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Came quickly with no damage to box Hard to find but thankfully this one was available.
My daughter received it on time in another city, and confirmed that her lesson went well, and the device worked flawlessly. When I found it here on Amazon, I ordered it, and the reseller waas very quick to respond to the order (email), and he shipped it out immediately. My daughter needed this right away for her musical theater lessons (voice). It was a make/model specifically requested by her teacher.
My car is equipped with only a CD player, so I needed something that would play my books on tape. The volume is very good. If you need a portable, you'll enjoy using this one. This can run on 4 AA batts.(I have a Sony that needs 8 C batts.). The sound is clear. I especially like the small size.
Here are the pluses and minuses (and read my review on the TCM-200).Pros:- Tape counter- Hyper-sensitive internal microphone (try external microphone for cleaner sound)- Erases and records almost equally on normal bias and high bias- Battery life nearly as long on NiMH batteries as on alkaline (Duracell or Energizer)- Well built- Runs on included household adapter (sound quality unaffected, unlike the TCM-200)- Great price for its features ($30 at the local Best Buy back in the day)Cons:- Would be more efficient (but maybe slightly more bulky) on 4 C batteries instead of 4 AA- Severe DC bias effect (distorted 'S' and 'T' sound, do we know)- Records below optimum on metal bias (partial erasure over previous recording)- Scratchy sound through speaker, especially after several years of use (a common problem with units of this league)This recorder won't fit in your pocket, but has a retractable handle, making it easier to carry. The boom box had a silver-coated magnet erase head, whereas the shoebox TCM-929 has a black magnet erase head. (The story about identifying erase heads' capabilities is unique and personal). The following was a consequence to reckon with (then came the digital age).Sony CFS-W455 had the best internal microphone of any boom box, and too bad I once damaged the record side's tape door with a Koosh ball a dozen years ago. I would recommend this recorder, especially since I have owned it twice (the first one broken by experimentation in 1998 and the second one I still use regularly have had since 2000). Unfortunately, today, it is probably scarce as hen's teeth in the hope in finding one, if you are a fan of vintage recording equipment.Let's talk about the TCM-929. Soon got rid of it, but never forgot how great Sony's level of quality was for $80 at the local ACME store back then. Its microphone is as sensitive as the boom box mentioned above, and it erases and records just as well on high bias and metal bias tape.
Find another source. That policy, for a company that is represented through Amazon, is a terrible violation of basic consumer trust and makes me sorry I ever ordered. This recorder may be a good one for those who received an operable machine, but it turns out BuyAccessories will not back a defective product for an exchange. Our only option, if THEY decide to accept it, is to return it for only a portion of the money we paid for it.
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