i got a tape player and the tape sounds like its in slow motion. but the belts are good the tape speed is right, and the header and pinch roller are both working fine what else could it be?
The old acetate tape wouldn't stretch ... it simply broke. Polyester tape can stretch, but the entire reel would have to stretch to change speed over the whole reel. Besides, to stretch enough to do that would make the tape so skinny that it would be obvious.
Ergo, either the machine speed is definitely set wrong for the tape or the capstan is indeed running too slowly.