Price Paid:  $199.00 from The Good Guys, La Jo

Summary:
After 26 years of excellent service my Sanyo deck stopped outputting signals, sigh. Time to move on... Instead of reparing it I decided to replace it with the DENON DRM-555. I find it to be highly satisfactory except for the noisy (mechanical) transport when it auto reverses, stops, starts etc. The price was right because it was a "demo" model. Unfortunately the MPX filter switch does not work as far as I can tell. It does not illuminate the MPX indicator on the display. If 'The Good Guys' can't fix it under their full service contract they must replace it with a new one. I'm OK with that. All features (other than noted above) seem to work well. I run it into a Nikko EQ-II equalizer so I can easily compensate for any sound deficiencies that may be inherent to the recorded signal output. I've played commercial tapes as well as tapes I recorded on the Sanyo twenty-six years ago. They all sound as good as when they were recorded. There is good separation of stereo. I found the recorded quality of various input signals from the turntable, FM Stereo Tuner and CD connected to my system to be excellent. I hope this tape deck will perform as well and as long as did the Sanyo.

Strengths:
The display's brightness is adjustable. Automatic sensing and biasing of tape type (i.e. Normal, C02, Metal, etc.). Auto Reverse. Selectable recording: Doly B, C NR, or Normal. HDX sensing. Auto silence 4 second recording control . Excellent control of input signal. Memory feature allows one to mark a specific location on playback so you can return to it by simple push of a button. Good looks.

Weaknesses:
You can't adjust the output signal. The MPX Filter may not be working. Left & Right channels input signal when recording cannot be controlled. Tape transport area not illuminated. The Balance, Bias and Headphone volume adjusting knobs have side-to-side, up-and-down play in them (cheap IMO). I miss the analog VU meters. The transport mechanism is VERY noisy, I'd say that's my biggest disappointment.

Similar Products Used:
Sanyo RD-5350

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Sound Advice Ottawa

Summary:
Good but not great sound as I used to get from my Aurex (Toshiba). Not quite the quality of build and construction I would expect from the Denon name.

Strengths:
Good, but not great sound.

Weaknesses:
Noisy transport and auto-reverse. Made in China quality.

Similar Products Used:
Aurex PC-3060, retired Dolby and ADRES

Price Paid:  $300.00

Summary:
This cassette player/recorder sounds quite well, it is functionnal, and has minimal functions. Looking at the DENON label, I expected more of this product.

Strengths:
Sounds well. not expensive. You can choose the level of the record. Bias fine and balance buttons. Vu-meter. Dolby B and C.

Weaknesses:
Heavy and noisy mechanism, only two inputs. Counter NOT in minuts and seconds. NO specialized commands for rewinding. Counter is not very precise.

Similar Products Used:
YAMAHA KX 530