Tape Guide (Q and A) (Aug. 1974)

Cassette or Cartridge?

Q. It seems to me from what I have read that either a cassette or cartridge machine would answer my hi-fi needs.

Would you be so kind as to tell me the advantage of each system. Since I'm a beginner, please do not get me involved with graphs and figures as I'm not an engineer: I find in reading such information that I'm twice as mixed up as before.

-Alfred C. Leichman, New York, N.Y.

A. It appears that cassette is a bit ahead of cartridge in terms of quality. However, cassette is a 4-track system, while cartridge is generally 8-track. Thus cartridge has the advantage of more recording and playing time per reel. On the other hand, this additional time involves a sacrifice in quality. For hi-fi, my present vote is for cassette, particularly in view of new developments that are bringing cassette performance closer to the performance of open-reel machines.

Low-frequency Thumps

Q. I have encountered a problem with my Concord Mark III tape deck. During soft passages or during spots where no signal is on the tape, I can hear low frequency thumps through my speakers. The thumps come at irregular intervals and usually come in clusters.

The thumps can only be heard through the tape deck, and cease when the deck is turned off. So the amplifier is not defective. The thumps also happen on tapes recorded on another deck. Your help would be appreciated.

-Robert L. Martindale, Chevy Chase, Md.

A. Your letter suggests that the problem of thumps originates in the playback electronics of your tape machine, most likely in the first or second amplification stage. It may be due to a defective transistor or other component.

It may be in the nature of low-frequency oscillation, which is greatly amplified by the large amount of bass boost supplied by the playback electronics. Or the thumps may be low-frequency noise on the tape, which is due to oxide irregularities and "developed" into noise during recording. Shifting to another brand or quality of tape might then be of help. If the tape is not the problem, I suggest that you have your machine checked by a technician.

Citizens Band

Q. I have a neighbor who has gone completely off his rocker regarding the citizen band. He is on the air at all times of day and night, and when he is away his wife takes over. They have quite a bevy of kin folk also interested, and when there is a gathering of the clan, the street is full of many men and women walking about with walkie-talkie units. They use the units for more than a hobby and substitute the CB units for telephones which have been disconnected. This is in violation of FCC regulations. FCC knows about the problem. I pick up the unwanted conversations at the most inopportune times, especially during a pianissimo passage of a classical piece. I use only shielded cable throughout my system, and ground all units. Do you know of any other method of shunting out the interference?

-Name withheld

A. Are you getting the CB signal in recording or in playback? In either case, try a small capacitance of a few pF between the first electronic stage and ground. The capacitance should be between the input (usually the base of a transistor) and ground.

Head Wear

Q. I own a TEAC 4000 and have used it for three years without any major problems to speak of The one item that does concern me is head wear. All four of the heads show distinct wear, but the audio is just as fine as ever. How can I tell when head wear is too much?

-Ronald A. Bohl, Clinton, Iowa

A. When treble suffers, excessive head wear is indicated, particularly wear of the playback head. A well-made head is constructed with deep gaps, so that a good deal of physical wear can occur before performance suffers.

(Audio magazine, Aug. 1974; Herman Burstein)

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