RQ2102 Cassette Recorder

Over the years (it must be at least 20 years by now) I have used the Panasonic Cassette Recorder (and owned several of them) because it is a great tool for research and saving information. The Panasonic does have a long life too...believe me I know. I am a writer, and I do a lot of research with my Panasonic Recorder. I can record topics of interest off the Internet (You Tube), or from the television or the radio (KPFK 90.7FM is a favorite). I also have an Olympus Digital recorder, but I find my Panasonic easier to use and a lot more convenient. It's easy to play back and I don't have to use batteries because I can plug it in. However, it can be used with batteries. Also I like the fact that when I play a cassette, and it ends, the tape recorder will turn off automatically. It has a counter which is handy too, so you can note places on the tape and go back to a particular spot. Anyone who likes information and doesn't have time to be sitting in front of the computer to record, or TV, or radio, will find the Panasonic cassette recorder a great tool. I keep my Panasonic on the bookcase behind my desk (and computer) and use it daily! When I get e-mails, I often get "webinars" etc., and I don't want to waste my time watching because most of them are not visual anyway. So I turn on my Panasonic and record the information. (I usually set the timer to go back in 45 minutes - the length of a cassette tape) and turn it over to record if the information is longer than 45 minutes. Then I will listen to the tape at a time that is convenient and note anything of value for my work. Unless I really want to keep the information, I will just re-use the tape by taping over it. (The cassette tapes are great and reusable too.) Okay, so I am an information junkie. I have a digital recorder too, but I still find the Panasonic much more convenient. I like having information confined to a cassette tape so I can title it and keep it for reference. (I have boxes of tapes I've recorded over the years.) Some of the things I have taped are from KPFK FM when they have interesting speakers i.e. Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, etc. Sometimes, I will want to tape a clip from a movie for future reference, like the Speech given in the movie Independence Day. Of course, now, speeches from movies are available on the Internet too. The Panasonic is a handy tool, and well worth the investment. Also, I have documentaries that I will watch, and also record so I can listen again while I am driving. While I am listening (from one recorder) I will note on another recorder anything for future reference I find of value. I wouldn't be without my Panasonic. It would be like losing my right arm and that's no joke. I love this tool. It's a workhorse, and will last for years!

I don't write many reviews, but I felt compelled to write this one. First off, kudos to the vendor who is still selling this "retro" product. I know we have hi-tech digital recorders and what not. I own and use them too. I went back to school for a doctorate and record all of my lectures on a smaller tape recorder I bought from Radio Shack years ago. It's a workhorse and I'm afraid it will someday kick the bucket. So, I purchased this shoe box tape recorder which I got yesterday. I connected the AC cord to it and played one of my lectures. If you have the volume very low, you may get that "tinny" sound another reviewer mentioned about this product. But, if you increase the volume, it sounds fine. The 3 inch speaker makes a difference and it sounds just a close as you can get to being inside the classroom. The pause button allows me to stop the tape a critical points in the lecture to jot down important notes. Headphones work fine (for those people that keep asking, they are not included, and neither are the batteries). My generation (i.e. Generation X) ushered in the internet in the early to mid-1990s. Why am I using tape recorders? Well, I guess it's a habit. I used it in graduate school in the late 90s to mid-2000s. I trust the old media. To me, cassette tapes are somehow more "permanent." Thus, the tape counter is a very important feature for me. I can take any tape and listen to any part of a lecture with the tape counter. I'm sure this can be done with the digital recorders but I have yet to learn how. I think it's important to note that I use the Maxell UR-90 (minutes - 45 minutes each side) blank audio cassette tapes for voice recording (Position Type A). You can get longer tapes, but that actual tape gets thinner and therefore more susceptible for getting "eaten" by your tape player. I believe you get the best quality sound with the Maxell UR-90. Lastly, you can convert the lecture to MP3s and save them on a CD or cloud - whatever suits you. You just need a connecter cord from your tape player to your digital recorder. The digital recorder I'm using is the Sony ICD-AX412 Digital Flash Memory Voice recorder that I purchased here on Amazon. It's phenomenal! I record my own lectures. I haven't written a review for it because there are plenty of positive reviews for this digital recorder. I connected my old Radio Shack tape recorder to it and converted a taped lecture to an MP3. Overall, I thought this product deserves 5 stars for availability, reliability, good construction, sound quality (even though when the volume is very low you may get the tinny sound - but just increase the volume and it goes away), tape counter, pause button. Note: I use the product for listening to lectures recorded from the internet.

Product received on time, but the box was damaged and had a 4 inch diameter hole in one of its corners, taped up. The main item was wrapped inside a copious amount of "air bags" (I don't know what you call them), which I greatly appreciated. Using a Maxell UR 90 min. cassette tape worked as intended. Quality of the voice recording is at high fidelity, the buttons on the recorder are responsive. What did surprise me (in terms of features I didn't expect) was the 3.5mm jack for a microphone, and input for an 8ohm monitor, of which I'll assume is a speaker. Comes with a plug for the outlet, in case you don't have batteries, which I do not. All in all, got what I paid for. I assume the high price is due to this being Panasonic.

I bought my unit used and it works perfectly. It did not come with a power cord but batteries can be used inside to operate. In my case, I went to a place that repairs those kinds of things like TVs, turn tables, etc hoping he had a power cord laying around. He tested it and it works fine. It is hard to find a cord, he said and he told me the odd shape it had to fit in the slot on the side. He suggested I type in on my computer to google: Panasonic tape recorder AC power cord with its model number RQ2102 and it was available new as well as on ebay. He said if I had my old one that would not run, he could totally rebuild it and would sell it for $140 and guarantee it. This is a well made product and would be worth it had I known.

Bought in November. 5 Months later, rewind quit working spit out tape in a snarl. No response from company. Wasted $189.11. Do not buy it.

This was the perfect solution for my “tech-free” 10 year old and his band. The can record themselves and give tapes to their friends. Decent quality for a diy kids punk band

Either no erase head or it doesn't work. Of course, if I WANT to add parts to a recording, perhaps that might be good, if I was able to figure out the precise timing. There was virtually NO STATIC in the recording and great volume in the playback, so in that regard it is much superior to some other cassette recorders I have. I am resigned to perhaps check if I can erase via the other recorders enough so that this one can then re-record on some of those tapes later ... Another flaw is the buttons are very quirky or flimsy -- they tend to look like they are sticking in the down position. I am glad that it does NOT auto-reverse, because that on other recorders has destroyed some tapes by accident . The low cost meant to me that it wasn't worth the hassle to return it even if I didn't want it. And since I need this noise-less feature so much, I am putting up with it. I am currently running it off A/C. I haven't tried off of batteries yet, although that is allowable supposedly.

Sometimes the old tech is the best. If you need to record complex choral rehearsals lasting an hour and a half, or two hours, including repetitions of various tricky phrases, and solo, duet, and complex passages, this panasonic shoebox recorder will record these and the entire session on traditional cassette tapes, easy to plug into a wall socket (better than batteries which can run out if a session is too long) and super easy to operate: two buttons push down together and you are recording. Rewind: one button. Playback: another button. Cassettes are inexpensive and can be recorded over. Vocal music comes out in great quality, true sound. The shoebox design is compact, sturdy. My kids earlier bought me a new, modern digital recorder. It didn't have the capacity to record an entire rehearsal and the replay sounded like Minnie Mouse singing to Mickey. Went on line at a Best Buy employee's suggestion and found the shoebox recorder, like one of the old ones, but brand new and super for the job. Acoustic quality is great. Shipment was prompt. All prices were super reasonable! Music majors take note!!

OUR FIRST RQ2102 lasted for years.. This is our second one - very user friendly. GREAT PRODUCT - THANK YOU!

The recorder works fine, it could have more volome, but so far seems to be o.k.

It does exactly what it’s supposed to. But the price was shocking! I don’t know how they can justify a price of over $ 450 for something that old (literally old stock from the ‘70’s) and out of date. $ 60 maybe but not $ 450! That’s robbery!

Exactly as advertised though it is on the expensive side.

Works but the volume is a little quiet for our application.