More Opinions: Sony 3-Head Cassette
Jeremy G. Mereness
Thanks for all the opinions of Adcom/Hafler/Rotel/Carver/Parasound
stuff. I have lots of reading to get through. The most interesting
response I got was about the use of "clips" in the manufacturing of
Adcom equipment... cheaper connections that give out in the long haul. I
heard nothing regarding the Carver amplifier, which offers more power
than the others in the price range...
I need information on the Sony TC-K690 and the Sony K679ES cassette
decks. The former is available through crutchfield at $299 while the
latter is in the "ES" line and is sold by retailers for $450.
But they look remarkably similar. They both sport dual capstans, 3 drive
motors, and adjustable bias with a tone generator. I am usually
suspicious of Sony products but Consumer Reports rates the TC-K690 as an
extraordinarily splendid machine. The K679ES looks almost exactly the
same (it even has a motorized cassette holder) but I have never seen the
TC-K690 in the flesh to compare it to.
If they are the same machines in different packages, than the TC-K690
from Crutchfield is a steal!
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|Jeremy Mereness | Support | Ye Olde Disclaimer: |
|zon...@cmu.edu (internet) | NeXTStep | This message represents|
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Robert S. Cohen
in msg 53290 "Jeremy G. Mereness" <zon...@CMU.EDU> writes
>|I need information on the Sony TC-K690 and the Sony K679ES
I was VERY briefly the owner of the TC-K690, before I returned
it to the vendor (crutchfield, I think) for a refund. I had
bought it to replace my aging Dual C830 3 head cassette which
due to its mechanical complexity needs new clutches and belts
every few years.
There was no comparison at all between the two machines. The
Sony was on par performance-wise with your average, run of the
mill 2 head, middle of the road cassette deck. Unless you need
the extra head for monitoring, I would have to advise you to
look elsewhere for a cassette deck in that price range.
As far as consumer reports liking the machine, let me tell you
a story. A few years ago I worked for a stereo store in which
we carried a price leader CD player that we couldn't sell.
The thing was cheesily constructed, and would skip if a mouse
walked by. Consumer reports rated it 'woderful blah blah'.
Needless to say, soon we were selling them sight unseen,
sound unheard to people who would call the store and reserve
one with their credit cards.
A regression, I still have the Dual C830, currently disem-
bowelled on my bench, and when it works, the 15 (or so) year\old machi
old machine sounds great. I did, however buy a Sony DAT
machine 59ES a couple months ago. It went to the shop in
less than 2 weeks for transport problems. It works ok now
and sounds great, but I'll be wary of Sony stuff in the
future.
--
Derk Allen Gates
: I need information on the Sony TC-K690 and the Sony K679ES cassette
: decks. The former is available through crutchfield at $299 while the
: latter is in the "ES" line and is sold by retailers for $450.
: But they look remarkably similar. They both sport dual capstans, 3 drive
: motors, and adjustable bias with a tone generator. I am usually
: suspicious of Sony products but Consumer Reports rates the TC-K690 as an
: extraordinarily splendid machine. The K679ES looks almost exactly the
: same (it even has a motorized cassette holder) but I have never seen the
: TC-K690 in the flesh to compare it to.
While i'm not familiar with these Sony models i just wanted to say that the
worst tape deck i've ever owned was a Sony. it constaintly needed the
azimuth adjusted and just was junk. tapes that sounded great on it were
junk on others and prerecorded and other desk's recordings were junk unless
it was recently after adjustment.
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Paul Iverson
ES model has better components and warrenty, but the performance and features
of the two units are pretty much the same. I bought the TC-K690.
I've only had it for a month, but I'm happy with its performance. Its
certainly a big improvement over my old Nakamichi 480. I could not find
a better deck for $250.
The best price from an authorized dealer I found was $253 from Illinois
Audio, (800) 621-8042.
Paul Iverson
Dept. of Speech and Hearing Sciences
University of Washington
pive...@u.washington.edu
My name is Brian Rost
>Jeremy G. Mereness (zon...@CMU.EDU) wrote:
>
>: I need information on the Sony TC-K690 and the Sony K679ES cassette
>: decks. The former is available through crutchfield at $299 while the
>: latter is in the "ES" line and is sold by retailers for $450.
>
>: But they look remarkably similar. They both sport dual capstans, 3 drive
>: motors, and adjustable bias with a tone generator. I am usually
>: suspicious of Sony products but Consumer Reports rates the TC-K690 as an
>: extraordinarily splendid machine. The K679ES looks almost exactly the
>: same (it even has a motorized cassette holder) but I have never seen the
>: TC-K690 in the flesh to compare it to.
>
Dunno about the 690 but the 679ES is discontinued and about to be replaced by a
new model with Dolby S at about $500 (I'm on a waiting list for one).
The ES model adds gold connectors, *supposedly* a beefed up transport, and the
extended warranty.
My experience with Sony over *many* products the last 20 years is that it's the
most reliable electronics brand I've used.
Brian Rost @tecrus.enet.dec.com
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Shiv Naimpally
and the their ES series. Many components look similar.
Consumer Reports has in the past liked the Aiwa FD800 (or was it FD500?)
3-header. This is also one of the 'critc's choice' award winners
from Sound & Vision mag in Canada.