Nakamichi 550 (JAPAN 1974)
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With the Model 550 Dual-Tracer cassette system, Nakamichi extended their revolution in cassette technology to in-the-field recording. The 550 employs Nakamichi's exclusive Focused-Gap head for extended high frequency response and extremely low distortion. Complete with its own self-contained battery power supply, the Nakamichi 550 may also be operated from a car battery or from a standard AC line (with adaptors supplied). Professional 45dB range, peak level meters attest to the unit's extended dynamic range and are especially useful during live recording sessions. Speed control is absolute. A built-in Super Stabilizer prevents power supply voltage fluctuations and a pulse-controlled DC servomotor maintains absolute speed stability. No matter where you are, under the most rigorous field conditions or in the comfort of your living room, the Nakamichi 550 is the perfect companion. The right channel meter of the 550 can be switched to indicate battery condition, while the left channel meter also indicates elapsed tape time during recording and playback. Despite the unusually wide dynamic range of the Nakamichi 550, there are those occasions, especially during live recording, when tape overload may occur. In such instances, you can switch on the built-in peak limiter. It acts, almost instantaneously, to reduce possible distortion. Its action is so subtle that the resulting signal compression is virtually undetectable.
The 550 in addition to the standard (L&R) mic inputs, a third blend mic is provided. Each input has its own level control, thus permitting professional quality mixing. The blend mic is particularly helpful in high lighting solo instruments and voices. A built-in extra-power headphone amplifier furnishes more than enough power to drive a pair of 8 ohm headphones, enabling the user to monitor the program being recorded. It is completely independent of the rear panel output controls which are used when the 550 is installed in a home music system. The Nakamichi 550 can be programmed to operate for a predetermined period of time by setting a built-in timing mechanism. At the conclusion of the time period, a front panel light (LED) flashes to alert the operator. Specifications: Frequency Response: 40Hz to 17kHz (Cr02 tape) | Signal to Noise Ratio: 65dB (dolby B) | Wow and Flutter: 0.13% | Dimensions: 311 x 89 x 350mm | Weight: 5.1kg | Carry bag HC-550 optional | Original sale price: 1380 DM in Germany.
The 550 in addition to the standard (L&R) mic inputs, a third blend mic is provided. Each input has its own level control, thus permitting professional quality mixing. The blend mic is particularly helpful in high lighting solo instruments and voices. A built-in extra-power headphone amplifier furnishes more than enough power to drive a pair of 8 ohm headphones, enabling the user to monitor the program being recorded. It is completely independent of the rear panel output controls which are used when the 550 is installed in a home music system. The Nakamichi 550 can be programmed to operate for a predetermined period of time by setting a built-in timing mechanism. At the conclusion of the time period, a front panel light (LED) flashes to alert the operator. Specifications: Frequency Response: 40Hz to 17kHz (Cr02 tape) | Signal to Noise Ratio: 65dB (dolby B) | Wow and Flutter: 0.13% | Dimensions: 311 x 89 x 350mm | Weight: 5.1kg | Carry bag HC-550 optional | Original sale price: 1380 DM in Germany.
Technics RS-686D (D-86) (JAPAN 1977)
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The Technics RS-686D top-of-the-line professional portable 3-head cassette deck was introduced in 1977. The RS-686D is light and small but it contains such high-performance parameters as the following: 0.07% (WRMS), 0.18% (DIN) wow & flutter | 3-head configuration | brilliant anti-rolling mechanism | FG Servo DC motor | advanced electronic amplifier circuitry and many other features absent from many non-portable decks. Full tape transport stability is maintained even under the most severe operating conditions. This is achieved by the use of a FG servo-controlled DC motor and the anti-rolling mechanism. This device depends upon the action of a large counter-flywheel which is linked to the main capstan flywheel by the drive belt. This counter-wheel moves in the opposite direction from the capstan flywheel and acts to maintain constant tape speed by cancelling out any outside forces which otherwise would cause a slowdown or increase in tape speed. In addition to the standard erase and record/playback heads the RS-686D is equipped with a third head for monitoring monaurally what is being recorded on the tape. With this feature the user can monitor what is going on the tape to make sure the result is what he desires. This (mono) monitor head is a super permalloy head while the all-important record/playback head is Technics' famed HPF (high pressure ferrite) head. For greater reliability and resistance to wear the frame that holds the components are made of stainless steel while this whole assembly is mounted inside a diecast cabinet. The RS-686D is compatible with normal and chrome tapes and it features Dolby noise reduction and manual record level adjustment (L+R and Master Level) with two needle type VU meters with peak indicators. Other features include a Mic attenuator switch for avoiding distortion when recording high volume sounds such as rock music, Limiter switch to prevent distortion due to sudden loud sound during live recordings, Low cut filter to cut off frequencies below 200 Hz. Ideal for eliminating wind noise when recording outdoors or for reducing human breathing noise when speaking on microphone. The recorder also features Tape-End Alert-Eye and Silent Auto-Stop. Three minutes before the end of tape, the end-eye will begin blinking. When the tape comes to its end, this light will shine steadily. Also, when the tape ends the motor shuts off automatically but the transport mechanism does not snap back to neutral position until the user releases it by hand. This system is used so that no sudden noise is produced which could disturb the program or any person making other recordings nearby. The RS-686D is also fully equipped with a 3-way power supply feature. Batteries are used in normal outdoor situations, but when at home, or when using the car, AC mains, and car battery (RP-997 AC adaptor supplied and RP-917 car adaptor optional) should be used. A carrying strap is standard accessory while the RP-9686 leather carrying case can be purchased separately. Technical specifications: Frequency response: 40-14000 Hz normal tape, 40-16000 Hz chrome tape | Signal-to-Noise ration 56 dB Dolby off | Recording time approx. 4 hours with six R-14 dry cell batteries | Dimensions: 243x77x200 mm | Weight: 2.8 kg (without batteries) | Original sale price 1800 DM in Germany.
Victor KD-3 (JAPAN 1976)
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Victor (JVC) have been a major proponent of "tape-it-live" recording concept from the very beginning. The Victor KD-3 (JVC CD-1635 worldwide) - a compact, lightweight and fully portable deck which runs 12 hours on only six long-life "D"-size batteries - takes this concept even further. This easy to use and fumble free deck offers a recordist accuracy which includes a very low wow and flutter capability of 0.20% (DIN 45500) / 0.08% (RMS). Innovations exclusive to JVC without which this revolutionary portable cassette deck could not achieve its remarkable hi-fi performance include the coreless motor and advanced, high linearity SEN-ALLOY HEAD. Another is ANRS, JVC's noise reduction system, cutting tape hiss. A built-in monitor speaker (10cm | 1.2W RMS 8 ohm) lets you hear what you've recorded at any volume or tone. In order to achieve best results in any conditions a wide variety of accessories were available. Here are some examples: MU-201 uni-directional electret condenser stereo microphone for well-balanced stereo sound | MU-510 super-directional/uni-directional electret condenser microphone with accurately cardoid pickup pattern | TL-E71 sound focusing reflector. Big parabolic reflector concentrates sound from any source and boosts their level 6 times (15db). Various types of microphones can be attached. | MI-E60 6-channel microphone mixer with reverberator. This is a high quality 6-channel mike mixer equipped with reverberation units and panoramic potentiometers. Besides mixing sounds from 6 microphones or other sources you can enhance the music with reverberation facilities and shift the sound image to any position between the left and right of the sound field with the pan Pots. | CB-3 carrying case. Specifications: Frequency response 25-18000 Hz with chrome tape | Dimensions: 100x360x242 mm | Weight: 4.5 kg (without batteries) 5.0 kg (with batteries)
