Alex Min Posted December 31, 2023 Posted December 31, 2023 Tackled another repair today. Got it working! The 2 pre-recorded tapes that came with it were damaged. So I recorded a blank, that I also have (a few of) Big sound! Who still uses one? 1
LogicprObe Posted December 31, 2023 Posted December 31, 2023 Can't recall ever seeing one before..................... 1
woadl Posted December 31, 2023 Posted December 31, 2023 I had the Sony EL-7 which I restored and enjoyed for a while before selling it. Great sound and matched a reel to reel in performance. the gentleman that has it now will soon be selling it with a bunch of tapes. 1
Darryl Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 I happened across an article that mentions Elcaset. Here's a couple of pics that show the size of the tapes compared to normal compact cassette. 1
DSharp Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 Very cool machine. I didn't know Technics made one, the Sony EL-7 was the only machine that I've seen (online). A HiFi industry veteran was telling me about the format a couple of years ago, I didn't know what he was talking about until I looked it up. Discogs only lists 21 releases on Elcaset. A format that died before it got going. https://www.discogs.com/search/?sort=have%2Cdesc&ev=em_rs&format_exact=Elcaset 1
DSharp Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 Some nice pics of the Sony EL-7 on TVK http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-EL-7.html 1
ENIGMA Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 (edited) On 31/12/2023 at 6:53 PM, Alex Min said: Tackled another repair today. Got it working! The 2 pre-recorded tapes that came with it were damaged. So I recorded a blank, that I also have (a few of) Big sound! Who still uses one? I have the Sony one! Model EL7. They're fantastic - only until now i only knew of two pre recorded tapes ever existed, a demo and some guy that brought out an album on every format possible including Elcaset. I'll explore the discogs listings. These machines are mini RtR machines - larger tape head size than a compact cassette and run at a faster tape speed. Compared to RtR, the RtR has larger heads and better faster tape speeds - far more dynamic! I've recorded some music on mine and found the sound to be excellent - no less quality than a CD and at times it takes any harsh edge off some albums. Edited January 2, 2024 by ENIGMA 1
DSharp Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 Jeremy Heiden released an album on Elcaset a few years back. Just a publicity stunt I think. https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/jeremy-heiden-blue-wicked-releasing-his-music-on-every-audio-format/ I've also been mucking around recording early mastered CDs onto R2R with surprisingly good results. Ultimately I'm just adding distortion to the original signal but it is very pleasing to the ear, it seems to fatten up the sound. A fun experiment anyway. 1
georgehifi Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 (edited) Quote Elcaset. In between Reel to Reel and Cassette Tape Elcaset Yes, and just above 8 track also. Cheers George Edited January 2, 2024 by georgehifi 1
DSharp Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 7 minutes ago, georgehifi said: Yes, and just above 8 track also. Cheers George Yep 1/4" at 3+3⁄4" per second isn't great but it would have been a big step up from 8 track. Compact Cassette was evidently good enough for the masses. 1
DSharp Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 A case of commenting before reading for me. 8 track is also 1/4" at 3+3⁄4" per second, just more tracks squeezed on. I recall 8 track car decks coming in for repair at my fathers business, they must have sold a few. They all sounded horrible at the time, even after being serviced. 1
georgehifi Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 (edited) 52 minutes ago, DSharp said: They all sounded horrible at the time, even after being serviced. Better than cassette though, double the width tape twice as long as cassette, double the tape speed 3-3/4" per sec for 8 track vs 1.8" per sec for cassette. Cheers George Edited January 2, 2024 by georgehifi
ENIGMA Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 I've got an 8 track too!. I find it great as well, it records which means I can put whatever music I like and not be stuck with old tapes. It also is 1/4" tape which means you can use new formulated blank RtR tape to replace old aged tape. I was surprised with how nice sounding it is. 1
georgehifi Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 8 Track vs Cassette http://tinyurl.com/yty4qc63 "However, when comparing 8-track vs. cassette tapes, the sound quality is vastly better on the 8-track. The smaller tape size and slower playback speed compared to an 8-track also gave it less fidelity overall." Cheers George 1
Alex Min Posted January 2, 2024 Author Posted January 2, 2024 1 hour ago, DSharp said: A case of commenting before reading for me. 8 track is also 1/4" at 3+3⁄4" per second, just more tracks squeezed on. I recall 8 track car decks coming in for repair at my fathers business, they must have sold a few. They all sounded horrible at the time, even after being serviced. We mustn't forget the quality of the unit any format is being played on. Eg. Nakamichi Tape Decks
ENIGMA Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 2 hours ago, Alex Min said: We mustn't forget the quality of the unit any format is being played on. Eg. Nakamichi Tape Decks Yes, that is an underlying issue with all tape machines. Nakamichi is superb in the tape loop and flywheel capstan application which again is like the elcaset and RtR vairiants like Teac. Nakamichi's reputation is up there and proof of how good compact cassette evolved. For me though, it was physically limited by head width and tape speed but they got the benefit of evolved tape formulations which was something RtR missed out on - if only they continued with the RtR models they had in the 50's. They didn't need to though commercially - they became the name to beat in compact cassette market and captured the format. Sony's Elcaset would have been the serious rival but just like Beta v VHS the compact cassette market had already won. The Elcaset is really well engineered and i found it easy to service as its mechanisms are engineered just like a RtR machine. 2
woadl Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 Some pictures from when I restored one a few years back 1 1
DSharp Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 13 hours ago, ENIGMA said: I've got an 8 track too!. I find it great as well, it records which means I can put whatever music I like and not be stuck with old tapes. It also is 1/4" tape which means you can use new formulated blank RtR tape to replace old aged tape. I was surprised with how nice sounding it is. My comment on 8 track wasn't really thought through. The only 8 track players I have heard were in cars or on the test bench through a pair of single cone test speakers in the 1970s. Media would have been prerecorded, most likely played many times and stored in a hot cars in the Aussie sun. Not really a fair comparison to compact cassette or R2R that I heard in that era in better environments. 1
DSharp Posted January 2, 2024 Posted January 2, 2024 Some Elcaset NOS media and players are still going through Yahoo auction from time to time. Past auction results below, divide the price by 100 for ball park Aussie dollar price. 1
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