My Onkyo TA-R410 Cassette Deck

Here is a video of my Onkyo TA-R1410 cassette deck. I bought this machine new in 1995 and it is still running after years of heavy use. The heads are badly worn, though, and it does not do well with some tapes. Still, it has been a real workhorse tape deck. :) JC

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Hi-fi
• Audio
• Recording
• Vintage
• Stereo

[HamtaroEL]

@BadEditPro: Does this tape deck have the auto-reverse (flip version) or the 4 track (walkman) one ?

[BadEditPro]

@HamtaroEL Yes. :) JC

[BadEditPro]

@BadEditPro This deck has a flippy head. I sealed the alignment screws with nail polish and it stayed perfectly aligned for more than 10 years. :) JC

[mopar3000m]

I found one of these in a pawn shop and got it for a steal (was missing the balance knob). The head and pinch rollers look new but someone had played with the azimuth. I'm going to send the deck out for alignment and I hope I can get some years of use out of it.

[BadEditPro]

These decks have a problem holding alignment. That's most likely why yours is out of whack. Make sure that the technician seals the screws with Loctite or good ol' nail polish and they will not budge. I re-aligned my machine years ago and it has been perfect ever since. :) JC

[AnalogueJosh]

I had a memorex auto reverse deck that has a notch in the head, shame the thing is dead now though :( I thought it was supposed to have a notch on it!

[BadEditPro]

It depends on the head itself. I've used some decks with really worn heads and the quality was unaffected. This machine sounds very good on most tapes but if you play one that it does not like, you lose all the high end in one or both channels.  The same tape sounds fine on another machine so it's definitely the head causing the problem. :) JC

[HamtaroEL]

@BadEditPro: Hi, I know that there is auto-reverse but I am wondering what type of auto-reverse ? The head that flips or the one that doesn't.

[cedarpaw23]

haha that thing is as old as me! pretty awesome machine! i have a sony just like it except mine has double tapes in it. I will upload a video of it soon. It is pretty old but runs like new! PS LOVE Supertramp!

[BadEditPro]

Yes, most tape decks will let you get to the alignment screws if you slide the door cover off. This machine had a problem with getting out of alignment and I had to tweak it a couple of times before I got wise and sealed the screws with some nail polish. It has held for a long time since then. The repeat function on this machine will allow you to repeat sections of the tape but I never figured out how to use it and the manual is long gone now...