Sony M-2000 Desktop Cassette Transcriber / Recorder

Pros: Foot pedal action helpful, but that's why you get a transcription machine.
Cons: Refurbished model had two major problems.

I bought this refurbished from SimplyCheap.com. Playback quality sucked. The sound came & went and was generally scratchy or super-faint and next to impossible to hear. Sometimes if I rewound and played it again, the same stretch of tape sounded ok. ...

Pros: Compact, attractive, smooth, responsive, good price.
Cons: Could have put better headphones in with it.

I use my machine every day, so I had bought a Panasonic RR-930 because it was available and I really didn't like it. So while I could still take it back, I went looking and found the Sony M-2000. What a gem. Compact, all the features you need and the pedal action is a dream. If I drove for a living, I'd want a responsive car with a smooth ride. As a transcriber, the two things I need that same performance from are my keyboard (a Belkin) and my transcriber, in particular the foot pedal. I can drive this Sony all day and not get tired.