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Followup To
Question -
Hi Kevin,
I am having trouble getting a signal to my HK dual cassette deck for recording purposes. (It has worked in the past with phono and CD inputs.) I have a Denon Digital receiver, and the tape recorder will successfully play back recorded tapes. I checked the I/O connectors on the back of the receiever for the tape deck, thinking they may have loosened but they were in tight. Any suggestions appreciated.
THanks, JR
Answer -
Dear JR,
I checked the least expensive Denon A/V receiver on their web site (and a couple a bit more expensive), and the one thing common to *all* of them was a tape loop--twin connections, not always next to eachother, that allow you to record and play back. Double check your model against the manual so you know which these are. Hint: Denon models frequently have a "MDR" (mini-disc recorder) or "CDR" (CD recorder) label in addition to "TAPE".
Sound to me like you have the connections wrong.
First, make sure that you have the cassette deck's OUTPUTs connected to the receiver's INPUTs, and that the deck's INPUTs are connected to the receiver's OUTPUTs. Yes, I know it seems counterintuitive, but what comes out of the deck goes into the receiver (playback), and what goes into the deck comes out of the receiver (recording).
Try taping something. If it works, problem solved. If it doesn't, reverse the input/output connections. Well, if doesn't work one way, it should the other.
I'm amazed you got recordings out using PHONO and CD inputs. They shouldn't have worked. More power to you.
Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!
Kindest regards,
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
The tape player is playing back fine at present, so that proves the connections are correct (on the deck: playback=out, record=in; on the receiver playback=in, record=out). I did double check them to make SURE and they are correct and tight. I have the Denon AVR 1803 and a 1 year old Harmon Kardon dual deck.
Problem: trying a multitude of sources (CD, Tuner/Radio, XM satellite radio, etc.) I get NO signal to register on the tape deck. Very strange. Any other suggestions? Is it possible the output from the Denon to the deck is bad?
Thanks,
John
AnswerDear John,
Frequently receivers have what is called a "source selection" switch. What this does is allow the tape loop, actually the recording function of the loop, to receive signals from a sound source in the receiver (CD, tuner, phono, etc.). Make sure that you have this switch engaged when attempting to record.
Your model, being last year's vintage is not accessible on the Denon web site, but its successor, the AVR-1905, is. From what I can gather from the on-line manual, the source selection switch is embedded in other functions, but it's right there (p. 44 of the AVR-1905 manual). It seems to be engaged only from the remote control unit--a fault of modern A/V receivers: functionality is split between the unit and the RC unit. Nonetheless, without having the unit in front of me, I can't tell how to engage it for taping purposes, however. You'll just have to experiment.
At the very worst, you can go to www.usa.denon.com and get specific instructions for your model from the on-line support function there--at least I assume that's what it's there for.
Kindest regards,
Kevin
