Best boomboxes for tape recording?

[FWSnake]

I've heard that boomboxes aren't typically preferred for making mixtapes, but surely there's gotta be a few models that do this feature justice. I don't really fancy hunting out for one of those high quality home cassette deck systems, unless I really have to in order to fulfill my tape recording needs.

 

[jimmyjimmy19702010]

Most of the early 1975-1983 higher end models from the 'brand name' manufacturers will record well. Many of the 'off brand' cheapies with their cost cutting decks wouldn't be my first choice for quality recordings. For playback purposes, these cheap decks are ok but recording is the real test of a tape deck and it's supporting circuitry, switches, pots and sliders.

Now if you stick with the big name brands, the condition of the individual decks will have more of an influence on the quality of recordings. A well maintained deck in a well looked after GF-9090 will smoke the recording abilities of a poorly maintained M90.

It's getting increasingly difficult to find boomers that have decks that play and record well even after a 'service'. Decks that 'record' but with unbalanced channels with unbalanced tone etc are common issues for these 40 year old decks - issues that are often impossible to rectify.

Decks are complicated mechanical devices - literally every component needs to be operating perfectly to allow the deck to play and record as well as the manufacturers intended.

 

[floyd]

I think the m90 has one of the best recording and playback decks I've ever owned , the deck is also a complicated clunky finicky motherfucker but that sound is crystal clear.

The PC 55 deck is the **** ,if it works lol

 

[ford93]

The JVC M-70 has a deck that has been considered by some of my close friends that are into Hi-Fi high end equipment to be one of the best deck for recording.

These guys are into Nakamichi decks so they know quality.

If the M-90 was to have the deck as the M-70...............oh man!

 

[FWSnake]

Most of the early 1975-1983 higher end models from the 'brand name' manufacturers will record well. Many of the 'off brand' cheapies with their cost cutting decks wouldn't be my first choice for quality recordings. For playback purposes, these cheap decks are ok but recording is the real test of a tape deck and it's supporting circuitry, switches, pots and sliders.
Now if you stick with the big name brands, the condition of the individual decks will have more of an influence on the quality of recordings. A well maintained deck in a well looked after GF-9090 will smoke the recording abilities of a poorly maintained M90.
It's getting increasingly difficult to find boomers that have decks that play and record well even after a 'service'. Decks that 'record' but with unbalanced channels with unbalanced tone etc are common issues for these 40 year old decks - issues that are often impossible to rectify.
Decks are complicated mechanical devices - literally every component needs to be operating perfectly to allow the deck to play and record as well as the manufacturers intended.

It's a shame that boomboxes with adequate decks are becoming rarer and rarer. Especially since some problems are no longer fixable. Really shows that these don't last forever. But in terms of recording, it's early 80s and late 70s models, gotcha.

I think the m90 has one of the best recording and playback decks I've ever owned , the deck is also a complicated clunky finicky motherfarker but that sound is crystal clear.
The PC 55 deck is the shiat ,if it works lol

if I can ever afford an M90...

The JVC M-70 has a deck that has been considered by some of my close friends that are into Hi-Fi high end equipment to be one of the best deck for recording.

These guys are into Nakamichi decks so they know quality.

If the M-90 was to have the deck as the M-70...............oh man!

So you'd say the M70 has a superior deck? Always thought otherwise

 

[ford93]

I have recorded on my M-70 and the recording was on point. IMHO

The tape head on this box is considered as a tape head found on quality tape decks.

 

[Transistorized]

This might be a head scratcher but I really loved the recording ability of my General Electric GE 3-5267A. I believe the deck may have been made by Hitachi but it had separate left and right level controls and showed you on the meters if you were clipping. Made beautiful recordings. As mentioned before, my M90 records well. In a nutshell, your recording quality goes up when you are able to manually select record level and have meters to show you where you are at.

Just my opinion. So opt for manual left and right level and output metering to show levels and you can make great recordings

 

[skippy1969]

The best recording boomer I ever had, was my JVC PC55.
A close second was my Sansui CP7.
They were hard to beat IMHO.