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Tape Deck Resources
When it was introduced in Japan last year, a panel of eminent critics gathered by a famous audio magazine went so far as to designate the RS-1500US their component of the year,
As you can see, the deck has an agreeably uncluttered look. But this is no run of the mill machine decked out to look like a new model At its heart: perhaps the most sophisticated, even revolutionary, tape drive/transport system available in the world today.
The outsized capstan is an extension of the motor shaft of a quartz-oscillator controlled direct-drive motor. Two tension-controlled direct drive DC reel motors are also used.
Instead of the usual double capstan design used to produce a closed loop, an ingenious U-shaped "Isolated Loop" tape path was devised, Completely eliminating the effect of pushing and pulling from the tape reels. At 15 ips, wow and flutter is 0.018% WRMS and frequency response soars to 30,000Hz ±3dB with a complete absence of "muddying."
Head configuration, in order of tape travel, is 4-track playback, 2-track erase, 2-track recording, 2-track playback. Head-wrap is excellent and speed uniform in all modes- including fast wind and rewind.
When compiling his report, Audio's H. A. Roberson noted that "record/playback responses were excellent for all tapes tried. At 15 ips, the response was within 3dB from 28Hz to 45kHz or wider for both Scotch 206 and Memorex Quantum at levels up to 0VU!"
The quartz-oscillator stroboscopic speed control can be switched out, permitting ±6% speed adjustment. It is also possible to go from 2-track to 4-track playback at the touch of a switch.
Tape transport switching is all light as a feather solenoids. And while a 2,500 foot tape reel can be emptied in only 150 seconds, it is possible to go, say, straight from fast wind to rewind without risk of tape stretch.
A unique "fail-safe" device shuts off the tape transport if you touch the supply reel by accident. Although it has many original features- including a real time tape counter showing elapsed program time in minutes and seconds- the 1500 is basically a conventional machine, mechanically and electronically.
We wanted to provide years of trouble-free sound of the highest quality and, in our possibly biased opinion, we have. Perhaps more than any other Technics component, this one must be heard to be fully appreciated.
The RS1506US is identical to the 1500 except for the head configuration: 4-track, 2-channel recording/playback plus 2-track, 2-channel playback.
We also have an automatic reverse recording/play back deck-the new RS-1700.
Specifications:
Tape- Speed: 15 ips (38crn/s), 7-1/2 ips (19cm/s) and 3-3/4 ips (9.5cm/sec)
Wow and Flutter; 15 ips 0.018% WRMS, 7-1/2 ips 0.03% WRMS, 3-3/4 ips 0.06% WRMS
Frequency response: 15 ips 30-30,000Hz, ±3dB, 7-1/2 ips 20-25,000Hz, ±3dB, 3-3/4 ips 20-15,000Hz, ±3dB
Signal/Noise ratio: 15ips/7-1/2 ips, 68dB, 3-3/4 ips, 66dB (1500US), 15ips/7-1/2ips, 66dB, 3-3/4 ips, 64dB (1506US/1700 )
Total harmonic distortion: 0.6%
Speed deviation ±0.1% at 15 ips
Speed fluctuation: 0.05% at 15 ips
Pitch control: ±6%
Power Requirement: world voltages
Dimensions: 18" (W) X 17-1/2" (H) X 10-1/8" (D)
RS-1500US: 2-track, 2-channel stereo recording/playback and 4-track, 2-channel stereo playback.
RS-1506US: 4-track, 2-channel stereo recording/playback and 2-track, 2-channel stereo playback.
RS-1700: 4-track, 2-channel stereo autoreverse recording/playback (6-head system).
Last modified
April 14, 2003