Philips CD Soundmachine AZ1852 Multisource ripping USB Tape is rated 4.0 out of 5 by 33.
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Important features Please include MW, SW1, SW2 radio bands. Please provide a glass or fiber shield on cassette door to view the take-up wheel is spinning or not. Avoid belts, because belts may stab on back anytime. Direct motor drive for cassette could be best. Please provide separate band selection for aux in or mp3 in. Aux input is best. Remember rr898 double deck stereo set, it has electronic source selector, not mechanical switching. Tape, cd, usb, radio, aux good design. You can include aux input for other mono cassette players also. Tape recorders in 80's had aux input. Please try to provide a motion sensor near take-up wheel, if accidentally it stops capstan and pinch roller will pull the tape and crush, to avoid this the sensor should sense the wheel rotation continuously and if the wheel is not spinning it should stop the motor immediately. So cassette tape will be safe from pulling and it is effective than auto stop. To avoid wow and flutter try to avoid using belt aids. Other functions are normal and no need amendments. Please reengineer the above said. Overall good, but still need to improve. Continue to support us. Thankyou.
Date published: 2018-01-30
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Excellent performance and Unique Feaures This machine is not for making a lot of noise. It produces High Quality low dB level sound enough for large living room. The best feature is - excellent quality mp3 format produced from ripping of old magnetic audio tapes - which have become now obsolete. I was looking for a machine for this requirement only, and this AZ1852 fully satisfied me on that aspect. CD player, FM radio and USB player are added advantage for me.
Date published: 2013-09-04
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Very usefull product Very good product, very simple and effective. Though remote control is only for USB drive, if have for cd, volume and other controls etc then much more helpful.
Date published: 2013-04-17
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Quite Happy with it. I bought this mainly to convert my old cassette and Audio CD collection to MP3. Playback: I used the AZ1852/98 SoundMachine in a small room of about 12x12 Ft., volume set to approx. 35%, DBB ON, and placed it about 5 feet away from my seat.. Audio CD: Very Good Cassette: Good – But then consider the age of your tapes too  USB: Very Good FM: Very Good With Headphones, volume at about 20%, DBB ON: Excellent for all modes. I connected my Mobile, and then my Tab via the MP3 Line In, and played music from my Worked wonderfully well. I then connected a Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter to the MP3 Line in, and streamed music from my Mobile, and from my Tab. Worked superbly. Recording / Ripping: I started off by converting a CD and then converted a cassette to MP3. I then recorded a FM Radio program. The recording part works well - However there are some small issues, as described below, but we can work around them. 1. USB Recording Button is feather touch, so be very gentle. If you press too hard, the USB RIP sign may appear in the display, but not record anything in the USB drive. Ensure the RIP sign is blinking, or start over... 2. You have to STOP recording using the CD Stop Button (NOT the Tape STOP Button) or you will lose the file when the tape deck stops automatically. Keep a close watch You lose the file anyway in case of a power failure during recording. 3. It records one side of a cassette as ONE single file. To create separate files for different songs, use the Tape Pause Button between songs and Stop recording using CD Stop Button after each song (The display shows “END”). Press the USB Record Button again, and when the USB RIP sign starts blinking, release the Tape Pause Button. Build Quality: Philips needs to consider improving on this. The cassette deck door needs a little help to fully open, and the Tape buttons could have been of a better pedigree. You have to be very gentle with the machine, especially so the USB Record Button as I’ve said before. The CD side id quite OK. Last grouse: Wish there was an electronic tuner and digital display for the FM Radio too. In all, a very good machine. Quite happy with it.
Date published: 2017-01-30
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Power in your hand Philips, Thank you once more for the immediate response. I have gone to the shop as recommended and is home with the CD Sound machine! This is really a great product. It is very useful for the serious hobbyist/ collector who has got cassette collection and do not know how to convert then in to some latest gadget. I was searching this model to save my cassettes as it was learned from some media reviews. I, personally, feel that you have not at all promoted this AZ1852-98. Just give a shot to this with an advt. and see the cassette lovers/ collectors run for this model. Your mail giving the address of the dealer reached me at 19 49 hrs today and now at 21 51 hrs with the product.. Thank you, thank you very much for the Power pack. AZ1852/98.
Date published: 2013-06-12
Rated 5 out of 5 by from This product must come back Why have you stopped this great product. I am greatly disappointed with Philips decision. Kindly bring back this AZ1852 CD sound machine for us, your customers. I hope it will back in market soon. You know that cassettes have some smart facilities where the digital things cannot do. It can be recorded and erased N-number of times, modern mobile phones can do the same as voice and video recordings, but if software crash comes data may be lose. But cassettes don't. Not only cassettes but this device has many usage. I connected my vintage radio to the mp3 link of this CD machine and recorded plenty of shortwave radio programs and incredible songs. It recorded it in my pendrive and put it in my PC. I can connect it with my mobile, PC, and other audio equipments. I still have a 40-years-old Philips MW/SW transistor radio working perfectly. Why don't this product can do like that? It can work even after 30 years. This product is absolutely incredible. No more comments. Please continue this product for one more decade.
Date published: 2018-05-02
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Good for Ripping old Cassette collection I bought the product on 14th Jan 2014. Though I had read reviews yet I could not rip the cassette on first go though I followed the instructions in toto. After few days and many attempt I could find the reason and now sharing with all. For ripping old cassette: put the cassette in deck, put pendrive (usb 2.0 or lower) in USB slot, forward reverse cassette for exact location from where ripping to be done, play the cassette, press rip button- it will flash, at any time you wish to stop ripping USE CD STOP BUTTON! do not use cassette stop button it will not work. In case you want to rip till the end then take care to pause the cassette just before it ends and press stop button of CD (one of the four button in circular front area). Request Manufacturer to take note and correct it. The volume outpur from cassette is relatively low as compared to other Phillips cassette deck but CD/USB out put is very good. Radio as usual is ok type.
Date published: 2014-02-01
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Many features need to be added. It is requested from Philip to bring upgraded version of the cassette boom box with CD which adds the below features. 1) All digital files should be supported, not just MP3 and WMA. Please add support for OGG, FLAC, Monkey Audio/APE, Real Media and all the digital music file including all LOSSLESS formats. 2) Please add support for Super Audio CD (SACD), DVD-Audio formats, presently it only support only Audio CD and MP3/WMA CD only and not the high end CD types. 3) Support the high end cassette which contain high metal tape and also need to include Dolby Noise reduction all type including S type. 4) Support the 4 band radio, not just single band with only FM.
Date published: 2017-12-03
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The Product is good. But needs some minor improvements Ripping is good. Sound and replay is fine. The product needs two additional features. 1. The USB pen drive, should be made to store even after the tape ends.2. If there is a tape counter, then we can exactly know when the tape ends and stop recording. One of the reviewers has given a detailed method on recording that is of great help. Philips should consider adding some of the points from there.
Date published: 2017-05-04
Rated 4 out of 5 by from This does as it suppose to do, can finally rip all my tapes and throw them away Bought Soundmachine to rip my tapes 2014-02-22 Ripping tapes are a challenge in the end due the power which falls away when the tape auto stops...and you lose power and so does the memstick in an open file :/ Keeping you finger on the play button when in doubt :) and press Stop recording. Seems like 128kbps ripping and compare it to the quality of the tape and it is the same to me. Am satisfied. Etta
Date published: 2014-02-26
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very good product Easy to use. Excellent sound. Being able to record on pen drive directly is good. I can save some of my rare cassettes in pen drive.
Date published: 2013-09-01
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Desperately needed The AZ1852/98 is needed badly. I have been waiting to buy it since long. Just bring it on please.
Date published: 2018-11-17
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very good initiative by PHILIPS Ripping of cassette to USB is good. Of course much depends on the quality of recording in the source cassette tape. The auto level volume adjustment while ripping to USB is a boon. As otherwise I should keep trying different levels of volume level. I have already started converting the music from cassettes to mp3 format. Can someone throw light whether recording to USB is possible from external source through input jack provided at the rear ? Thanks.
Date published: 2018-07-23
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Decent product, does what it says With everyone in the house being an ardent music fan, Philips CD Soundmachine AZ1852 has been used almost everyday since its purchase. And though it continues to deliver, there is sometimes a sense of dissatisfaction. Sound production is good with ample volume considering the specifications of its speakers, however I found the 'Dynamic Bass Boost' missing. Radio quality was good initially but has gone down with time resulting in lack of clarity between stations. The "Rip-plus" for one-touch MP3 recording from multiple sources is an amazing feature and perhaps the major reason fuelling its purchase. Being able to record on pen drive directly is also impressive. The only let down here is perhaps the lack of clarity in the how-to section which might make its cost seem a bit high for the features offered. All in all, not a regrettable purchase.
Date published: 2013-12-18
Rated 4 out of 5 by from This product needs to be expanded to support the worldwide Cassette comeback The AZ1852/98 products need to be further expanded and R&D work done to develop a more upgraded version. USB TO CASSETTE RECORDING CAPABILITY OF AZ1852 AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS NEEDS TO BE LISTED AS A TOP FEATURE IN THIS PRODUCT, this important feature should not be hidden in User manual. Cassettes have started booming in Western countries and Japan due to younger generation wanting analog music and physical formats. even Indonesia is witness renewed interest in going back to cassettes. It is just a matter of time that the cassette fever reaches India: I hope the concerned R&D teams take advantage of this trend and expand this AZ1852 product into a new high end cassette boombox product. 1) First thing is Cassette really needs FULL AUTO STOP feature, not semi auto stop. Why cant they develop auto stop that includes Fast forward and Rewind. THe present unit does not stop automatically for Fast Forward and Rewind when tape end is reached. This reduces the life of mechanical parts and tape when the user forgets to manually press stop button when the tape reaches the end after FF and RW. 2) AM and SW radio bands needs to be added. Why are they having just FM radio, older boomboxes used to have 4 bands - 2 short wave bands, 1 AM band apart from FM. 3) Dolby S noise reduction needs to be added, support for Type 2/3/4 Chromium oxide based cassettes need to be supported. AZ1852 has excellent recording capability, even from USB. It is one of the very few models in the entire world that supports USB to audio cassette recording, however only Type 1 audio cassettes are supported. Philips should add support for higher bias Type 2/3/4 audio cassettes which have MUCH HIGHER dynamic range. I hope the concerned marketing team can pass these comments to concerned R&D teams, Cassettes are definitely coming back and this is the best model to expand upon. Even though the cassette recording capability is very good and the unit performs very well even on Ultra Long Duration tapes like 150 and 120 minute Type 1 cassettes, feature wise, its definitely short and needs to be expanded to support the higher Type Chrome/High Bias cassettes and SW/AM radio bands.
Date published: 2017-12-01