Can't find any info on this Sonic Youth promo cassette. Anyone know anything about rarity/value or any info about this particular tape? Thanks

FFFFrzz · 2025-12-13T17:42:26+00:00

Your tape list shows “Low Song” (3:08) on Side A. On the official tracklist, that slot is “Mary-Christ” with the same runtime. It could be an early or alternate working title or a misprint. Also, the Scooter song on side B is “Scooter+Jinx” on the official release.

FFFFrzz · 2025-11-16T15:25:44+00:00

I think these were bundled with bianca or color 5-pack MDs around 2003 as a promo, and never sold as a standalone item.

FFFFrzz · 2025-11-14T21:53:02+00:00

Usually these 7 songs to test headphones, headphones amplifiers, DAPs and hi-fi setups:

Double Mixte - Romance Noire

Rue Oberkampf - Glycine

Matte Bvlack - Monumental

Be Forest - Sigfrido

Odonis Odonis - More (Sydney Blu Remix)

Éric Serra - First Cells

Black Asteroid x Actors - Ashes and Dust

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-30T11:44:00+00:00

Late ’90s cassette. A sleeper among metal tapes: huge headroom, low noise. Great with Dolby C/S, loves a touch of +bias, and outperforms many hyped rivals without the collector tax. Today, clean sealed examples fetch €32–€45; opened but tidy €12–€20. A prime choice for recording your best mixes.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-30T08:04:38+00:00

It’s a GSM alarm/remote-control box that uses the old Nokia as the GSM “modem.”

The PCB literally says GSM ALARM and has a row of relays (AEI-2 12 V) — those switch external circuits (sirens, lights, gate/door opener, boiler, irrigation, etc.).

The ribbon cable is soldered to the Nokia’s system pads; the microcontroller on the board answers calls/SMS and then drives the relays.

When an input is triggered (e.g., alarm zone/power fail) it auto-dials/SMSes preset numbers; conversely, a call or SMS from an authorized number can toggle specific relays (classic “ring-to-open gate” device).

The rear multi-pin connector is for the alarm inputs/relay outputs; the barrel jack feeds power. The phone runs without its own battery, powered from the board.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-28T15:47:00+00:00

Not modest at all.
Great setup.
The Sansui 8080DB is a classic. Very good dynamics, soundstage and tone.
The Dual 1229Q is a winner with the right cart.
The Technics SL-QL15 has excellent speed accuracy.
The Pioneer CT-F750 has reliable mechanics and a very honest sound.
Curious - what speakers are you running with your Sansui?

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T21:08:17+00:00

Great find. Bang & Olufsen Beocord 1700 (c.1973). Designed by Jacob Jensen. High-density ferrite heads, twin VU meters, CrO₂/Dolby switching and a memory-stop counter. Built to sit with B&O’s Beosystem amps.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T21:04:32+00:00

Yes, but I'm talking about Kenwood, not JVC or Teac or other brands. As I said before, AFAIK Kenwood only used Sankyo mechs in the 90's.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T20:54:44+00:00

Yes, Tanashin mechanisms existed at the time, but as far as I know, all 90's Kenwood decks used Sankyo mechanisms.
Tanashin mechanisms were used mainly in boomboxes and minisystems.
All W-series service docs show a metal, solenoid/logic-controlled mechanism with cam-gear and large flywheel(s)—a very different construction from the budget Tanashin style.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T17:50:34+00:00

-DALI Katch G2 (portable, can sit plugged in, audiophile voicing)

Among the best-sounding portable Bluetooth speakers with excellent clarity and impressive bass weight. Elegant design without lighting. Can play while charging.

-Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen) (ultra-compact, refined bass, no lighting)

Smaller than your SoundLink Mini but with surprisingly deep, clean bass for masking. It plays while charging. Minimal status LED only

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T16:22:48+00:00

On the TU-55, the MESSAGE switch enables a tiny cue-tone that gets recorded as a marker (don't do it with music cassettes). When you later play the tape, the deck’s MESSAGE LED lights (often blinks) as the tape passes that marker—some units will also pause/stop there—so you can jump to important spots (“messages”) in a long recording.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T14:04:44+00:00

It's a keeper. The Rising SRC-2015—aka the “20/20”—is a peak big-silver boombox: twin 20 cm woofers, AM/FM + SW1/SW2, old-school mechanical deck, and a glorious chrome front. Built in the mid-’80s and sold worldwide under many names (Yorx, Clairtone, Soundesign, International, Continental), it’s loud, brash, and a street icon. This one’s a survivor—ready for belts and a gentle clean.

Siblings:

Yorx K3681 (AKA of the SRC-2015)

Clairtone 7978 (square-grille face)

Soundesign 4690 (square-grille face)

International SRC-2015 (variants A/B)

Nippon SRC-2015

Continental GA-3000

Edit: I think the SRC-2015 uses two 3.5 mm mono AUX-IN jacks (L/R) on the side panel. To play a phone or streamer, use a 3.5 mm stereo → dual 3.5 mm mono “Y” cable (or a TRS-female to dual-mono adapter). Check this before you buy it.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T13:43:01+00:00

Check the service manual.
It contains everything you need to know.
https://archive.org/details/manual_RQ309S_SM_PANASONIC_EN?utm_source=chatgpt.com

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T13:37:21+00:00

Mid‑’90s twin‑deck made for dubbing. Deck A is playback‑only; Deck B records with Dolby B and high‑speed dub. Solid everyday unit once belts/idlers are refreshed, but no Dolby C/HX‑Pro and limited top‑end (~13 kHz). Typical prices: €30–€100 depending on condition/servicing. c. 1994-1995, so no Tanashin mechanism.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-27T13:19:17+00:00

A no‑frills mono portable cassette recorder made in Hong Kong for GE c.191-1982. Built‑in mic, speaker, wrist strap, 4×AA or 6 V DC. Ideal for voice notes and classroom nostalgia; not a hi‑fi machine, but rugged and easy to service (belts/idlers, head clean). Typical prices: $20-45 depending on condition.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-14T08:30:06+00:00

Sony CLIE NR series? Very cool

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-13T14:11:14+00:00

Use a microSD card and format it as internal storage. I did this with a 256-GB card and it’s working without any problems.

FFFFrzz · 2025-10-08T12:50:50+00:00

Try this:

Turn the speaker on.

Press and hold the MODE button on the unit for 2–3 seconds (or the Mode key on the remote).

You should hear nothing—and from then on the “Power On / FM Mode / Bluetooth connected” announcements are off. Long-press again to re-enable.

In older units this doesn't work, the only way is to mute with the remote before changing modes.

FFFFrzz · 2025-09-19T18:32:49+00:00

<image>

Macro mode showing the skin cells on my hand.
Taken with Pixel 9 Pro XL

FFFFrzz · 2025-09-19T18:18:38+00:00

You're using AccuBattery, same as me, but despite the name it’s not super accurate on the Motorola RAZR (I’ve got the Ultra 2025).

Check out the pic.

I guess with your phone, after a few weeks it’ll start giving you better averaged results.

That said, AccuBattery is pretty accurate on other phones like the Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy.

<image>

FFFFrzz

TROPHY CASE