The same bud that gave me the Eico tube gear just plopped a JVC DD-7 in my lap yesterday. At first glance I was like :sigh:. After cleaning it up, lubing some of the moving parts, cleaning and demagnetizing the head it was more like :thmbsp::yes:. The weight of it should have been a hint as to the performance. I put in a tape I recorded 23 years ago. If I remember correctly it was with a 8080 Sansui, Pioneer CTF 950 and a Dual 1219. Was my roommates system. Anyway it was a very good recording. Dropped it in the deck and was pleasantly surprised! Great sound. Love the direct drive. So smooth switching between functions. Played a few of my older tapes, 25-35 years old. Played them all flawlessly. Killer deck. Put it in the garage with the Yamaha R-300 and Bose 201's.

Is it a dual capstan? The only decks I have that will pull really old tapes are my dual capstans. The Denon DRM 740 is the king of the heap for pulling old bad tapes. But, it sounds like your JVC is doing fine :)

Yes this a dual capstan 3 head deck with full logic control. Has Dolby, ANRS and Super ANRS. What suprised me is the MSRP in 1981 was $600. I know thats high, still I am sure it sold for at least $450. I have alot of tapes over 20 yrs. old. I was always quite anal about keeping my tapes tight. I would ff then rw to keep the slop out of em. Have not played many lately, will start though. Actually have a nice library of tapes from the 60's to 80. The majority I recorded from LP's.