Clean and Demagnetize Your Heads!... On Your Cassette Deck

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The most important maintenance for cassette decks is cleaning and demagnetizing the record and playback tape heads. I discuss different types of head cleaners and my personal preference. I also discuss different devices that can be used for demagnetizing the heads, including the option to build your own demagnetizer. Have you ever heard what a demagnetizer sounds like? I risk damaging an old Sharp RT-31 in order to demonstrate what a demag unit does when placed near an engaged playback head!
Thank you to James skippinhopper for his generous contribution of a beautiful Technics RS-M7 Cassette Deck.
Equipment used in this demonstration include:
Technics RS-M7 Cassette Deck
Sharp RT-31 Cassette Deck
Nakamichi BX-100 Cassette Deck
Nakamichi MR-1 Cassette Deck
SV808 Demagnetizer
amzn.to/2WllhXz
Zetek Digital Foam Tip Cleaning Swabs
amzn.to/31O2vJD
Family Wellness 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
Rattle Magnets
amzn.to/32UcD4X
Wooly Willy magnetic toy
amzn.to/31TiohS
Cassette Deck Confessionals, Part 1 is HERE:
• Cassette Decks! Tape r...
0:00 Intro / Open
0:16 Technics M-7
0:52 Dirty Heads
1:19 Head Cleaning Methods
2:32 Head Demagnetize
4:56 What a Demag wand sounds like
5:54 Close
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#ThriftyAV #CassetteDeck #TechnicsM7

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Опубликовано:

30 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 105

@AJ-ej2td 2 года назад

Thank you for your clarity....one of the best videos to explain the process...

@thereelmccoy25 11 месяцев назад

Thanks brother! I have a Technics M6 and M11 from that model a year. I've had them since I was 13 years old, still have both boxes and they look showroom. The M11 is my workhorse, it's the one I use for all transfers to a Philps CD Recorder. As you probably know, there are some titles you own that are just not available on any other medium. Thanks for this wonderful video, I really enjoyed seeing all the vintage equipment! You are so precise and informative.

@user-xs3uj2bx1y 2 года назад

Thank you very much! I'm slowly studying analogue audio systems, and this video provided me more information that I could've hoped for!

@thedelshannonshow8575 Год назад

Thank you! It’s very important that I keep my gear clean and working in near perfect condition as I’m often transferring 1st generation master demo recordings from 60’s-70’s hit makers. My studio uses both Protools capabilities, and analog for mastering and recording.

@7deepbreaths.sounds 4 месяца назад

Thanks Thrifty AV -- I just de magged my Nakamichi 600 2 head cassette player and it sounds great. Both VU meters are poppin' where as before my left meter was struggling. Once I am in a position, I'll gladly make a contribution.

@gplunk 3 года назад

Thanks for those excellent and thrifty tips! Now to get cleaning....

@victormanuelgarciarivera6506 Год назад

Thanks for your information, I appreciated your support.

@liquidlogic7 2 года назад

Thanks so much for the info! Fabulous video brother!

@manuelrumpal8381 3 года назад

Thank you I plan on recording with my Sharp QT-89 It also has support for those fancy cassettes and Dolby NR Saved it from trash

@raymondcorbin2503 6 месяцев назад

Very good and informative info of just how to do the job Thanks

@achtungmark 2 года назад

Thanks for your video, it was a great help for me.

@gentelmanjunkie542 2 года назад

Thanks for informing about not touching the heads or making jerky movements, that wasn't in the directions of the demagnatizer I bought.

@redbishop71 3 года назад

Great tips and advices.

@teresitamontebon5342 3 года назад

Thank you for your advice

@larsholst6216 3 года назад

The procedure of demagnetizing the tape path is as follows: Make sure no magnetic sensitive tape material or i.e. electronics, like CRT screens, speakers, other tape decks etc., are near by. Make also sure the tape deck is OFF power and that there's access to the full tape path. Make sure that the tip of the defluxer is covered with rubber/plastic or similar material. Take the wand type defluxer and power it up at a distance of 1,5-2 meter from the tape path. Approach slowly the defluxer towards the tape path and when getting there, make sure not to actually touch anything in the tape path with the defluxer. Move the defluxer slowly from left to right over all metal parts in the tape path as slowly as possible in small circling movements. When the defluxer has passed all metal parts in the tape path, without touching any of them, you just as slowly as before, move the defluxer away from the deck to the position 1,5-2 meters away where you original turned on the power of the defluxer. Let the defluxer touch a potential magnetic material at that position just before you turn the defluxer off. This procedure is NOT possible to follow with the cassette shell demagnetizer type. The cassette shell type demagnetizer is way less powerfull, will only have the demagnetizing field above the central tape head and it will even touch it. It will only be able to operate with the deck OFF power if the deck is one of the "Piano Key" decks. I advise NOT to use cassette shell type demagnetizers at all. If the defluxer gets extended hot, you need to end the procedure in the described secure way.

@sIacker 2 года назад

thank you for this.. my crt is right next to my deck and that completely slipped my mind

@mikek3818 2 года назад

I have my tape deck sitting between my speakers, and on top of my receiver and cd stereo player. Would I not want to demag since it could damage this other equipment?

@Mikexception 5 месяцев назад

@@mikek3818 I am afraid to make demagnetization as very stong fileds may eventualy induce too strong currents/voltages in heads. In case of cassette decks heads windings are very delicate. In my practice I usualy use transformer solder gun (fast and convinent) for servicing but never observed magnetization of head. But I care not to use tip very near to front of head. We need to remember that fields from recording amplifier are way stronger, are shut up/down sharply but they do not leave residuum.

@NoRemorse1078 Год назад

Super awesome video... thanks!!

@miragexl007 3 года назад

Good video. Have an old car, with tape player. Plays muffled low sound. Radio works fine. Thought about getting one of those cleaning tapes. Obviously can't get in there to clean

@dennisdemark8151 8 месяцев назад

... enjoy this video very much indeed 👏🏼

@robertdavis5714 2 года назад

Here is 1 for you :Vector Research VCX-650 bought on CL for decent price, worked perfect then lost 1/2 sound on 1 channel. So just got in mail a official "Memorex" demagnetize wand. Thanks for showing how you can test it with another magnet or iron.

@jetknight7562 4 месяца назад

This is good to know and understand. I like to clean my vintage Lasonic trc-931 boombox it definitely needs this done music. it sounds like it's singing in water ...💧

@rajeevsiriwardena3936 2 года назад

Thanks buddy !

@hapvibess 5 лет назад

Really Thanks Sir For this Wonderful Video...Really its very helpful for me :)

@ThriftyAV 5 лет назад

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I will be doing another cassette deck care and maintenance video soon, so stay tuned to #ThriftyAV!

@ginseng1978 2 года назад

Thank you.

@ACURAOCULTA 3 года назад

Very very good

@no-man_baugh 3 года назад

Say can ya look into any magnetometers that can be used for tape heads? I think that they might help take the guess work out of how frequently you need to demag the heads The company annis even used to sell some along side their Hand-D-Mag

@thomasmencher221 2 года назад

Excellent

@MrShogun25 2 года назад

thank you

@gohangaijin 3 года назад

Hey:) my Nak BX-125e does qiet loud noises when playing a cassette. if i run it without a cassette in is completely quiet. do you know what it could be? it seems like the sound of the cassette moving (sort of clinking rythm sound) but i think its louder than it should be. i bought it a week ago and it annoys me quiet a bit. thank you if you know anything:)

@futureshock7425 3 года назад

Can you use a degaussing gun designed for crts to demagnetized tape heads? Would it be too powerful?

@xxx-xf7ks 2 года назад

thank u!

@crazimuthaz Год назад

I heard of light saber sourcery!

@who_cares848 Год назад

I have 2 tape decks in my stereo cabinet both stacked on top of eachtother. Do i need to pull one of them out to demag or will the other deck be fine?

@jasonwilliams6005 2 года назад

Do you use any detergent (such as Dawn) for the rollers?

@boutinpaul Год назад

I have the same M7 tape deck and I have very low output on the left channel. Would head cleaning fix this or is there another cause for that?

@iFoort 2 года назад

My regards. What is the difference between TDK HD-01 and TDK HD-30? Prices are different)

@mattthebutcher3324 Год назад

How do I know when it’s time to demagnetize? I’m having an issue with my deck and I can’t figure out what it is

@therealwolfspidertoo Год назад

Can these be used for reel to reel tape decks?

@mythco.3461 2 года назад

How would I demagnatize my trucks tape player?

@mayyanad 4 года назад

Thank you for the great information and video, I use 100% Isopropyl to clean my cassette head, are there any disadvantages of using it as compared to using 91% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol?

@ThriftyAV 4 года назад

100% is the best option for the heads, and I would use it if I had it, but I would avoid getting any on the pinch roller, as it can cause it to dry out and crack.

@mayyanad 4 года назад

@@ThriftyAV Thank you, Sir, very much appreciated

@darinb.3273 4 года назад

Denatured alcohol is fantastic as well and recommended by A LOT of cassette manufacturers... to my knowledge it IS NOT harmful to rubber either like IPA

@mayyanad 4 года назад

@@darinb.3273 That's great news, i rarely clean the rubbers when cleaning the cassette heads with alcohol, i will try to get some of the denatured alcohol at my Pharmacy. Thank you so much for this information. i have a Nakamichi cassettte deck 1, 3- heads ,one of the best decks from Nak.

@gentelmanjunkie542 2 года назад

That'd considered laboratory grade Isopropyl, best of the best. And regarding cleaning pinch rollers with 91% or 100%, if the rollers are just lightly dirty and one or two passes gets them clean it won't harm them. 91% and up evaporates in seconds, hardly long enough to dry out rubber. You would need to soak them overnight to do any harm. Don't sweat it for regular light maintenance. Heck, even a heavy cleaning, like when you get a new used deck that's really dirty, is fine just the once. Just make sure to clean it once a month or so so they never need more than a light once over and never will there be any problems.

@surgen9499 Год назад

My friend tells me head's demagnetize themselves . If the deck is not used for Year's . As mine was in storage for many . Is that true ? Should I still wipe the magnetic field clean ?

@cosmo18603 3 года назад

Hi I have a jvc dual tape deck and the right side seems to play tapes at a very low muffled sound I've cleaned it with alcohol and swabs with no luck is this a case for demagnetization?

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

Many things can cause high frequency loss on a tape signal including a dirty head, a mis-aligned head, a worn out head, incorrect tape formulation setting, incorrect use of noise reduction circuitry, circuitry problems in the unit (bad capacitors, etc), and magnetism on the head. You have tried cleaning, so a demag makes sense as the next thing to try; but considering all the possible sources of this problem, a demag may or may not fix your issue.

@donaldross4194 4 года назад

I would like to know where I get my DAT, reel to reel and cassette player demagnetize?

@valsmith484 4 года назад

I have one in excellent condition, $30, where are you situated? I'm in Victoria Australia, I can send you photos

@Mikexception 5 месяцев назад

I wish somebody would make it clearer how to confirm that at the moment magnetizing of head exists and that after demagnetizing it is less

@gospelbluegrassfan7613 Год назад

Question: Some of my tapes when played on a dual cassette deck, you know the one's used for dubbing, where one of the two compartments only is used for playback, but doesn't have an erase head, but the other compartment has both playback and recording features? Well, some of my tapes sound warbled on all of my machines if I play them from any cassette compartment missing an erase head, but they will work on the other compartments that all three parts, pinch roller, playback head, and erase head? IS there something about tape decks that can also record maybe being able to guide the tape along better to prevent the warbly sound? Can't figure out why some, certain tapes all sound good in Deck B's of dual cassette decks, but sound warbled on Deck A's of all of my dual cassette decks.

@Mikexception 5 месяцев назад

I think it is good observation- earse head better leads and stretches tape around play head. Erase head makes one more support for tape. Thing which is almost never mantioned is condition of filt pads in cassettes. - The also may catch dirt from tape and build up on side ar after many years are not soft any more making one channel readout worse. Tapes stored many years in bad condition catch dew from air and fungus. They need to be cleaned as well.

@coreyfellows9420 4 года назад

I got a Pioneer SC 5500II needing some work. I'd happily pay shipping for a free repair (for a video).

@cubdukat 3 года назад

How effective are the demagnetizing cassettes? It’s been decades since I’ve actually used a plug-in demagnetizer, and I’m leery about using one near something like my TiVo, which is stacked right on top of my tape deck.

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

Wand type works best, but I can understand your concern with proximity to the TiVo or other magnetically sensitive electronics.

@krzysztofczarnecki8238 2 года назад

The Koss cassette one I have does almost nothing if the head gets very magnetized, for example from touching it with magnetized tools. A wand type did improve this head's treble much more than the cassette one, but that cassette demagnetizer is about 30 years old. I also used the wand type on my smartphone after slapping a neodymium magnet onto it to see if the compass gets back to normal without recalibrating. It didn't. And I tried to erase a tape with the wand demagnetizer on purpose. Didn't erase, but made it actually louder and noisy. Also tried demagnetizing a few screwdrivers. Some did demag, some didn't.

@onm3rcur7 3 года назад

Can I just use my vinyl cleaning liquid for this? Just bought an old cassette deck that I plan on using ...

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

Alcohol is used for cleaning cassette deck heads. Vinyl cleaning solutions are usually water based. I would not suggest this for tape heads.

@no-man_baugh 3 года назад

I’ve heard some people reccomend a demagnetizer called the "Han-D-Mag". It’s a similar device to the one you and others use exept a bit bigger, squarer, and at minimum x10 the price! (Going around $100) Do you know if the Han-D-Mag has any preformance benifits over the demagnetizer you use in the video, and do you think that the price is at all worth it?

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

The cheap one that I used in this video works fine. The Han-D-Mag looks like it might have a heat sink on it, so it may last longer before it starts to overheat, but I haven't used a demag unit for very long anyway.

@germanrendon3084 2 года назад

my cassette deks are eating my tapes , what would be causing this?

@ThriftyAV 2 года назад

Several things can cause this problem. The most common is the capstan spinning, but the takeup reel not spinning. This is usually a belt problem.

@pjwoo276 2 года назад

If I have played tapes many times on a deck that has never been demagnetized, have I damaged the cassette tape/?

@ThriftyAV 2 года назад

IF your tape head is significantly magnetized, this can erase signal from your tapes. High frequency signals will suffer the most. That being said, having a lot of play hours on a head does not necessarily mean that the head is over magnetized. On 2-head units that are used for recording, the bias signal applied to the head during recording acts to demagnetize the head in a similar manner as a degausser. On 3-head units and 2-head units that are only used for playback, heads can build up magnetism over time. This is why every owners manual for tape based recorders and players has instructions to degauss on some recommended timetable. In order to check to see if your head is magnetized requires a magnetometer (gauss meter), a tool most folks do not own. Degaussing is a precautionary measure that can provide peace of mind that you are not damaging your tapes.

@pjwoo276 2 года назад

@@ThriftyAV This is such important information. I will not play my valuable tapes anymore till I demagnetize the recorder tape deck heads. Now I realize I have done a lot of damage.I had been wondering if it was my hearing or my imagination. Thank you so much for your very considerate and informative reply.

@funkocoriko 3 года назад

do you think that magnatized tape heads might cause small ticks when playback the cassette? i have this problem sometimes.... thanks for the great video!

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

I would associate "tick" sounds with a dirty head or oxide shed on the tape itself.

@funkocoriko 3 года назад

@@ThriftyAV thanks for your answer mate! i cleaned the heads several times though... i've noticed it depends of the cassettes. Even on new cassettes it happens. So it could comes from the tape itself, mabye exposed to humidity or oxided... thanks anyway!

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

@@funkocoriko Do you have access to another cassette player you could try? I won't completely rule out a head magnetization issue, or it could be an issue with bad capacitors in the cassette deck, especially if it is old.

@funkocoriko 3 года назад

@@ThriftyAV I made a few tests this morning. i use a Tascam 424 mk2 and seems that the problem of "ticking" noises comes with the type2 cassettes only. I have no problem with the type1 cassettes. that's weird! The 424 mk2 manual says Type2 are better for the machine. btw i've tried with many cassettes, and also on another cassette player which plays both types of cassettes whithout differences.

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

I own a 424 mk1 (that no longer powers up). The bias and time constant of replay EQ are preset for Type II tapes on this unit, so you will have poor treble response when recording and playing back Type I. From what you described, it sounds like the noise is associated with the playback head of your unit, not the record head. I'm not sure if dbx can be turned on and off on the MKII, but if it can, you might try that out. You can also try the different tape speed settings. Also, does it occur when you record silence as well as music? NOT a blank, but a tape with silence and a bias signal recorded onto it. You could also try recording various test tones or a frequency sweep to see if there are trouble spots in the frequency spectrum. Compared to the resale value of a 424 unit, a demag wand is cheap, so certainly worth trying out. However, these old machines have a lot of capacitors in them, so if this is the problem, the fix will involve replacing caps on the circuit board.

@suadcokljat1045 3 года назад

5:30 sound of Star Wars lightsaber!

@ThriftyAV 3 года назад

You made me curious... and I found a video of how the sound designer actually did it! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tZj1mYLC7h0.html

@johngiotto4734 5 лет назад

So, if I understand correctly, a car cassette player, with playback head only, doesn't require demagnetizing.

@johngiotto4734 5 лет назад

@@ThriftyAV Thanks!

@darinb.3273 4 года назад

I've heard that if a unit is regularly recorded on the Bias acts as a demagger as well... no practical proof either way LOL

@ayala87 5 лет назад

How often should you demagnetize?

@ThriftyAV 5 лет назад

The instructions on some demag units say to use it after 8-10 hours of recording. That being said, I've read posts from cassette users who have gone years with no demag and no noticeable loss of quality. My rule of thumb is that if a head has high frequency loss that isn't fixed by cleaning or alignment, then it's time for a demag.

@johnricco5366 2 года назад

I DID VINYL LPS AND CASSETTE TAPES IN THE 69S,70S,AND 80S UNTIL THE ADVENT OF CD. IT NEVER GOT BETTER THAN THE CD. BESIDES BEING THE LAST COLLECTIBLE ON HANDS FORMAT,IT REQUIRES MINIMAL CARE COMPARED TO VINYL AND TAPE. BESIDES THE ADVANTAGES OF NO NEEDLE TO RECORD WEAR OR TAPE HEAD TO TAPE WEAR AND THE GRADUAL DEGRADATION AND WEAR FACTORS OF EACH FORMAT, WITH CDS THERES BASICALLY JUST PROPER HANDLING AND OCCASIONAL LASER CLEANING. THATS IT. WATCHING THESE VINYL AND TAPE MAINTENANCE VIDEOS ITS A REMINDER I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE IN MOVING ON TO CD. AND WHATS REPLACED CDS? NOTHING OTHER THAN THIS STREAMING AND DOWNLOADING WHICH IS OF NO INTEREST TO SERIOUS HANDS ON COLLECTORS. I SEE NO IMPROVEMENT ON CD OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS IN EITHER SOUND NOR MAINTENANCE,NEVER MIND PORTABILITY AND MUCH SMALLER STORAGE SPACE NEEDS.

@cosminogloocosy1154 4 года назад

That nice SHARP "budget deck" is vintage too :/

@ThriftyAV 4 года назад

True, but it already has some issues with a noisy motor (not the belt) and I picked it up at a yard sale for $2. Also, even though the electronics are not designed to handle the signal level that the demag puts out, I was pretty sure the Sharp would survive this experiment.

@Pizzamanrule 4 года назад

What happens if the demagnetizer touch the tape head

@ThriftyAV 4 года назад

If the demagnetizer does not have a protective plastic tip, it can scratch the tape head, as you would be rubbing metal against metal.

@Pizzamanrule 4 года назад

ThriftyAV but does it affect the tape head if I touches it

@ThriftyAV 4 года назад

@@Pizzamanrule It will not permanently magnetize the head if you pull it away slowly. Having the unit on while you are doing the demag can potentially overload the electronic circuits. If the unit is off, touching the head with a demag should not cause permanent damage.

@Pizzamanrule 4 года назад

ThriftyAV okay thank you

@swayybaby9772 2 года назад

Can I use 70% instead of 91%

@ThriftyAV 2 года назад

70% will still work but doesn't clean quite as well and takes longer to evaporate due to the 30% water content. 70% is less damaging to pinch rollers, so that's a plus.

@coreyfellows1945 Год назад

Want to feature a spec 1 and 2?

@larsholst6216 3 года назад

How to clean a tape path: Use 99% isopropylalcohol on q-tips. Evaporation time of 99% isopropylalcohol is so fast that no harm, whatsoever, is done to any rubber. Been doing so since the 60s without any damage in private and in studios as a master recordist on analog tape decks. Clean all heads, capstans, tape guides and pinch rollers. Just as shown in this picture: Using other chemicals than 99% Isopropylalcohol may damage the rubber and may desolve the glue on the heads. Use of abbrassives will for sure damage capstans, heads and rubber. Rubbing Alcohol is a common nickname for Isopropylalcohol & Ethanol. Do not use Ethanol for cleaning the tape path. Also make sure it is 99% isopropylalcohol you use. Any less percentage will most probably contain oil products, phthalats and salicylate acid. Do not use that on the tape path. People claiming that 99% isopropylalcohol damage the rubber pinch rollers are mistaken. They are usually told this by people using i.e. 70% IPA or water and soap (or soup), which are damaging to the pinch rollers rubbers. For people worried about cleaning rubber pinch rollers with 99% isopropylalcohol, here's a rubber chemical resistance chart to clarify that this is not an issue at all: mykin.com/rubber-chemical-resistance-chart-3 I have seen Butyl, Hypalon and Viton as material choise for pinch rollers. It is mostly more modern decks using Viton for pinch rollers.

@modeljetjuggernaut4864 Год назад

Poor Sharp deck 😢

@georgedames6735 2 года назад

I am returning this exact demagnetizer because it doesn't work at all. I challenge anyone to pass the tip of it on a screwdriver that attracts paperclips, won't change whatsoever the attraction between them.

@ReanimatedItachi 5 месяцев назад

I agree with you. I don't think any of these heads are made of hard iron and instead soft iron is used. Since soft iron does not get permanently magnetised, there is no need for demagnetizing

@elitdress 4 года назад

Now I do recall having Kenwood audio rack (bot in UAE for $1800 with BOSE Acoustimass 5 s II) and using it almost for 4 years -NEVER EVER CLEANED OR DEMAG !!!! The play and record were imaculate. Dont c too much point in it

@R3v3r4nD Год назад

Did you just... demagnetize solid magnet eraze head?...

@couldntmixapotnoodle 3 года назад

Would this fix low frequency buzzing when playing pre-recorded tapes? Its just irritating enough to notice at the start of a tape but fades away once the music comea in and its not normal hiss its always there during the leader tape too.