Double platinum quality K7 (but mono USB interface)

Here's a great double living Platinum K7, robust and pleasantly retro look that will delight all fans nostalgic ("Ah, The CPC 464"). It is also intended for many people still using audio cassettes and wish to regularly make copies: School teachers or theater, the musicians to share audio demos and models, casting leaders, librarians, archivists, pros trainers, etc ...
With dimensions of 40 x 13.5 x 27.5 cm and weighs 4 kg, this plate is solid and gives off an air of reliability right out of the package. It is a German product design and it reassures.
The reader accepts "normal" cassettes (supported frequencies of 40 to 14,000 Hz) and "Chrome" (40 - 15000Hz), with excellent performance: 58dB signal / noise, less than 1% harmonic distortion. Economical, it consumes only 6 watts and off automatically after a certain period of non-use (about 1 hour).

CONTENT: Auna Mastertape includes:
- Double Platinum K7 salon
- 2 2xRCA cables (Cinch)
- A USB cable (type A male to male A) short enough (you can change it or use an extension cord to increase the distance between the computer and Auna, no signal loss)
- A manual in German and English. No explanation in French, but the English pages are easy to understand

CONNECTIONS: At levels of connectors on the rear of the case, we have:
- 1 USB port: his tapes to scan to a PC or Mac computer.
- 2 RCA "Out" slots stereo (left and right) to transmit sound to an external device.
- 2 RCA "IN" locations stereo (left and right) to capture the sound from an external device (and record it on cassette).

BEFORE THE FRONT PANEL: CONTROLS AND INDICATORS
In addition to standard navigation buttons (play, pause, fast forward, etc) on readers A (reading) and B (reading and recording) you will find several buttons: POWER (power on / off), REC and PLAY CrO2 CrO2 (for reading and recording tapes "chrome" and enjoy the background noise reduction), "DUBBING" and "HI-SPEED DUBBING" for normal speed cassette tape recordings or accelerated and finally a resettable digital counter.
LED indicators provide information on the volume Stereo dB (toolbar at the top = left channel, the lower one = right channel).

READING FEATURES / REGISTRATION:
The Auna Mastertape allows listening and copy cassette or on another cassette, or towards an external device (via USB or RCA Out jacks).
It can also receive sound from an external device (MP3 player, computer, stereo, game console, etc ..) via RCA "IN" and record on a tape (useful for courses or seminars).

The sound quality and rich in detail: no breath spoils listening. You should know that at home, I usually electrical interference that generate annoying background noise when the elevator is in operation (tested with a K7 radio Philips, HIFI Aiwa and PC speakers). With Auna Mastertape (which must have shielded internal components and quality), I could finally enjoy my audio recordings for more than 50 hours without any external discomfort.

TAPE RECORDING TAPE A: You can copy his tapes by putting the source tape into A (play) to another tape placed in B (recording) or normal speed (by pressing the "Dubbing" button) or in accelerated speed ( "Hi-Speed ​​Dubbing" button).

TAPE RECORDING TO COMPUTER
- Via USB: You can connect the Auna to a computer via the USB cable. The device will be recognized as a sound device (input and output) automatically (Plug n 'Play), and we can go through this interface to record sound. The button "GAIN" on the back will fine tune the sound level to the USB output device. Then just install audio software such as Audacity (free) for recording in .wav or mp3.
PROBLEM: Unfortunately, I have found that through the USB device that emulates a microphone, the sound becomes mono. This is not disturbing for courses or seminars, but it is a big disadvantage if one wants to keep intact stereophonic listening of our cassettes. The alternative is to go through the OUT RCA plugs.
- Via RCA OUT: Since the USB interface allows you to record a mono sound, we gladly go through the OUT RCA plugs on the back of the case. To do this, use a female RCA x2 adapter to 3.5mm male besides the supplied RCA cable, all connected to the LINE IN plug (or stereo line input) of the sound card. To control the output volume and to avoid distortion, it may no longer use the button Auna "GAIN" (which affects only the USB port), but finely we solve directly through the properties of the device records "Enter line. "

PLAY BACK AND SAVE ON ANOTHER DEVICE
As for the recording to the computer, it will connect the Auna to the audio device (HIFI chains, computer, game console, TV, etc.) via the RCA OUT plugs.

EXTERNAL SOUND RECORDING OF A TAPE
To record external sound on a tape, it will connect the plug to RCA IN of Auna desired device. On a computer you will connect it to the "OUT / Phone." It starts recording of the cassette deck B without pressing DUBBING (to indicate that the sound does not wish to drive A, but the one from CAR IN).

CONCLUSION: This double platinum Auna K7 USB drive is excellent material which would be just perfect if the USB interface does not produce mono sound, while this direct connection to the computer is a real advantage in simplicity of such devices . Otherwise, it's a near-faultless be it in terms of design, German quality, sound (stereo and without disturbance), functions (reading and entering and exiting recording via RCA) and performance beyond expectations. Auna shows that in 2014, the tapes still have a place in the audiophile landscape, 50 years after their existence. And if you do not believe in the usefulness of audio tapes in 2014, know they are still on sale and at a good price Maxell UR audio cassette 90 Pack of 5