Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony TCM939BLK.CEK Table-top Compact Tape Recorder

I am a disabled person who has difficulty with using my hands and fingers. I use audiobooks on tape and disc, has they are easier to use, then a book. I already have a CD, MP3 player for audiobooks on disc. I found that it is very difficult to find, a product that just plays and records on a tape.
The Sony compact tape recorder seems to be the main one still available.
It can be used using the mains (AC power adapter supplied), or AA batteries.
It has the normal control buttons, which are large enough to be able to us the full width of your finger.
The buttons are, record, play,rewind/review, fast forward/cue, stop/eject, pause. Another button on top is for resetting the counter. An inbuilt microphone is positioned next to the record button.
On the right hand side is a volume slider. On the left side are the holes for the DC connecter, ear and microphone.
I have found using the machine very easy, either on its own, with earphones or powered speakers.

For the price you dont expect great quality and you dont get it with this recorder but it pays back in ease of use. This is ideal for recording very short clips of sound and then being able to play back straight away without the hassle of having to make seperate tracks and give them all a name- a frustration I've encountered with minidisc. It is possible to improve the sound quality to a good degree by using your own mic. For sheer convenience and very good value for money this is a winner, and if sound quality isnt at a premium and you find MD more than a little annoying this is a great little buy.

My wife and daughter needed a recorder so that together they could listen to and use a set of language tapes. The Sony is just the job. The sound is good for it's size and the controls are straightforward. Not much use for listening to music but excellent for speech. The Amazon price was, by comparison with other sites, competitive. A good purchase.

The Sony tape recorder is exactly as described, it is light weight with an integral handle and works well while being carried. The sound is pretty good but I doubt whether the item will prove to be very robust as the casing is all plastic, hence my score only being 4 stars. Time will tell, but iniatially I am very satisfied,

The Sony table-top tape recorder is just what I wanted for playing pre-recorded tapes, and is very satisfactory.
However, I would also like to use it for recording my own piano music, but find the in-built microphone most unsatisfactory. On play back, there so much static/tape noise that it is impossible to listen to. I am prepared to purchase a separate microphone to plug into the recorder. Can you recommend one please ? The only ones I have seen on your website, have not had very good feedbacks.

Thankyou Roger