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Review 2 of 2 Summary:
I Bought this top of the line deck for about $600 last year, for use in dubbing Grateful Dead bootlegs. It lists for $950, but you can always haggle with the sleazy folks who advertise in the back of Stereo Review- I've saved hundreds of bucks by ordering from them. I require two single decks so I can adjust the recording levels, but I couldn't afford two of these, so I also bought the next one down in the line- the TCK A2ES. Both decks are clearly high end, but the A3 has better signal to noise specs as well as a wider frequency range. Both have 3 heads, 3 motors, dolby b, c, and s (none of which I use except when taping CDs that have a lot of quiet parts). Both are equiped with MPX filters (for taping FM) and HX pro noise reduction, but these can both be defeated on the A3 only. Both have automatic doors, a "bell and whistle" type feature that I admit to liking a lot! Other differences are that rec. levels can be set at different levels on the A3 only, but I've never needed to use that feature yet. I use the A3 as my record deck and the A2 as the play deck, so I suppose I lose the extended frequency range that the A3 has except when I'm recording CDs. The A2 deck has two speeds for rewind and fast foreward, and the faster one is considerably quicker than the single speed offered by the A3- an advantage for the A2! Oh yeah, the A3, as one of it's high end features, has a copper wrapped chassis for better isolation from evil spirits or something. Neither deck has a supplied remote controll (which is very lame), although they both have infrared receptors on them. For some reason, the same decks sold in canada come with remotes! I'm hoping that when I get a universal remote it will solve that problem. Both decks offer the ability to calibrate to different types of tapes with switches labeled REC Level and Bias, but the A3 also has Rec EQ- this may partly explain its superior performance. Finally, both decks have a cleaning mode that actually moves the heads up and turns them, making cleaning a lot easier than in traditional decks.
I feel that both of these decks are excellent, but I get better quality recordings from the A3. If I record a CD on the A3 using a Maxell XLIIS that I have calibrated correctly, you would not be able to tell me whether it was the CDor the taped copy that I was playing! I highly recommend this deck, especially if you can get it in the $550- $650 range.
By the way, Sony's ES series range of products is a lot different from their standard line that you see at Target or K mart. With a 5 year warranty, the products have to be well made. I also have Sony ES car head unit CD changer, and amps which rock- also bought at huge discount from the sleazebags in the back of stereo review. My advice is to call a bunch of the larger advertisers and get them into a price war with each other- an unpleasant way to spend an afternoon but you can often get stuff for about 2/3 the price you would pay if you just went to Circuit City and paid retail.
P.S. I'm always looking to trade tapes, especially if you live near Orlando. e-mail me if you want to trade lists or if you have questions. swinner@parkave.net.
There is a road And if you go
No simple highway No one may follow
Between the dawn That path is for
And the dark of night Your steps alone.
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5 of 5
