@typhlosion from what I've had explained to me it's not possible to get a new good tape player.
There's apparently only one company that produces the mechanical mechanism (and the electrical parts like the heads) at the moment and the quality of said part according to the community is terrible.
So no matter what you buy if it's new it's going to suck.
@typhlosion I have no clue past that bit of information, hopefully others will.