Sound accuracy, auto and manual bias adjustments, convienence

None

I have owned this deck for 16 years, and it can still amaze me in its ability to match a sound source. A - B listening reveals quite little, if any change in the recorded sound. The ability to quickly fine tune tape formulas assures excellent quality on all media. Use dolby c or dbx and try to tell tell the difference between this and the source. I have returned this deck to Onkyo once 2 years ago for an overhaul. At that point, they told me that they were no-longer going to fix this unit, as their parts supply has run out. If I can, I will try to keep this deck running for ever, even though i have added Tascam DAT and cdr decks to my system. Nothing today in the world of analogue cassette decks even comes close. In fact, everything else is far, far away.

Buy one if you can find it in good condition. You will be pleased.

Mick

As the ever growing digital era grows, the outlook for magnetic tape and specifically cassettes is getting dimmer. Major audio companies still producecassette recorders, but not as many high standard ones as in the past. It appears that the public may not let go to quickly. For those who still use this format for recording, a few gems are still floating around on the used market.
The Onkyo 2090 is one of those rare findings! Built from 1985-1991, the 2090
was rated amoung the top five consumer tape decks in the world(see Stereo Review
March 1988). It fared such features as Dolby B & C (80db), HX Pro, dbx (92db),
direct drive motor, dual capstan drive, digital dual time counter, .02 wow & flutter, a large beautiful display and heavy chassis with aluminum face. Glossy Wood sides were optional which I ordered. The deck could be operated by remote when connected by a din cord to specific Onkyo receivers. I still connect it through my Onkyo TX-108 stereo receiver, another one of Onkyo's top notch pieces! This tape deck is still today one of the finest cassette recorders that can be found! Being in the stereo business for many years, I have owned numerous machines including the king of recorders - the Nakamichi Dragon. I used both machines side by side for over a year. My personal choice was the Onkyo. I couldn't pass up a offer that was made on the NAK so I sold it! I own roughly a hundred demo tapes that I made between two 2090 tape decks I've owned over the last ten to twelve years. I can still demo these tapes today and find my listeners twixt between tape or Cd? Its that good! I hate to see something so beautiful and made so well begin to be a past part of history. Perhaps that is why I can't let it go, even though I haven't used it in over three years. The only thing I have seen that wears out even from little use because of hardening is the ff/ww idler wheel. It is made of a black rubber which just dries and hardens over time! Its only a few dollars from Onkyo and a half hours work through the front cassette door for a technician who knows how to do it. Otherwise the 2090 is a flawless machine in features, operation and looks! Buy one if you have the chance and if your still into cassettes, you won't regret it!