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Wow, this "audiophile" world keeps getting sillier every year. Good thing I jumped ship a while ago. Tape was never a good medium for storing information, and consumer-market cassettes have so many technical problems, it's not even funny. Learn something about physics and math, people, stop this magical thinking. It'll help you relax and actually listen to the music.

Got a Nakamichi 680ZX that I bought new way back when. Still runs great. What I have found vital in tape decks is azimuth alignment to the tape being played —just like in tonearm/cartridge azimuth alignment. Thank you, Mr. Fremer. Have a lot of great recorded music on tapes and don't really see digitizing it all, it really doesn't improve the sound.

I have two Tandberg TCD-440a, two Harman/Kardon CD 491, and 10 (no joke) Philips DCC 900 cassette decks. These decks will impress.

Nakamichi CR-7A is the only way to go.The best cassette deck ever made, full stop. Buy a good one on eBay, you won't regret it and you will always get your money back. I can buy boxes full of prerecorded cassettes for a couple of pounds here in the UK.

I have a Sony TC-815S cassette recorder. It's a single-well, three-head, adjustable bias type of device with Dolby-B/C/S. Nowadays, most people know Dolby Digital, but most have never heard of Dolby Noise Reduction system for cassettes. Although I rarely listen to it, I keep it in working condition. A few months ago I had its rubber belts replaced.

I have an old Yamaha deck. I used to be into making mix tapes for my Walkman, so I have a bunch of self-recorded tapes, along with some prerecorded tapes. Haven't listened to them for a while, but occasionally they come in handy for background music. I wonder if Stephen really needs a high-end deck—most of the indie groups' tapes will probably not have the best sound quality.

I had a deck for years that I barely ever used. Originally $400 retail with Dolby S, dual decks, high-speed dubbing, etc. Went to sell it, popped a tape in, and it chewed it up before stalling out. I had to junk it. On top of that, I had two different top-end Sony handheld cassette recorders (for interviews), both of which broke within six months of use. I probably spent $1k on "nice" cassette recording/playing equipment that became totally useless and gave me very little mileage. (Not counting car systems, a total rip-off). It's the worst format known to man. My old crazy hand-decorated mix tapes are still cool, though.

Actually never, since my old Tandberg TCD-310 stopped functioning more than five years back. No big loss, I feel.

I've got a pair of Denon three-head decks which I used for Grateful Dead tapes before the advent of DAT.

I use one as an input for my iPod in my car.

You know what's funny? When you say cassettes, I almost think you're talking about cassette tapes, like I used to have when I was a kid (I'm 27 now). But that would just be silly.

Not entirely true. I do have one and do have some tapes, but I don't ever use it and haven't even once in the past 15 years.

I sure do! It's in my closet and serves as the stand for my shoe-care kit. I can't imagine using it for any reason. I'd probably use an MP3 player or iPod first, with CDs ripped to the computer. But I don't have the time to mess with that, either.

Dusted it off and put new belts in a TEAC V-970X to get to some recordings I just can't find and I'm surprised at how good it sounds. Glad to be able to transfer those rare gems to the digital world

Actually, I do have one, but I don't have any tapes. It's been boxed up for at least 10 years now.

Why give up access to a pile of music?

Hooked into my TP-114. Talk radio and ergonomics are contributing factors to things staying this way for as long as possible.

I have two older decks. I have a Harman/Kardon from 1992 that stops working whenever it's humid. I also have a Sony deck from the early '80s that still works in all climates. My problem is the degradation of the actual cassette tapes I have.

I have a JVC TD W354 deck tape. Decent sound compared to my CD/vinyl collection. I have no intention in buying the same music in different formats, unless the cassette has worn out—then I buy the CD. As long as you enjoy the sound from good old tapes, that's all that matters. It's the music that counts.

Other than taping Little Steven's Underground Garage off FM on Sunday evenings, my cassette deck pretty much collects dust.

I love to dig in my bag stuffed with cassettes—although not more often than once a month.

I have a Nak BX-100 because I transferred my remaining tapes and because it is a fantastic artifact. But right now, I've lent it to a friend for tape transfer.

Why didn't you have a selection for have one but never use it? Why would anyone? This is taking nostalgia to a silly extreme—what next, tiny portable AM radios?

I still have two cassette decks: a Teac Z5000 and an Aiwa F350.

Restored Akai GXC 760D —sounds better than a lot of CDs.

I still play cassettes and own three working decks. Harman/Kardon CD 191, Onkyo TA-R240, and a Pioneer CT-W616 DR with digital noise-reduction. I have many recordings of live radio and TV performances, B&P trades, and copies of albums that are no longer available. Manufactured cassettes never did it for me, but homemade copies were fun to make and helped preserve my record collection. CDs continue to be the format I listen to the most.

Just wait till you discover 8-track. Not only do they switch tracks mid-song, but you can hide your rolling papers and stash behind the little door.

I've dubbed most of them to my PC and then into MP3 files. I still have a couple dozen more to do, but I got the main ones I wanted! A few got dubbed to CD too. Occasionally, I do the same for friends and family too, since I have the software and equipment to do it right.

Had a much loved NAK LX-3 but it was broken and too expensive to fix. Traded it in towards a Salamander equipment rack.

It sounds great! I use a Nakamichi CR5 very often—especially with chromium cassettes, the sound is superb.