Removes hiss and makes cd like recordings.

Lower end model has weak transport. More suspect to wobble/flutter on some tapes than higher end model.

Unfortunately, Pioneer has discontinued this model. The higher end model is also no longer made. At least not in Canada.

Removes hiss and makes cd like recordings.

Lower end model has weak transport. More suspect to wobble/flutter on some tapes than higher end model.

Unfortunately, Pioneer has discontinued this model. The higher end model is also no longer made. At least not in Canada.

DSP processing

auto-reverse is really noisy

After my lower-end Nakamichi deck died I had to replace it with something. Since buying the Pioneer Gigachanger we don't listen to cassettes much anymore, so I didn't want to spend much on a cassette deck. I have mostly Pioneer components, so I picked this deck just to match my remote control. Briefly, my expectations were not high for this deck. When I got it, my wife and I could not believe our ears. Tape hiss was basically nonexistent. Old, dull, faded tapes really came back to life. New tapes sound like CD's. In short, our socks were knocked off. My only disappointment is a grinding noise that the deck makes when it auto-reverses.

I'm sure you could beat the quality if you wanted to spend the bucks on a really high end deck, but for those of who live with sub $100 dollar interconnects this deck will bring you nothing but happiness and joy.

Similar Products Used:

old Nakamachi, Pioneer & Teac decks

simply knocks the sox off my old cassette deck. Many peiple think that getting a csssette for extra money is just a waste. If you have good speakers, receiver, and other equipment but a horrible cheap 100 dollar cassette dick than your tapes are going to sound horrible aswell. if you disagree than email me and i will explain. WIth this deck you get the most bang fo da buck!!!

Best in its category. Definitly Must Buy.

Audio quality, Frequency level expander

Transport

The quality of sound from this deck easily surpasses that of other decks
in the same price range. High-frequency
response and clarity is a plus.
Bass level expansion made a better
copy of an old cassette than the
original.
The only minus point of this deck
is its single motor per deck. But
given its price this might not be a
big drawback after all.

Similar Products Used:

TEAC 518R

If you have "sticky" tape you will really "hear" it on this deck (warble, etc.). It will be much less noticeable if not at all on a better deck with quality drive mechanisms (like one of the Sony ES models where you get two motors per cassette deck). The weak part of this Pioneer deck is it's drive mechanism. The good part is the sound quality.

very.clear

none

very.clear. very.good. like.cd

Similar Products Used:

no

This tape deck is truly amazing. Iwould recomened this deck forany one. It sounds as good as my friend's mini disk and for the price well shittt.

Am currently auditioning several cassette decks hoping to find one that suits my needs. I have tried the Pioneer CT-W616DR.
Pro:
Sound closest to cd quality (not quite but close). Very low hiss. Tapes sound lively and refreshing. More detail.

Against:
Bass better on Sony WA7ESA (you can feel the bass on the Sony as opposed to just hearing it on Pioneer, at least on my system). Noticed some flutter on some tapes that is not evident when playing back on the Sony. An audio magazine (AIG?) published here in Canada wrote a review on the Pioneer CT-W6161DR. I believe they mentioned that the bass or low-end starts to roll off at about 50hz. This may explain why I can't feel the bass on the Pioneer but can on the Sony. They also measured more wow & flutter than the stated rating in the specs. They also mentioned that the digital to analogue converter is not very good and the result is a loss of resolution. I think I know what they mean by that when listening to the tapes. I believe the fellow at the magazine may still have recommended the Pioneer because of the price (about $299 Cdn).