General Asylum: REVIEW: Pioneer CT-a7 Tapedeck by DaVinci Audio

Model:	CT-a7
Category:	Tapedeck
Suggested Retail Price:	$1199.00
Description:	Top Flight Professional Master Deck
Manufacturer URL:	Pioneer
Manufacturer URL:	Pioneer

Review by DaVinci Audio ( A ) on July 24, 2003 at 00:46:49
IP Address: 24.166.84.199

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for the CT-a7

This was I think the best Pioneer series, and the ct-a7 was the one that stood out to me most as I bought two of them new when they first came out. I could have had any model I wanted, but shuned the ct-a9 big brother because I felt it had too much undeveloped technology that I didn't care to invest in. As it has turned out, all that extra technology died before it ever got off the ground, and anyone who bought one was stuck with a semi functional cassette deck by proxy. The ct-a7 is a big bad 3 head pro studio quality deck, has every now-useable function from the entire series, and is identical in all other aspects to its big brother. I think that makes it the best deck of the series, and since I think this was the best series Pioneer ever made - before or after - then its safe to say I think this is the best cassette deck Pioneer built. I paid less than the list price for mine, but I have toted them around facilities for years in my recording rack and have yet to run into a deck that sounds or feels better no matter how much it cost. Ive heard 6ooo.oo studio decks that sound virtually identical to mine and engineers are shocked when they hear what they cost. It would take a miracle to get me to part with either of mine.

Product Weakness: Doesn't come with a bottle of champaigne.
Product Strengths: Everything.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	McIntosh MC-2125 x 2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Conrad Johnson Premier 18LS Line Stage Preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Studer A730 CD Player, Pioneer CT-A7 x 2, Technics SL- 1200 MK2 turntable
Speakers:	Klipsch
Cables/Interconnects:	Custom
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Doesn't come with a bottle of champaigne.
Product Strengths:	Everything.