Onkyo Integra TA-2056 Cassette Deck Review

The Onkyo Integra TA-2056 is a three-head cassette deck with Dolby B and Dolby C noise-reduction systems, a digital tape counter, a user-adjust-able bias-trim control, and a variety of programming options. It seems to be designed for the large group of music listeners who seek adequate performance and abundant features at a moderate price.

The TA-2056 uses one d.c. servomotor for its single-capstan drive, a second motor to turn the reel hubs, and a third to operate the head and pinch-roller mechanism. The head assembly moves in a two-step sequence. Its intermediate position permits close but not full contact between the heads and the tape, which allows high-speed scanning to detect blank spaces between selections (as needed by the preview and repeat features) without subjecting the heads to excessive wear.

The record and playback heads in the TA-2056 are made of hardened permalloy. While heads of this material are not as resistant to wear as sendust and ferrite heads in cassette applications, they should last the life of the deck under normal conditions. The record and playback elements are separate but housed in a single casing, allowing a user to make an instant comparison between the sound source and the recorded result. Moreover, the gap width of each head can be optimized for its specific function.

The TA-2056 has a relatively conventional cassette well, but its backlighting and large front window make it easier than most other designs do to read the label and see how much tape is left. Sensors within the well detect the cassette type (ferric, chrome, or metal) and automatically switch the deck to the correct bias and equalization settings. The cassette-well door is removable, allowing access to the heads and pinch-roller for routine cleaning and demagnetizing.

The digital tape counter on the TA-2056 can be switched to show either the elapsed time or the remaining time while playing or recording. It does this by using a microcomputer chip to calculate the differential speed between the two reel tables. The user must initially set the calculator by pressing a button that corresponds to the length of the tape (and, for a C-46 cassette, whether it has a large or regular-size hub). The peak-hold record-level indicator has a twelve-segment LED string for each channel, calibrated from —20 to +8 dB.

Either individual selections or an entire side can be set to repeat up to five times. Furthermore, a block of consecutive selections of any length can be defined and similarly repeated. During recording, the auto-SPACE button can create 5-second blanks for detection by the programming circuits. An additional scanning button provides bidirectional search and a 10-second preview of each selection.

The TA-2056 has a user-adjustable accubias control to optimize performance from different brands of ferric and CrO2-type cassettes. No built-in test generator is provided, however, so the user must rely on his ear while switching between source and tape positions or use the settings for a variety of tapes that are specified in the owner’s manual.

Separate left- and right-channel record-balance controls are provided, together with a master record-level control. There is no volume control for headphones or overall output. On the other hand, microphone jacks are supplied, along with a defeatable FM-multiplex filter and a switch for connecting the unit to an external timer.

The Onkyo TA-2056 measures 17-1/8 inches wide, 4-3/8 inches high, and 14-1/2 inches deep, and it weighs just over 14 pounds. It is available in either black or silver finish. A cable-connected remote control is optional. Price: $395; $50 for remote control.

Lab Tests

The advantage of using a separate playback head with a narrow gap was evident in our playback-only frequency-response measurements. Measured with the IEC standard ferric and CrO2 BASF test tapes, the response of the TA-2056 varied by less than ±1.5 dB from 31.5 to 18,000 Hz.

To check the record-playback parameters we used certified “center-line performance” samples of TDK AD (ferric), SA (CrO2-type), and MA (metal) cassettes. At the IEC 0-dB reference level (250 nanowebers per meter)—which correlated closely with 0 dB on the deck’s record-level indicators—the overall response of the metal tape extended nearly a full octave above that of the other tape types. At the — 20-dB level customarily used for record-playback frequency-response measurements, the response did not fall more than — 3 dB until below 30 Hz, and it extended beyond our 20,000-Hz measurement limit with the metal and ferric formulations. Leaving the accubias knob at its detented center position resulted in a — 3-dB point of 17,000 Hz for the high-bias (chrome-type) tape sample. While this measurement met specification, we were able to improve it (as shown on the accompanying graph) with a slight adjustment of the bias control.

Signal-to-noise measurements for the TA-2056 were good, though our metal tape sample did not outperform the ferric and chrome-equivalent tapes as it usually does in this respect. This could be the result of either a slight underbias for metal tapes or limited maximum head current in the deck.

Our wow-and-flutter measurements were somewhat better than specified, representing rather typical performance for a single-capstan drive in this price class. Dolby B and Dolby C accuracy was very good, and the microphone and line-level sensitivity, output level, and overload level were all normal.

Comments

From a human-engineering standpoint, the TA-2056’s controls are well placed and the displays easy to read. Tape handling was good, and mechanical noise was very low. While not rivaling a clock in accuracy, the digital tape counter was extremely helpful in determining which selections could be grouped together on a side. The deck’s programming facilities worked well and could prove quite valuable to many users. The accuracy of the record-level indicator, and its peak-hold feature, made it genuinely useful for setting the proper recording level. The owner’s manual is unusually well written and informative.

The overall sound quality of the TA-2056 was very good. Source-vs.-tape comparisons showed slight but perceptible differences, though these were well within the limits of what one should be willing to accept from a deck in this price class. Onkyo has a long-standing reputation for building components that rank high within their respective product and price categories, and the Integra TA-2056 cassette deck upholds that tradition.

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