Cassette recorders: an overview of types and selection rules

Increasingly, the past is intertwined with our present. And this applies not only to the memories of a person, but also to things from that past life. Now again, various types of retro technology are gaining popularity, including cassette tape recorders. In the USSR, they could be found in almost every home. Today they are purchased by collectors or lovers of nostalgia for the old days.

First you need to look a little into the history of the emergence of the cassette recorder. After all, not everyone knows that the very first of them appeared in the 30s of the last century. In addition, it happened in the homeland of the Third Reich. Such a device was released by C. Lorenz AG. Then such a tape recorder had a magnetic wire at its core. But such a device with a magnetic tape appeared only in the 50s. It was Loewe Optaphon.

In the Soviet Union, "cassette players" did not attach much importance. They managed with reel-to-reel or, as they were called by the people, reel-to-reel tape recorders. In 1964, Philips introduced a portable cassette device for playing back previously recorded cassettes. This was the reason to think about the release of their products. After all, "foreign" novelties began to disperse with a bang.

So, in 1969 at the Kharkov radio plant "Proton" a Soviet model of a cassette tape recorder was developed, the analogue of which was the "foreign device". "Firstborn" was named "Desna"... Over time, several other Soviet models, no less famous in their time, were released. However, "overseas" tape recorders were still actively sold.

The popularity of "cassette players" was able to hold out until the early 90swhen they were replaced by CD-recorders. This decline has occurred due to the improvement in sound quality. Old models fell out of favor and moved to their owners' storerooms or garages.

When they were in demand again, they were pulled out of their hiding places. Those who loved listening to music on cassettes kept them for themselves, and those who just wanted to make money on them put them up for sale. Since there were too few high-quality models in the Soviet Union, it was imported models that gained popularity, which were simply impossible to get in the 80s.

To understand what an ordinary audio recorder of this type is, you first need to get acquainted with its device, what components it consists of.

• Tape drive mechanism, or in abbreviated form LPM, on which the quality of the recording itself directly depends. With its help, the magnetic tape is pulled along the working parts of the head. In addition, LPM helps to perform fast rewinding, as well as a number of other operations. In this case, this mechanism must move the tape on the cassette at a strictly specified speed and feed it to the drive.
• Recording, erasing and reproducing magnetic head... Its main task is to interact with a magnetic carrier. As a result, it either writes, erases, or reproduces all information. Some cassette models have two heads, and some have all three. The sound quality also depends on their presence.
• Recording amplifierwhich is the source of the entry.
• Playback amplifier.
• Power Supply, due to which this device works.
• Control and management units, which should include the record level indicator. With it, you can control the detonation of sound when the tape recorder is running. So, if the sound vibrates too much during playback, then this can be adjusted during the recording process.
• Kinematic diagram, which is responsible for the presence of kinematic chains. If there are too many kinematics, then this can even cause a disruption in the movement of the belt.

Tape recorders can be roughly divided into several categories. First of all, such an electrical appliance can be single-cassette and double-cassette. The first option is used only for recording or playing sounds. Using it, recording can only be made from other sources that are nearby. But in the second case, it is possible to record a sound recording from one cassette to another, directly on one tape recorder.

In addition, these appliances can be categorized into modern surround sound models as well as older models. The first of them, in addition to the cassette compartment, can have a USB input, with which a person can listen to any information. Some new models of radio tape recorders have a built-in radio that allows you to receive any city radio stations. Still others, in addition to the cassette compartment, have a compartment for discs, which allows you to listen to music in different ways. By mobility, "cassette players" can be divided into types such as stationary and portable.

This version of the radio tape recorder differs from its "counterparts" by a rather large weight. In some cases weight can be up to 12 kilograms... In addition, they cannot work if there is no network nearby.

As for this type of tape recorder, it has a small weight, up to 3 kilograms, as well as small dimensions. A feature of such models is that they can work both from the mains and from special batteries. Therefore, such radio tape recorders were often taken on hikes or on ordinary outings and picnics.

Over the course of several decades, the production of a large number of tape recorders has been established. Some of them were made in the Soviet Union, others in other countries of the world. The most popular among them are Japanese and Chinese radio tape recorders. Some models are worth familiarizing yourself with in more detail.

If earlier the manufacturers of this brand specialized only in tape recorders, today they have significantly expanded their range and are even engaged in the production of electronic instruments. For this reason, this brand has become famous among popular musicians.

Akai DX-57 appeared in the early 90s. This model has a headphone jack as well as a current regulator.

These tape recorders at one time were considered the most reliable. It is worth noting that they have not lost their status to this day. Their release dates back to the 80s of the last century. Connoisseurs of cassette players choose Denon due to the fact that their device has 3 magnetic heads, manual adjustment, and a drive mechanism. Plus, with Dolby Sound Reduction, you can listen to your recordings without hiss.

According to the description, this miracle technique is more like a small refrigerator. The radio tape recorder weighs at least 12 kilograms. The sound is so "melodious" that after playing the songs it is very difficult to listen to them on other models.

This model weighs no more than 18 kilograms. In addition, there are three heads available. The frequency range is 19 thousand hertz, and the ratio of noise signals is 70 decibels. The release of radio tape recorders took place from 79 to 83 of the last century.

This radio tape recorder was manufactured from 81 to 87 of the last century. It has become iconic not only because of its beautiful design, but also because of its strong technical characteristics. Such a device is equipped with three magnetic heads, a Dolby noise reduction system, and a computer system. The frequency range is 22 thousand hertz.

These "cassette decks" are considered to be the best models. They were produced from 79 to 84 of the last century. The device weighs 19 kilograms, the frequency range is 25 thousand hertz, 2 magnetic heads are available. In addition, there is an automated computerized calibration, which immediately raises its status.

This is a high-quality domestic model that could compete with such a well-known brand as Nakamichi. It first appeared on store shelves in the 70s of the last century. It was equipped with Dolby sound reduction system, which ensured the quality of sound recording. At that time it was almost impossible to get this model, but everything depended on luck.

The Japanese radio model was assembled in the 80s of the last century. The tape recorder has 2 heads made of amorphous metals. Thanks to this, the sound quality is at a high level. In some cases, the purchased model requires that the drive belt be replaced.

Lovers of cassette recorders are trying to get a wide variety of rarities in their collection. With any purchase of a radio tape recorder "from the past", you should pay attention to some of the nuances.

First of all, you need to know that this kind of technique is a rather complex mechanical device. That's why the more years it will serve a person, the greater the likelihood of breakage of various spare parts... However, wear and tear also directly depends on how the device was looked after.

That's why Before buying any cassette recorder, you need to test it... After all, devices of the last century are famous for the fact that in case of malfunctions, even in some trifles, you can simply say goodbye to the product. Therefore, you should not buy such equipment, hoping for the opportunity to repair it.

It is also necessary to familiarize yourself with the diagram of the purchased model. A high-quality radio tape recorder should have two or three drive motors, two or three heads. And also it is worth paying attention to single-cassette devices. After all, the two-cassette model has much more details. This means that there is a possibility that there will be much more problems. Besides, today, probably, no one would even think of rewriting music from cassette to cassette.

Having decided to purchase only one radio tape recorder, it is best to opt for foreign models, the quality of which has been tested over the years. Among the Soviet radio tape recorders, it is worth taking a closer look at such models as "Mayak-233" or "Electronics MP-204"that were popular in the old days. It is much more likely that they will be of high quality and will last for a long time.

Summing up, we can say that cassette tape recorders, even today, are of great interest to themselves. Someone buys them for collection, someone in order to really just enjoy the original sound of music.

For an overview of cassette recorders, see the following video.