Allright. Well I can't smell from here in what state the machines you will be buying are, but I would like to advise you a Tascam 32 machine. They are brilliant sounding things, allthough they are pretty picky about their tapes. They sound perfect with one or two tape types and the rest will sound less good to awful.
If you want a machine that's going to sound good with most tapes, look for a Revox B77.
You will want a 2-track machine. Most home decks have 4 tracks (2 on side 1 of the tape, 2 on side 2, like a cassette). A 2-track machine uses only one side of the tape, leaving more space for the sound. Sounds an awful lot better.
You will also want a machine that runs at 7 1/2 and 15IPS (19 and 38cmps). Most machines run at 3 3/4 and 7 1/2 IPS (9,5 and 19cmps). The Tascam 32 is a safe bet. There's only one T32 and that does 2-track high speed (7 1/2 and 15 IPS).
So I'd say: Go with the Tascam 32. But be advised: Test it properly, compare tape and source (you can monitor your own recording while you are recording). If there's any audible difference between tape and source, the machine isn't as good as it can be.
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