Review on Califone 1886 Multimedia Cassette Recorder by Whitney Buckley

I needed a tape recorder with a built in microphone for class. I teach the choir. I had to order online as I couldn't find it anywhere else. I chose this model because I recognized the brand from my previous teaching experience. Unfortunately, due to older models, this machine falls far short of my expectations. When I play the tape there is no counter so I have to guess where to stop. The worst thing is that the sound is very bad. It sounds like children singing underwater. I bought this unit so students could self-assess when preparing for a presentation but could barely hear themselves due to distortion. The CD plays well and the radio works, but I need to be able to record it and hear it clearly.