SONY TC-KE500S Audio Cassette Deck - Product Review

Testing The SONY TC-KE500S Audio Cassette Deck

In order to really test the performance of this deck, I recorded one of my favorite albums (which I have in various versions, Vinyl, DBX-encoded vinyl, and CD), <i>Dreamboat Annie</i> by Heart. The reason for this selection as the first test, is that not only is the whole album a sonic masterpiece of rock performance, but is also a record engineering masterpiece. The dynamic range, from soft expressive passages to Ann Wilson's piercing vocals, to the deep bass extension on the <i>Magic Man</i> track can make you nauseous (from the bass vibrations) when played through the right amp and speakers. If this deck could handle this recording, it could probably handle most anything I could push at it.

To set this test up I used the following components: an old Yamaha CR-220 two-channel stereo receiver 20 years old and still going strong) with a SONY CDP-261 single well CD player, a pair of Radio Shack Minimus-7 loudspeakers to use as record monitors, as well as KOSS 4-AAA monitor headphones, and, of course, the CD version of Heart's Dreamboat Annie. I plugged the SONY deck into the tape monitor loop of the Yamaha CR-220.

Frankly, I was not expecting great things from this test. I used the following setup parameters: the auto-tape bias setting, Dolby-S noise reduction, and the tape monitoring function (so I could monitor the actual recording in progress). I also set the manual record levels a little higher than recommended so I could see how the peaks would distort.

Needless to say, the result of the test was much better than I expected. I listened to the results through the KOSS headphones (which has excellent response characteristics). Although there was a little distortion and warbling on the highs during intense passages, the bass extension on the <i>Magic Man</i> track was very good, with only a slight bottoming out at the deepest point. The midrange vocals lost very little depth over the source and tape hiss was not noticeable at normal listening levels. Hooking up the TC-KE500S to couple of other systems in my apartment, the headphone listening results were confirmed, with some minor variations in bass response due to the different amp-speaker combinations used.

Lastly, having been satisfied with recording results as played through my home systems, I decided to go for an afternoon drive so I could listen to the results on my car stereo. My car stereo is by no means a great system, it is basically a stock Ford auto reverse cassette/radio with Dolby B noise reduction with stock speakers. Since I listen to talk radio and news mostly in the car, I have never thought of investing in high-end car system; I like to spend my audio dollars at home. Needless to say, however, I started up the car, inserted the <i>Dreamboat Annie</i> tape I made and waited for the tape hiss. Suprisingly, the tape hiss level was hardly noticeable. The Dolby "S" and HXpro Headroom Extension must have done the trick on the recording side, because the results came out very well when played back on my car stereo.

Taking into account the lackluster capabilities of my car stereo (especially in terms of bass response), the recording was actually quite pleasing to listen to.

The highs exhibited more distortion (you really have to be looking for it) on intense passages than when played back through the SONY TC-KE500S, but the overall recording was definitely of better quality that anything I could hear over the air with the car FM Stereo radio. Mission accomplished! I now look forward to making tape copies of some of my favorite CDs and Vinyl to take on the road.

In my opinion, if you are in need of good performing audio cassette deck with very little frills, but with essential features, and you don't mind working a little harder to make your recordings, you won't be disappointed with the SONY TC-KE500S.

With the popularity of CD recording, the thought of me taking space to review an audio cassette deck may be an exercise in futility, but with the millions of audio cassette players and tapes still circulating worldwide, many of you may still need a replacement deck that will keep your cassette library alive. This unit has been in SONY's stable of products for quite a while and, with current trends towards CD recording, I am not sure how long this 3-Head tape deck will be available.