My 17 yo daughter who has a tape deck in her '99 tacoma wants to record some of my records to cassette tape. I have a sprout 100. She has a denon tape deck. We can’t seem to figure out the connections to get any sound. Any advice? Here’s some pics of my set up with the Turn Table already connected
Connect the tape decks out pair to the Sprouts Analog in. Connect the tape decks in pair to the Sprouts Analog out.
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Might also want to turn up the ‘input level’ on the tape deck.
It looks like the Denon has a meter, when you turn up the input level does the meter increase?
Yes it does…thx for your response
Obligatory
“For goodness sake HiFi manufacturers - put ‘tape’ loops, or, perhaps more accurately, Pre Volume Insert Points, back in your amplifiers please!!!”
We lost so much flexibility when they disappeared (post-volume is another good insert point, but pre-volume usually a lot more useful).
This is aimed at all manufacturers btw 
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Oddly enough, all the gear I own comes with tape loops. Weird.
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Update: so I was able to record a record to cassette tape, but it is super faint on playback. I had the input level knob on cranked all the way up. Not sure what is going on but would appreciate it if anyone can impart any knowledge.
Likely problem is that the output from the sprout is post-volume - so if the volume is turned down to a sensible level then the output is too low for a cassette deck - the VU meters on the cassette deck should be most of the way to maximum on loud music to get a decent recording.
If so - turning the sprout volume right up should increase the level going to tape deck accordingly, but that is of course probably too loud for listening.
This is a problem with most modern HiFi amps, not in any way unique to the sprout or PS Audio stuff.
Once again - Manufacturers - put tape loops in your amplifier gear for the love of all that is cool
Edit - if I’m wrong and the Sprout analogue out is pre-Fade then please someone step up and correct me
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From the owner’s manual:
While this isn’t clearly worded, it appears this analog output is included so the Sprout100 can be used as a preamplifier (to run a more powerful stereo amplifier, for instance). It is not intended to be used as a line level tape output, in other words.
All I can think of is to buy a cheap phono preamp and use it directly into the cassette deck. But that is inconvenient.
Or, the only other option is to unplug the speakers (if that’s safe for the amp to run without a load–you’d have to inquire with PSA’s tech support), then turn up the volume on the Sprout100 (making certain the loudness compensation is disabled) so that the meters reach 0dB on average. Not ideal but for a car cassette player, that’s plenty good enough.
PSA (and almost everyone else) -
for the love of all that is, well, loveable:
please put tape loops in your pre-amps / integrated amps
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