Well I'll say cassette quality can never really be good becaise of the slow speed and narrow width. . But 1/4" tape is about the best analog quality you can get (feasibly cost wise) if you go 15 IPS and half track (1 way play, no flipping).
If you want good sound for cassettes you can't beat a Nakamichi deck, best there are.
Oh sorry, I meant more reel tape not really casettes, but I love the otari mx5050, and the teac 2340sx. Good machines and 1/4" tape is still affordable. PM me if you'd like more tape info, I love to share.
Im obsessed with tape storage, but for audio. Nothing more real than audio on tape! Luckily it's catching on again. Music is so disposable now, I hope we can keep physical formats alive and keep corporations away from it (digital offers them unlimited control over us).
How does one discuss this with their "friends" who are terminally on X, think RFK jr and Carlson have "a lot of good ideas", and unironically calls anything regarding equality woke? I'm at a loss. And no I don't think the solution is "stop talking to them", that doesn't help us.