Cassette Deck: Research your needs

In order to end up with the cassette deck best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of cassette decks are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a cassette deck.

Research the market: Cassette Deck essentials

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the cassette deck market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Type: Single, double deck, three head, double head, portable, bookshelf systems, car radios, audio recorders.

Durability: If you want to use your cassette deck in motion, you will want to choose a system that is both portable and impact resistant. Some models that are portable are also weatherproof.

Controls: Play, pause, stop, forward, rewind, auto reverse, continuous play.

Colors: Cassette decks come in a wide range of colors and styles.

Power system: Some cassette decks will come with a cord that you can plug in to the main power supply while others need batteries.

Volume levels: Most cassette decks will have a turn-dial volume control system. More expensive decks may also have an equalizer.

Quality: Cassettes are notorious for losing quality as you play them repeatedly so you will want to choose a cassette deck that doesn't pull the tape too hard and cause it to wear out.

Headphones: When you have a portable cassette deck, you will need to consider headphones if you want to keep your music to yourself.

Cost: While prices are generally low for portable cassette decks, decks that are incorporated with other music playing capabilities can be quite expensive.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a cassette deck. For example, will you use the cassette deck only for playing those old favorites or do you want to use it for voice recording?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have I owned a cassette deck before?
	If you have, work out what you did or didn't like about the cassette deck. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient.

Do I have special needs for a cassette deck?
	You may want to play music for when guests are over or to use when you are moving around in exercise or in other situations. Perhaps you want to use it for dictating that novel you always wanted to write!

How often will I use the cassette deck?
	You may want to have the cassette deck for occasional audio recording or you may listen to music regularly on it. Determining how much you are likely to use it may help you determine what price you are willing to pay.

Where will I be using a cassette deck?
	You may need a cassette deck for the living room or your bedroom or perhaps as a portable device to take on your travels.

How much money do I want to spend on a cassette deck?
	You may want a lot of features or you can choose something simple that only plays music or can be used as a voice recorder. The more things that you want to do with a cassette deck, the higher the overall cost will be.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of cassette decks and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

Pioneer CT W606DR Dual Cassette Deck - User review
Review of the Pioneer CT W606DR Dual Cassette Deck, demonstrated by a teenage female. (1m 8s)