll take. Didn't want to but have to.

I still use a stack for my home entertainment.

Oh, I also like the classical stack of tuner, CD, cassette deck,
amplifier and so on. But I am married, so ...

[...]

 

[Nico Coesel]

Another big box is what SWMBO absolutely positively does not want.

Women... You didn't properly train your wife

Look what I found:
http://www.ramon-b.nl/nl/product/usb-cassette-player-and-tape-to-mp3-converter/

 

[Joerg]

Women... You didn't properly train your wife

Look what I found:
http://www.ramon-b.nl/nl/product/usb-cassette-player-and-tape-to-mp3-converter/

That might work, at least as a kludge. Cumbersome to check tapes that
way though. Sometimes all we need to do is see if the eulogies and the
sermon on a tape is of sufficient quality to give it to members of the
grieving families that were unable to attend. But if the device can also
just play the tape then it's ok.

 

[Mark Zenier]

Just tried to repair our Rio EX1000 which is a tiny 120W stereo,
bookshelf size. It has some firmware flaws, one of which is that the
cassette player capstan motor comes on (and stays on!) after a power
outage. So now it wore out and screeches :-(

Lubed it all, worked for an hours and then ... screeeeeech. It's sad to
throw the whole thing out but my wife doesn't really like a smattering
of pieces for a stereo, should be all in one. Even Amazon has hardly any
stereos left that have cassette players. Since we have many cassette
we'd really like to keep this "dinosaur" feature.

Is there any manufacturer that still makes "living room suitable"
compact stereos with cassettes players?

Might be easier to replace the motor. If you don't want to do it yourself,
some of the pro s.e.repair regulars are in California.

Mark Zenier [email protected]
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)

 

[Joerg]

Might be easier to replace the motor. If you don't want to do it yourself,
some of the pro s.e.repair regulars are in California.

Mark Zenier [email protected]
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)

That's an idea, but where would one get a motor for a system where the
mfg has croaked almost a decade ago? Probably would need new belts then
as well.

 

[Mark Zenier]

That's an idea, but where would one get a motor for a system where the
mfg has croaked almost a decade ago? Probably would need new belts then
as well.

Only 10 years old? The deck was probably by an OEM. The same drive
probably was used in other singles or boomboxes. You might try MCM,
Newark's sibling distributor for the repair trade.

I still use cassettes to record radio programs, which results in a
hobby of repairing cheap chinese walkman players and shoebox recorders.
They all have the same guts (a lot of them are built in the same factory
or at least the same town). They all use variants of the same Japanese
company's single chip design, use the same motor, and drive mechanics.

Mark Zenier [email protected]
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)