I have a Stereo Double Cassette Deck; Pioneer CT-W404R. I've set the REV MODE switch; I've pressed the record button; I press playback and the tape for recording begins moving, but not the other tape. If I push any buttons on the left, everything on the right side shuts off. What am I doing wrong?

To play a tape on the Sharper Image SA246, follow these steps:

1. Power on the unit by pressing the "Power" button located on the top of the unit.
2. Press the "Tape" button located on the front of the unit. This will switch the unit to tape mode.
3. Press the "Eject" button on the front of the unit to open the tape deck.
4. Insert the cassette tape into the cassette compartment with the side you want to play facing out.
5. Press the "Eject" button again to close the tape deck.
6. Press the "Play" button located on the front of the unit to start playing the tape. You can adjust the volume using the volume knob located on the top of the unit.
7. To stop the tape, press the "Stop" button located on the front of the unit.
8. To eject the tape, press the "Eject" button again and remove the tape.

I hope this helps you play your cassette tape on your Sharper Image SA246!

There should be a button or switch that will select the recording deck and the dubbing deck. You put a blank tape into the recording deck and the pre-recorded one into the play deck. Pressing the record button on the dubbing deck, on some models should start the play deck running. If not press play on that deck.

These dual cassette decks were throw away units in most cases. The belt inside and the grease in the cam mechanism is in bad shape and the deck can not cycle through the steps it need to so as to reach stop. Only stop mode will allow the door block to release. The tape can safely be extracted by a Technician. The deck need work. Dual cassette decks are not always worn the repair cost.

Might need belts and a good cleaning.Rotation sensor not detecting reel table rotation. It is doing what it is suppose to do when at the end of the tape but you tape may not be at the end.

If the methods listed in the manual won't open the door, then the tape is not inserted properly. Insert a golf tee in one of the two small holes below the tape door and slightly adjust the position of the tape up, down, or sideways. Then press the eject button and it should open. This will only work if the belt is OK.

They might be repairable but usually at a cost that exceeds it value. Who wants to pay $150 to fix what was known as a throw away tape deck? Not many. It might even exceed $150 as they are complicated to repair bot being designed to be repaired.

If you record a track with NR (standing for Noise Reduction) on it will sound brighter than with it off. The B and C sounds like it's Dolby B and Dolby C type noise reduction. C is better than B, but it's up to you to decide which you like best. Both systems were developed to deal with the problem of tape hiss. Most commercial tapes use Dolby B. If you record with either Dolby on it is best to play it back with it on, as it can make the tape sound more hissy, switched off. But if you don't record with it on, then putting Dolby on to playback would make it sound dull.

The left side is usually the playback deck and the right side is the record deck.put in a tape on the left side and push play.Then push the record button first and while holding it down ,the play button on the right side deck.One deck will not have record buttons on it,and that is the playback deck.

Dear etu7diante,
The another way to release the cassette from the deck is by moving the flywheel manualy after opening the cover of the system. The system should be disconnected from the power supply. If you are able to to do this please let me know .later I can guide you to do the job.
ramesh22

Better tape decks, like Pioneer, may use a different mechanism for record/play than FF & REW. So it sounds like a belt or mechanical link for the REC/PLAY has failed.