Technics Concise C01 (1979) - Small is Big

You're looking at the small sonic wonders that prove components no longer have to be big and bulky to sound big and beautiful. The Concise Series by Technics from 1979. Take the power amplifier, the SE-C01. It has a high-speed switching power supply with filter capacitors that recharge 40,000 times a second instead of the usual 120. That's just one reason for the SE-C01's low distortion and clean tight bass response. Direct coupling is another. With it, bass response goes all the way down to DC (0 Hz). The amplifier delivers 50W + 50W continuous power (8 ohm, 20Hz to 20kHz with no more than 0.03% THD) and it features an easy-to-read color-coded 2x12 LED power meter. There were two versions of the SE-C01 power amplifier. The "Stereo/Mono DC Power Amplifier" version has built-in pulse power supply, delivering 40W/ch (60W mono) while "Stereo DC Power Amplifier" version only works with the external SE-C01 power supply unit delivering 50W/ch. The SU-C01 Stereo Preamp is a perfect complement to the SE-C01 power amplifier in compact size and superior performance. It brings clear, precise sound reproduction and has its own built-in MC pre-amplifier. The use of low noise transistors makes it an ideal link in the chain from music source to high fidelity reproduction. The "Concise Component" tuner complements the preamplifier and power amplifier, both in size and performance, because it can reproduce the signals broadcasted by the radio station with striking fidelity. Its sensitivity, selectivity, channel separation, signal-to-noise ratio and frequency response are all of high technical standards. The matching RS-M02 cassette deck recorder features a Direct-Drive 2-motor full-logic mechanism with SX (Sendust Extra) head for record/playback. The deck can handle all tape types: normal, Fe-Cr, chrome and Metal. The RS-M02 features a 2-Color FL peak meter, manual record level and Dolby noise reduction system. The SL-10 Direct-Drive linear-tracking turntable (that can even play upside down) was a perfect match for the system. A very rare black version also existed.

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Technics RS-686D (D-86) (1977) - Ultra-Compact 3-Head Portable

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 postion 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.

DUAL C-844 (1981) - The Dual Speed Dual

The Dual C844 is a two-speed, three-head cassette deck introduced in October 1981. The C844 is equipped with a 2-motor solenoid operated 2-speed Dual-Capstan mechanism in an open cassette mechanism called by Dual "Direct Load & Lock Mechanism". The cassette mechanism also features two infrared light barrier that will stop the cassette, the moment you reach out for the tape and after reinserting the tape, playback will start automatically. There is also a transparent head cover that opens automatically the moment you switch the unit on. The deck is using Sendust heads in a 3-head configuration and it can handle all known tape types featuring a 6-position manual tape selector. The deck is factory adjusted for the following tapes: Fe position for BASF Super LH, FeI position for Maxell UD-XL I, Cr position for BASF Chromdioxid II, Cr II position for Maxell UD-XL II, FeCr position for SONY Fe-Cr and Met position for 3M Scotch Metafine tape. Obviously, any quality tape from established manufacturers can be used with great success. The highlight of the Dual C844 is the possibility to make recordings at a speed of 9.5 cm/s (double of the standard speed) for greater dynamics, extended frequency range and low drop-out rate. In this case the manufacturer published a 20-24000 Hz frequency response with all tape types and an overall 2 dB increase in signal-to-noise ratio. At standard speed (4.75 cm/s) the frequency response is as follows: Standard tape 20-17000 Hz, Chrome tape 20-18000 Hz, FeCr tape 20-19500 Hz and Metal tape 20-20000 Hz. The C844 incorporates both the normal Dolby-B and the more effective Dolby-C noise reduction systems and an MPX filter for recording from FM Stereo broadcasts. 

The beautiful large display section features a 4-digit Digital counter with two memory setting and two large VU-meters complemented by 4 LED peak level indicators. Further comfort functions include, music search, repeat, variable fader and separate input level control for source (line/DIN) and microphone with front microphone inputs. A very rare infrared remote-control system also existed. This system consisted of the RE 122 infrared eye that had to be connected to the deck and the RC 144 hand-held unit. This system is not even mentioned in the user manual and it was actually manufactured by German company Teladi. This deck was replaced first by the slightly modified and updated to Direct Drive motor C846 in 1985, while the last version was the CC 1462 from 1986. Both models still featuring the double speed operation. Technical data: Wow and Flutter for 4.75 cm/s: 0.07% (DIN)/0.035% (WRMS) and for 9.5 cm/s 0.04% (DIN)/0.02% (WRMS) | Dimensions: 440x112x355 mm | Weight: 9kg | Original sale price in Germany: 1,198 DM | While Dual is a German company this deck was "Made under Dual Specifications in Japan"

DUAL C844 and CS 741 Q

DUAL C846

DUAL CC 1462

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Victor TD-V711 (1988) - Super Technology Digifine

Traditionally JVC cassette decks had the cassette mechanism on the right side of the front panel. With the introduction of the TD-V711 the mechanism was moved to the left side, a solution used by most manufacturers. The TD-V711 was also the first Dual Capstan model, breaking with the tradition of single capstan 3-head decks by JVC. The TD-V711 was also the basis for the later TD-V1010TN and TD-V1050TN Titan-Line models. The Japanese market version Victor TD-V711 presented here, was introduced in 1987. This model already features the "Solid Base for Higher Stability and Low Resonance" that was only later introduced with the TD-V1010TN and TD-V1050TN models on international markets. The international version JVC TD-V711 had no solid base element but they were available with wood side panels and without remote as the Super Digifine Series. The TD-V711 has a 2+1 motor full-logic controlled "silent mechanism" with Closed-loop dual-capstan drive with Pulse Servo Direct-Drive motor. For the 3-head configuration there is a SA (Sen Alloy) recording head, Amorphous playback head and ferrite erase head. The deck features double Dolby B and C noise reduction circuit and Dolby HX-Pro headroom extension circuit. On the large multi-mode display there is a 2x16 segment fluorescent level meter with Digital Peak Display, digital tape counter and a series of function status segments. There are 3 separate source inputs at the back with front selector as well as manual Bias control for optimal recordings with any tape. Straightforward circuit layout for clean signal transmission, separate circuit construction for low interference, DC-configured amps on separate PC board as well as low-impedance voltage-tracking regulated power supply will all contribute to a dynamic reproduction with extremely low noise. Technical data: Wow & Flutter: 0.05% Peak (EIAJ), 0.022% WRMS | Frequency response: 15-21,000/19,000 Hz (-20dB EIAJ, Metal/Chrome, Normal) | Dimension: 435x140x336 mm | Weight: 10 kg | RM-RT711, standard infrared remote control for Victor version in Japan.

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