Cassette Deck

audioslave

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Sep 13, 2011
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What cassette deck is available to complete the DIY audio setup for my house?
More importantly where can a mint condition cassette deck be available?
 
Very difficult to buy from olx. Most of them try to sell their junk to you, calling it gold. I was looking for any dealer of vintage equipments. Who refurbish the product and sell. Bangalore is bad in that.
ebay during CoVId can be difficult, but will try.
 
Shipping from US is expensive and then there is the 120volts issue (although most Japanese decks have dual voltage options). In comparison, ebay.de is better and safe as well as sellers have to comply with stricter EU guidelines. European models are all 230volts compatible. Overall, shipping and customs has now become a headache due to various taxes.

Olx is not as bad as its reputation which is created by either resellers or folk who want to make a quick buck (usually digging out some old set lying in the loft and suddenly realizing that they can sell it for money, after making online references). Being able to buy good stuff from Olx depends on the approach taken by the buyer. Firstly always be patient - keep looking and speaking with multiple sellers (not possible if you are looing for specific models) most importantly, strike up a good relationship with the seller. Also its better to buy locally after physical and performance inspection (or have someone do it for you, if you are outstation). Cosmetics have a story to tell, so don't overlook this aspect.

Lastly you mentioned DIY setup, why not take the DIY approach. If you can find a good mechanism, one can really build a very high quality cassette player or recorder around it.
 
Finding cassette decks on OLX is really difficult because the good ones are sold immediately especially in Bangalore where buyers outnumber sellers in huge margins.

I've decided to give up on OLX

The eBay.de suggestion from Reuben seems to be the best option. It saves time and gives peace of mind. However shipping and customs duty is going to make this a very expensive option. I've purchased walkmans from eBay USA and UK and the transactions have been stress free (though expensive). Once I replace belts in some of my walkmans, I'll try to sell them and see if I can buy a deck from eBay.

Another option is to buy a brand new deck from India. The new decks may not have the features of the 80's decks but at least they are new & reliable. We can get them on sites like Amazon & Bajaao. Amazon also has walkman type USB cassette players which are available at very low prices.
 
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Very difficult to buy from olx. Most of them try to sell their junk to you, calling it gold. I was looking for any dealer of vintage equipments. Who refurbish the product and sell. Bangalore is bad in that.
ebay during CoVId can be difficult, but will try.
Hi some one is selling an brand new tascam tape deck with mixer . Will let u know if I get any info . It’s in brand new condition working and bought from Australia 230v.
 
What cassette deck is available to complete the DIY audio setup for my house?
More importantly where can a mint condition cassette deck be available?
Hi, what is your budget??, r you interested in vintage tape deck, or latest ones,
 
Haven’t put a thought on budget merely because it was difficult to get stuff to out a price to it. I looked many times and once got fooled too. So if there is any I would want to look I to it and decide.
 
Finding cassette decks on OLX is really difficult because the good ones are sold immediately especially in Bangalore where buyers outnumber sellers in huge margins.

I've decided to give up on OLX

The eBay.de suggestion from Reuben seems to be the best option. It saves time and gives peace of mind. However shipping and customs duty is going to make this a very expensive option. I've purchased walkmans from eBay USA and UK and the transactions have been stress free (though expensive). Once I replace belts in some of my walkmans, I'll try to sell them and see if I can buy a deck from eBay.

Another option is to buy a brand new deck from India. The new decks may not have the features of the 80's decks but at least they are new & reliable. We can get them on sites like Amazon & Bajaao. Amazon also has walkman type USB cassette players which are available at very low prices.
I agree with you Nikhil. I have personally knocked many doors after getting their contacts on olx. These chaps unfortunately wanted to get rid of their machine and hence trying to get some bucks around it. Many of these devices had no resemblance of being a decently handled product, leave aside being in mint condition.
 
I agree with you Nikhil. I have personally knocked many doors after getting their contacts on olx. These chaps unfortunately wanted to get rid of their machine and hence trying to get some bucks around it. Many of these devices had no resemblance of being a decently handled product, leave aside being in mint condition.
Yeah it’s true
 
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Actually if you are really keen on a particular deck, it is better to pay a little more and import it from places like Germany. German sellers are usually precise with their descriptions, very professional, use great packaging and not adverse to sending gear to India. If you have folk visiting the UK or Japan, there are many pre-used gear stores that stock stuff in pristine condition, at moderate prices. On the other hand, if you are on a tight budget (say, below INR 10K), then you will have to be patient and look around. Before buying in the used market in India, one would need to train oneself on what specifically to look out for. Some really good decks have come up on olx and alternately, some really good ones with minor problems have also come up. If you are technically competent to repair or perform maintenance, it puts you significantly ahead in the pre-used space as decks from the 1970s and early 1980s are far superior than the modern ones. If not, you can still get more modern stuff in good condition, especially if you purchase directly from owners.
 
Did you try to import any? I am sure the custom duties would be very high on these items. The follow up maintenance is also a thought.
 
Yes, and over that there is GST. So if you are importing, you'll have the best but the flip side is if you have to sell to upgrade or exit, then you'll have to sell at a significant loss :). The way I've seen it is, only import if you want the best possible or you want a particular model that you aspire for and plan to use it for a long time. Maintenance is always an issue with electronics. Once warranty expires, then one is basically at the mercy of others. One aspect which is often not spoken about is, to service and maintain vintage equipment, component level diagnosis and repair skills is a must. Modern techs are basically PCB replacement specialists - they basically just open up stuff, unplug PCB connectors and replace PCBs. That is why most service centres use the excuse - this is an old model and spares are not available, hence we are not accepting this model :)
 
Actually if you are really keen on a particular deck, it is better to pay a little more and import it from places like Germany. German sellers are usually precise with their descriptions, very professional, use great packaging and not adverse to sending gear to India. If you have folk visiting the UK or Japan, there are many pre-used gear stores that stock stuff in pristine condition, at moderate prices. On the other hand, if you are on a tight budget (say, below INR 10K), then you will have to be patient and look around. Before buying in the used market in India, one would need to train oneself on what specifically to look out for. Some really good decks have come up on olx and alternately, some really good ones with minor problems have also come up. If you are technically competent to repair or perform maintenance, it puts you significantly ahead in the pre-used space as decks from the 1970s and early 1980s are far superior than the modern ones. If not, you can still get more modern stuff in good condition, especially if you purchase directly from owners.
@ Reubensm Could you point me towards some Online German Websites that do let us buy Tape decks from other users ?
Thanks
 
ebay.de is the best. i have bought a lot of gear from there. I have noticed that the description of items is accurate and per EU laws for online sales transactions. Sellers are very professional and ready to answer questions. At times I have faced difficulty with language but google translate has come to rescue on each occasion (just add a caveat with the communication that you have used google translate). The only thing is DHL is usually their preferred courier service which may be a tad expensive but service is very good. Most importantly, the equipment is usually in very good condition and fully functional. If there is even a slight element of doubt the sellers usually list as defective. Transact with sellers using paypal only (its safe).
 
Dear All,

Try FromJapan concierge service. Cheapest decks available at nominal price. And they store for you as well.

Check my thread here titled…

“why vintage win all times”

I have around 52 top line cassette decks and most of them are from Evil Bay and FromJapan.
 
A beautiful, well-constructed speaker with class-leading soundstage, imaging and bass that is fast, deep, and precise.
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