Cassette tape collection is real fun

 Cassette tapes are all fun and I used to listen into the either vinyl or cassette format, less for CD now.
As Vinyl and cassette are more analogue and sound could be better than format of the CD.

HK Snob

Comparison with the world best cassette decks Nakamichi 1000ZXL Dragon, Revox B710 MKII and Pioneer T770s and T1000S

Comparison in Price 

Highest to lowest Naka 1000ZXL, Dragon, Revox B710MK II, Pioneer T1000S, Pioneer T770S

Sound performance

Nakamichi 1000 ZXL, Pioneer T1000S, Dragon, Revox B710-MK II, Pioneer T770S

Outlook

Best is Nakamichi 1000 ZXL, Dragon, Revox B710 MK II, Pioneer T1000S

Price 

Highest to lowest Nakamichi 1000 ZXL, Revox B710MK II, Dragon, Pioneer T1000S, Pioneer T770S

Ease of use

Dragon (with Remote control), Pioneer T1000S auto door open close, T770S (same operation as T1000S), Revox B710MK II, Nakamichi 1000ZXL

Difference between Pioneer T1000S and T770S is same in operation, but the internal construction and use of electronics components is T1000S better than the T770s, T1000 is using a lot of honeycomb copper base plate and isolation plate.

Comparison with Dragon and Pioneer T1000S

Dragon is 3 motors direct drive, T1000 is 3 motors belt driven

Dragon Frequency response is 20-22KHZ Vs Pioneer is 20-30KHZ both on metal tapes

Wow and Flutter Dragon is 0.04% Vs Pioneer is 0.022%

THD of dragon is 0.8% VS Pioneer is 0.6% 

weight of Dragon is 9.5Kg, Vs Pioneer T1000 is 8.6Kg

Proce of Dragon on 1983-1995 was DM 4,150 to 4500 Vs Pioneer was only DM 2200 in 1993

Two Big Audio magazine nominated Pioneer T1000S as the Reference Cassette deck as the only one.

In Short Pioneer T1000S is better in performance than Dragon. 

But few people know about it and Dragon has been in the market for 13 years and was famous and its price is 2 times higher than Pioneer, so most people think Dragon is better deck than Pioneer T1000S.

This is purely my personal experience on this only, all are great decks.

I think price will be up tomorrow.

HK Snob

 

Goldmund Mimesis 2 pre amplifier

 

This kind of amplifier all composed with discrete transistors in the signal path similar as Mark Levinson No. 26S. What I I think this could be having a controlling performance even after many years, tougher in reliability.  As the transistor itself carries its own task to do them amplifying the signals with a much bigger area or space for the electrons flow and heat dissipation. There is less Miller feedback between collector and gate than an IC would make... from what I understand. The dual supply of this design would give better channel separation.

Listening comparison with Goldmund 27.3 preamp, I think the sound is similar in the first day, this is second day, the Mimesis 2 is doing running in. The Volume of bass is getting warmer and more in intensity. Mid and High is more transparent, especially the weak gimble sound, its tonal quality as light as a feather, bass is full volumetric in intensity. 

Let's see more a few days.

HK Snob

New found long lost Hi Fi fun: Cassette tape

 recently by occasion, I bought a Nakamichi 1000ZXL, wow, to my surprise, it is better than all my CD system in terms of music reproduction liveness, transparency and fun. Many people says that isn't true, well, to my friend who is in love with cassette knows it. Until you try you know.

to me Vinyl is 100%, Cassette is 90% and CD is 80% only.

Well, only open reel system I have no experience so it is not included in the comparison. I know is is on top of vinyl. But I don't know if there is enough recorded tape for me to puchase.

HK Snob

Nakamichi 1000ZXL computing cassette tape deck

咗套Critical Mass Systems 嘅Centre Stage釘腳落部中道 Nakamichi 1000ZXL 度，果然低音實在左! 聽”A fistful of dollars & “for a few dollars more”.

第一面嘅”almost dead”那種口哨聲咁淒涼寂寞嘅感覺聽到都毛骨悚然。

第二面 之經典名曲，果然即是非偶然，結他結象輪廓清晰，第一下大鼓低音打出嚟嚇得人彈起身，令人不知所措，人聲更加有肉感，口哨聲更加動聽, 有啲口水花彈到我個面上，攞紙巾都攞唔切。

$9000四隻釘腳係值得囉！旺角輝煌音響有售再上一級嘅$20,000吾知有冇得借….借嚟聴下呢？

HK Snob
 

Nakamichi 1000ZXL Computing cassette deck

讀書年代, 放暑假同同學去尖沙咀漆咸道愛群無線電行聽當時這部中道嘅卡式機旗艦1000Z X L，當時覺得你聲音真係太美妙，面板好多操控制，當然那一位銷售顧問好细心介紹這臺機器比我地，我望一望價錢$14,800我仲記得㗎唔使諗啦，當年一個大學畢業生月薪只不過$1400，一足一年人工先至買到呢部嘢，事隔40多年終於今日可以了一個情意結啦，抬佢番家!

HK Snob

 

New Tweak to upgrade your Hi Fi system at minimum cost

There will be a solution to improve your audio system with merely a simple way to reduce 

the system signal path resistance.

Don't waste thousand dollars on the connection cable, or loudspeaker cable upgrade, try this first!

A new product is about to be released where by we can effectively reduce your connection issues

with outstanding listening improvement with upgrade on clarity, and Nosie reduction.

HK Snob

Tube or Transistor Amplifier is Better?

I find this website is very good in telling us what is the best choice for you: Tube or Amplifier

go and browse

http://kenrockwell.com/audio/why-tubes-sound-better.htm

HK Snob

The System

Koestsu Rosewood MC cartridge

Wilson Benesch ART turn table and ART tone arm

John Curl SCG1 Phono Amp  and original Standalone PS

Broadman Haden 33.3 Phono Amp (No.13/33) (Mullard 12AXT square Getter Frosted Glass X2 )

Audio Space line amp ( Mullard 12AX7 square getter x2, Mullard 12AU7 frosted glass)

Audio Space WB300B power amp (Raytheon gold pin 7729X2. Telefunken, Telefunken ECC802S x4)

Harbeth HL Compact Loudspeaker

Sound OK, I am satisfied!

HK Snob

Wilson Benesch Original Turn table

 

 

Wilson Benesch made a reputation for itself as one of the world's advance manufacturers of analog playback gear, first with its innovative turntable, then with its unique—some said "impossible"—ACT One tonearm (now replaced by the 2.0). Both make use of composite carbon-fiber technology. (ACT stands for Advanced Composite Technology.)  I am using this Turn table for all my Vinyl Records. 

Why use carbon-fiber laminate in place of metal? It's said to absorb resonant energy instead of passing it on, or reflecting it back, to other materials with which it comes into contact. According to W-B, carbon-fiber composite is extremely stiff—stronger than titanium, with only half the mass of aluminum. Of course, like any material, a carbon-fiber laminate does have a resonant frequency—a relatively high one, which W-B says can be more easily controlled with careful damping. The resonant frequency of such a composite depends on the amount and orientation of the carbon-fiber cloth material and the resins used to hold it in place.

The original W-B turntable that I am using uses a sub-chassis of honeycombed Nomex to which a carbon-fiber skin is laminated—much like the body of a racing car. That, combined with other sophisticated innovations, brings its price up to about $3300 (not including arm). The original 'table has garnered extremely positive reviews worldwide. Domestically, it is available only in combination with the $2995 ACT 2 arm for $6295.

Now W-B enters the "mid-budget" arena with the Circle turntable—a totally new, quite unique and compact design that sells for $1995 fitted with a Rega RB300 arm, or $2995 with W-B's new ACT 0.5 arm (the combination reviewed here).

 

HK Snob