Sony TCWE475 Dual Cassette Player / Recorder

Got this because my 12 year old Sony deck died and I still need something for transferring irreplaceable cassettes to CD. As far as tape decks go, it seems to be pretty good. The instructions are a bit misleading, though. It has instructions for two different models. These instructions seem to imply only the upper model (TCWE675, which is discontinued) has Dolby B, C and support for type II and IV tapes. Well, this TCWE475 DOES have Dolby B, C and auto-tape type selection for type II and IV tapes.

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with the remote, the remote must be ordered separately from Sony's website (for around $30). However, the remote from my old Sony deck works with this deck. So if you have a remote from an old Sony deck, it might work with this unit. (The remote is part number RM-J910. If you had an old Sony tape deck that specifies that model remote in the manual, its remote will work with this deck.) Some different remotes from Sony receivers will work as well. At least this deck *is* remote controllable. Most of the other brands of tape decks made today appear to require a receiver of the same brand and a special cable connected between the two in order to get any kind of remote capability for the tape deck. This is one major reason why I chose the Sony. If my remote didn't work, I knew I could order a remote regardless of what receiver I have.

One word of caution. My old Sony deck was designed so that a thin rubber belt driven by a motor engaged and disengaged the tape heads. When that belt became flabby and weak from age (as all these belts do, even if the unit just sits around unused), the tape heads became stuck in the engaged position. This meant that the deck could not eject the tape, it held it captive. About the only ways to retrieve it would have been either to repair the deck or disassemble it to pieces. (And replacing the belts in that model would have been a *pain*.) So if the deck has been sitting around for a few years without use, test it out on a tape you don't care about first. (With my old Sony deck, it did not fail till it was about 10-12 years old. Although frequent use will probably cause the belts to wear sooner than that.) I don't know whether or not Sony has improved the design with this model. (Although other brands might very well use a design similar to the old Sony anyway.)

The Sony player replaces a 20 year old Fisher unit,in which the drive belts failed. The replacement of the belts,if they could be obtained, was a task for a watchmaker. The Sony player-recorder has more features and refinements than the Fisher and performs as described. I have over a hundred classic oldies tapes, and no way to play them through the home audio system. Hook up was a snap. A word of caution to any one making a similar replacement. The first two tapes I tried, were terrible; "wow" , "flutter", and "fidelity". At this point I was discouraged and decided to try them in the car player, with the same results. Chucked those defective tapes and picked some other tapes with great results. Very satisfied.

As a faithful Sony product purchaser, I was shocked to hear from the receiver of this "Gift" that after an accumulated 12 hours of play, Side A suddenly decided NOT to operate properly. On that note ... I requested a replacement through Amazon and was promptly taken care of. Again ... This one faulty item certainly does NOT curtail me from a Sony purchase. My brother-in-law was delighted... until the defect. But is just as delighted that his gift is being replaced. Thank you Amazon, for your integrity and AAA customer service.

I treated myself to an entire array of sony equipment for my birthday and Christmas.I never buy anything for myself. This time I did. Long over due. I purchased a flatscreen television, complete stero equipment, home entertainment center. I only have one problem. Sony does not have a product that can connect all the equipment I have, therefore I have to disconnect one item and replace the input with my LP phonograph. I am still very happy. I can listen to my cd's, cassettes, albums, watch my dvds and so on.

Purchased this for my Mom who is 92 and takes a lot of cassette tapes out from the library. The unit is connected to a Cambridge soundworks i765 and she has no trouble using it. She needs simple to use and trouble free. Seems to fill that bill.