*UPDATE:* I have confirmed that the improvements also apply to Pyle PT-649D decks manufactured since 2021. And the hum in the audio is due to the power switch wiring being routed too close to the tape head. It's an easy fix to move it farther away to eliminate the hum: www.tapeheads.net/threads/vwestlifes-yt-video-review-marantz-pmd-300cp-dedicated-thread-for-suggested-improvements-to-deck.97839/post-775625384

While this cassette deck isn’t perfect by any means, it’s still a big step in the right direction for those who are in the market for a decent cassette deck for their home stereo system, or are simply looking for a decent device to digitize their old tapes into mp3 audio files. Outstanding job as always!!!

I always appreciate when you use good music for demonstrations. I’ve found several great new-to-me bands from these videos.

Your attention to detail is inimitable!! Plus, I cannot imagine a better way to tuck myself in than the combination of VWestlife + Cassette Deck review! Keep up the good work and thanks for the knowledge that your passion brings out.

Bravo for keeping the cassette light burning ! Please keep it up, appreciate all the cassette based videos tremendously

The main reason I do only vintage is because they have real dolby. It means I have to occasionally replace belts and gears to make them work, but it's worth it. This is also why I consider the new Teac decks to be non-starters.

I have owned cassette decks since the 70's and made hundreds and hundreds of tapes. I have owned Nakamichi, Teac, Sony, Kenwood, Yamaha and many others. I recently picked up a used (Technics RS-B605 for $125) on E-Bay. I must admit this makes the best sounding tapes of any I have ever owned. Comes equipped with Dolby B and C AND DBX, even HX Pro. If you can find one at a reasonable price.....grab it! Type: 2-head, single compact cassette deck Track System: 4-track, 2-channel stereo Tape Speed: 4.8 cm/s Heads: 1 x record/playback, 1 x erase Motor: electronic control DC Tape Type: type I, CrO2, Metal Noise Reduction: B, C, DBX Headroom Extension: HX Pro Frequency Response: 20Hz to 19kHz (Metal tape) Signal to Noise Ratio: 92dB (DBX) Wow and Flutter: 0.06%

I still am glad I have the Teac W1200 deck, for more money. Thanks for this review and your efforts to influence the manufacturers to improve, for those of us who still enjoy cassettes. I remember the Dolby license expired and most decks just have DNR for noise reduction.

Was having a stressful day and see vwestlife published a 30 minute review on cassette deck and the calmness of it just helped my anxiety, just wanna say thanks and keep up the good work.

Here it is! I thought that said Fostex. I'm happy that they fixed it up, but I would like to see a few changes. Fix up the noise a bit, make the vu stereo, and noise reduction. Mainly I think copying a transitor based dolby b circuit, like something from a teac an-80, and labeling it dolby compatible.

Love your retro transition clips and overall early 2000's vibes. It takes me back to a simpler time.

Interesting factoid: The parent company of Marantz Professional is inMusic Brands. They are headquartered in the town I live in and I have a friend that works there. They also own M-Audio, Alesis and even Ion who made one of the earlier decks, as well as some "Professional" off-shoots of other primary brands. So in this case, they own the branding for Marantz Professional but not Marantz itself. Likewise, they own the branding for Denon Professional and Denon DJ, which are completely separate from the main Denon we know for AV receivers.

While not perfect, this is certainly a step in the right direction. As always, excellent work!

This guy keeps his excitement cool while narrating videos. However, you can bet your sweet cassette deck he jumps for joy off-camera when a company actually listens to him.

Pleasant! The word just kept popping into my mind while watching this. You're steadily progressing beyond presentation, beyond "content" into art territory. Your videos make me feel good, is what I'm trying to say!

Happy to see someone still cares about these decks. I thought when the german Renkforce branded model sold out some time last year that would be it. Maybe they do come back with a slightly improved model, too. (Mine is still working fine, let's see about that once the warranty runs out.) P.S.: Now that I think about it I believe mine doesn't have the USB 🤔

There's two main issues with this deck; Marantz & Professional. Great review.

I bought a new Sony TC-WE475 in 2010, because although my vintage Teac still worked fine, I feared it would soon be impossible to buy a decent deck. I was hesitant because I always considered dual decks inferior, but it was the only "ok" thing on the market at that time. After watching your recent videos, am I ever glad I did, the modest Sony is a Nakamichi Dragon next to this Marantz!

Kind of a shame the Marantz name is being dragged to this level.

It's nice to see that there is some effort to improve the quality of these things to 25-30 year old quality levels! I purchased a JVC dual cassette deck in the late 90's and still have it. At that time I was often playing tapes recorded by friends and I found that a pitch control was invaluable because not everybody's equipment was running at the correct speed. I haven't played a tape recorded by someone else in years!

Thank you Shango for the wonderful color schemes!

Great review... the cameo appearance from Shango066 was a fun addition!

I’m glad you contacted the manufacturer to produce a better tape deck. Also it’s not the real Marantz company, since Marantz professional is a spin-off company owned by Denon Holdings, the company also bought the Pioneer and Onkyo from bankruptcy! It’s so messy that lots of these audio manufactures have been through different ownerships!

Love the image of the "discerning audiophile" who looks like he's on a circa 1960 album cover--also looks like he's just heard some disturbing tape hiss on the headphones while enjoying that Benson & Hedges and cognac on the rocks.

Cassette deck or cassette WRECK? Stay tuned to find out. :)

I remember now I had this deck several years ago as a Pyle version for about that price and found some of the problems that you did. It also jammed too. I returned it and then, as I said paid more for the Teac W1200, which is pretty good for me.

I didn’t know that cassettes were making a comeback until recently. That foot sliding issue was never a problem with me. All of my cassette decks (except my very 1st one) had electronic controls. Those wow and flutter measurements are quite better than some of the mainstream cassettes decks of the 1970s. That mp3 conversion scheme sounds very attractive.

It's not quite there but for a new tape deck this is pretty good! Hopefully they keep making improvements like this.

Well, nice to see that they are at least attempting to respond to feedback and improve the product somewhat. I still think the TEAC W-1200 is a better option, if you can find one for a decent price in stock somewhere. It, too, is far from the old standards, but that's the reality of cassette decks these days, and the TEAC is at least a full-logic deck with actual DNR, records on both decks, and has a headphone out. Good review of the Marantz upgrade, though.

I enjoyed the Shango066 cameo.

Bravo!!! I watched the entire video nonstop. Very detailed and informative. Even if I were not going to mount the unit in a rack, I would still attach the rack mounts for a nice pro look! 😉

Glad to see the improvements no matter how small in mass consumer decks again. 👍

I could never afford a high-end tape deck back in the late 1970s and 1980s when I was a teenager but I knew many people who used to own Revox, Nakamichi, Teac, Denon, Sony, and other Three Head Cassette Decks. Today young people don't have a clue how solid and quality those machines were built. It's a real shame that somebody was allowed to use a legendary name like Marantz be used for this Chinese-made toy, no better made than an average ghetto blaster. It was a different time and different culture back then. We used to visit each other, bring our own LP records or tapes, hang around and enjoyed listening to music together. It was like a religious experience but this is really sad and depressing.

Good review - consistent with my experience to date. Having finished digitizing my old vinyl, I decided to move on to my cassettes. I had an ICC IC-4200C and a Technics M14 around so I thought I was good to go. Turns out on one the belts had all "melted" and the other had an electronics problem on 1 channel. I saw the PMD-300CP advertised at a decent price (~CA$199) but none were available. A local supplier had a wait list but figured it would be 6 months to a year. They turned back up on Amazon a few weeks back so I ordered right away. For the price I did not expect something of the calibre of their old SuperScope devices but at least something functional. I have been capturing with Audacity via the USB interface with little problem. So far I have only had one tape that won't play even after several FF/Rew passed but it won't play on anything else either. For my project it does the job. Besides at 71 my hearing is LoFi so I am content with some clean sound. I have enjoyed recovering some music I have not heard in years.

That does scream 90s! The level meter looks so familiar. Great video!

That's really awesome and some manufacturer actually started to listen to what the people want everybody else can follow in that would be a really nice thing wouldn't it. Extremely thorough review I must say

Thank you for this review. It's nice to see cassette decks are still produced. Perhaps sometime in the (near) future they 'll start producing cassettes as well

Excellent & thorough review as always. While it's nice to see a new deck being made, it's not a patch on even the lowest end deck Marantz made in the 90s. I think calling it "professional" is a bit of a stretch.

It's always a good day when there's a new VWestlife video out!

I rate your reviews very highly, no nonsense BS just clear and precise information one of the best on YT. Great channel.

I appreciate your video for the information and intended purpose. I see that things have changed in good ways for some things. And not for others. My interest is towards reel-to-reel tape devices. It would be so nice to see them come back into existence again. With modern qualities add.

Doing God's work in the Philips Compact Cassette post-2K20-era department here. Great stuff there (:

Well, I'm somewhat impressed actually. Indeed, it is nice to see manufacturers listening to the wants of customers. Oh, and nice cameo from Shango! Thanks for the great content!

Fantastic review, I would definitely consider getting one of these having watched this video. I think tape-heads need to stop being so highly critical, if you can afford it, buy one of the new decks, even if you intend to sell it and upgrade to the next gen in a years time. I like that this review doesn't focus on audiophile silliness, just the functionality and overall quality at a consumer level. Selling more decks will keep them in production, and maybe one day we'll have glory-day level decks for sale again, like the turntable market has after the [falsely declared] death of vinyl.

AC hum is kind of unacceptable for any modern device though...

A very thorough and superb review of this cassette deck. Also the presentation and production vales of the presentation are superb.

23:51 . . . Bet they would never imagine this will now be archived forever for the world to hear!!

I cannot for the life of me find Les Gillis & Mountain Fire - Never Met a Lady (That I Didn't Like) anywhere. No listings, albums, recordings, nothing. From what I can hear in the video the song sounds really good! Thanks for the heart!

I use my Pioneer CT-F900 from 1978 with the line out connected into the PC's line in and record using Audacity. Works great for me!

6:24 This is why I used to buy cases like these at thrift shops and Charity shops. You get really good quality used tapes at a fraction of what they cost brand new. Granted I never found one full of Metal tapes like that case there (must be worth a few hundred even in used condition) but they usually had high end Ferric or Chrome tapes in them. Always look out for recordings of classical music. usually most people that listened to classical music in the 80's and 90's had great systems and mostly got decent tapes (although I would then record over them with drum and bass and rave)

Excellent review 👍. Glad I still have my Technics machines,thanks for giving Michael Yates a shoutout 👌🇬🇧

Thanks for bringing back the transition jingle. I missed it!

Marantz are supposed to be top gear. A neighbour threw a Marantz CD63 CD player out. It needed a new laser transport mechanism basically the mechanism that guides the laser. £6 from China working great. I'm a ham radio operator so I know electronics, but this was mechanical. I chose the rest of the separates to make a system of different makes, but all black & 19 inch.

I always love these reviews, thank you! Keeping the dream alive!

Nice video Kevin. Looks like the audio spec limitations is due to the transport mechanism and heads used. Specs from Marantz official website: Track System 4-track, 2-channel, stereo dual cassette deck Audio Specification Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 58 dB Wow and Flutter:

I really enjoy these videos, but I especially appreciate the news section at the end. That is really useful and interesting.

The word "professional" is so misused as to be nearly pointless. Whatever. Thanks for a very close and fair look at the Marantz unit. Your videos are so well done, they leave very little to desire.

Another oddly entertaining video. These examinations of devolving incarnations of legacy hardware are like probationary reviews of zombie employees

If they could only work out the quirks like the VU meters, noise reduction (make a standard close to Dolby B that all new decks could use) and delayed start, they could have a really viable tape deck that would be worth having. The older tape decks from the 90's and earlier are so much better and ideal for just playback and record (if that is your main intent) but they are over 20+ years old now. Unless you can find a reputable seller who knows how to properly store, refurbish and/or service them (keep in mind there are some replacement parts that are no longer made, available or obtainable unless with an another known good tape deck) you may have issues in a short period of time. It might take a chunk out of your wallet at first but if you do get an older one (like from the 90s and earlier) make sure it has been serviced and has a guarantee with it. I have bought a few decks that the person selling it wanted it to be the last sale they made and their reputation shot all to hell. Don't get burnt folks. Do your homework. Tape On!

I originally found Slugbug from your channel, and Paul is now in my top 5 musicians of all time, thank you so much

2:35 or....they cleverly made the push buttons at 45 degree angle so the finger pushes down instead of forward, so less sliding.Any 80s cassette deck/amp would have such a weight (because of internal heavy components, transformer, metal flywheels, etc) that they didn't need rubber feet to avoid sliding.

I bought this model from the US Amazon (I live in the UK and had to buy a step-up-step-down brick transformer) about 5 years ago when it was one of the few new decks available. I still have it and it sounds OK but the cassette doors stick out at the side which face the middle of the deck which gives them a cheap look and means sometimes when you put a cassette in you have to push the tape down and keep trying to close it a few times before it works. It also has a really plasticky smell, especially when you open the doors, which hasn't faded in those 5 years. It looks like they may have changed the door design since then. I took it apart once after seeing your video about the components and the mechanism did have a stamp on with numbers and letters so I assumed it was a Tanashin but I couldn't find any writing or labels on the motor. It has a plastic flywheel too but I don't think that makes lots of difference. Overall it's an OK budget machine but the model I have (whichever one they were making in 2016/2017) does feel quite cheap and the sound is only decent, not great. EDIT - I just finished watching the video and it seems the door design is still the same so that hasn't improved in those 5 or 6 years, it just looked like it had when it was out of the box and also the metal flywheel may be more important than I thought. Also by the looks of it the model I have from 2016 seems to have slower-opening doors. I also have that Panasonic RX-D55 and I can confirm it's the best bet for a modern boombox in itself and also for the cassette feature. Very good sound overall.

Good to see that the decks are coming back!

I have this very same deck... I have no complaints about it... it records and playback very well...

Ended up doing a double take and rewinding the video to be sure I heard that right. Wasn't expecting a recording of Shango, lol! I'm glad to see the newer revision of those decks have been improved somewhat. They don't sound or perform half bad for what they are, either. Definitely not a Nakamichi Dragon by any means, but a decent option for what's available brand new today.

Excellent- a cassette related video. Good to see tapes still getting the love.

Great stuff. I have been waiting until you uploaded a hi-fi component video - you do them so well and hi-fi is my hobby too.

I would be curious to see the frequency response, signal to noise, THD and other specifications to see how it does. I am using the computer software NAK T-100 for my vintage decks. Vintage Audio Addict did a review on that app which is available on Microsoft and Apple store for the price of a pizza. Also has XY and dual scope for head alignment tests. I still have all my alignment tapes, which you will need for the wow and flutter and speed tests.

Not sure about in your part of the world, but there are places here where you can get vastly superior professionally refurbished decks with a guarantee for that kind of money.

, Marantz allowed their logo to be slapped on this? Great review, by the way. Edit: Apparently, "Marantz Professional" is owned by a different company that currently owns D+M Group.

Pretty sure I heard Shango066 on one of those cassette clips!

great to see there are still passable decks for reasonable prices for people who want to get into collecting tapes, fingers crossed this chinese company keeps adding small improvements component wise. great review, keep up the awesome work.

And someone just said. This isn’t a real Marantz.

These videos are some real public service! Thank you for this and keep them coming!

Personally have 2 Denon DN770R dual recording studio decks which I got both for $40 australian, it is a late 90s model and TBH the sound quality is amazing. Lacks the USB functions and not aimed for the consumer market but would be great for bands who want to do small run cassette releases at the highest possible quality without resorting to inferior duplicators or paying for a run from a commercial manufacturer who will run the tape at stupidly high speed. Think the main advantages of the dual recording studio units is that they practically can do double speed dubbing at 1x, still have double speed tape to tape and the playback is pro quality. Still nice to see that decent decks are being manufactured, but dual recording has it's niche for compact small cassette runs.

As for not being able to close the door: Mine had that problem, too, and what I did to fix it is to take a file and taper the sprockets because on every higher end deck I have they are tapered. Just on these decks the teeth on the sprockets just start with a square corner.

I had an old 80s Teac single deck that also had the L+R meters, it was a cheap low-end model

Any KZfaq vid on cassettes and decks deserves a 👍

An honest and fair review of this unit Kevin. Great work!

Is that Shango066's crisp lisp no dolby @ 17:56!?

it's great to see new tape decks come out. I've had terrible luck with used ones. the first had the belt perish and it was damn near impossible to get to (it was a tightly packed casseiver). The second one has been serviced but the wow and flutter is abysmal and the left deck is experiencing drop outs and white noise. so I'll keep the Marantz in mind if my Yamaha deck breaks (though I'd probably get the teac as I need a decent dB metre for recording onto tapes)

Great review! :D I was actually intrigued by that Tascam CD-A580 at the end.. may try and snag one of those.

That segment with the keyboard sounds just like my childhood. Both tape recorders and keyboards were so much fun, until you got in argument with your brother and the parents had to intervene

Makes me thankful for my $7 1998 Yamaha

Interesting to see. So glad to have stuck with older components; even if they need refurbishment they still end up a lot cheaper than buying new components and yield far better results. My tape deck, for instance, isn't too different from something like this: it's a Technics with one playback deck, one playback/recording deck, and piano-key controls. The difference is, the Technics deck is much better built, can record onto chrome and metal tape, supports Dolby B and C, and only cost me $35 off of Marketplace.

you pretty much literally found a tape of me fooling around on my grandmas electric piano in the 90's as a kid near the end 🤣

Thanks for pointing out to me that I have my left/right channels on my computer backwards. 🤣

Shame it hisses and has the interference playing back. I need a new cassette deck soon so really appreciate the videos on what’s available

Excellent information supplied in this video. I had the old design clone version under the name of Eltax. The mechanisms were very bad requiring quite high pressure to engage. I remember the mono meter display which did not bother me, nor the treble cut noise reduction which I never used anyway. I must say that the quality of playback was very good,noticeably crisp and clear. I remember the quality of recording as not being very good. I wonder if the recording has improved,because if not,I would pass on this deck. I have a line in jack on the back of my P.C. so Audacity can be used directly for conversion if required on decks without the USB facility.

It should say “PROFESSIONAL” on the deck in parentheses. Thanks for this review!!!❤️

Good morning and God Bless and Deliver you and your Family. The purpose of this Comment is to adamantly THANK YOU for this completely excellent Video 📹. After watching, I located a used Marantz Professional PMD-300CP Dual Cassette Deck via Ebay Seller. After I received it, I immediately checked the Serial Number and discovered that mine is a 2022 Year Model 🙏🏼😀🙏🏼. I haven't opened it up yet to check out the Motors, but I will. I'm VERY happy with it ... been over 2 weeks since I received it, and I used it every day to see any issues up front. It came in the Factory Box and everything was included as your Video stated. Thank you again. God Bless you Richly. Sincerely, Christopher D. Swinson

Improvements to make then: Better noise reduction (unforgivable) Stereo VU meter (unforgivable) Metal capstan flywheel Soft touch control Better power supply to eliminate mains hum Add headphone socket Then to pay for all that, drop the second deck, it's rarely needed.

I was hoping for genuine Marantz engineering

Just bought a new pyle pt649d off amazon and it does indeed have the csg and trw parts. The wiring from the power switch is now along the edges of the case from factory

I had almost the exact same tape that played at the end. Fooling around with a Yamaha keyboard with rhythm presets and automatic chords, while fighting with other kids and announcing everything on the microphone.

The Marantz is a step in the right direction I bet my older one still is better my favorite single deck unit that I have is a really nice Teac from the 1980s .

Type I and Type II cassettes at 6 minute mark are reversed :) So, fake stereo level indicator with only 6 segments, going up to +3 dB only, very basic. Recording level knob cannot be adjusted for left/right channel. And of course no Dolby NR, not even HX Pro. No wonder they don't advertise recording function. W&F "a bit above 0.2% peak" is still above the advertised value of no higher than 0.2%, which put this deck outside of hi-fi class according to DIN. Still, could be worse.

bought it first, watched this second, probably gonna do it the other way around next time, thanks for the vid

Love how it looks that's for sure.

Was that Shango I heard? Nice!