26 June 2022

PIONEER CT-F1000 (1977) - Creative High Fidelity

cassette deck

The CT-F1000 was launched with an aggressive advert campaign that would not be possible today. Here's what it said: "For years, Nakamichi has enjoyed a reputation for building the world's finest cassette deck. Now Pioneer is introducing something Nakamichi won't enjoy at all: the Pioneer CT-F1000. A cassette deck that offers all the features and performance of Nakamichi's best cassette deck, at less than half the price" (1,650 USD vs. 600 USD in 1978). The advert continues with a step-by-step comparison of the two decks but we will limit ourself to simply present the technical data of this iconic Pioneer cassette recorder. The presented data are identical for the Japanese market CT-1000 and the international market CT-F1000. The CT-F1000 features a 3-head design with Uni-Crystal record and playback head with a pair of stereo Dolby noise reduction circuitry (one for recording and one for playback) that makes possible to monitor Dolby-decorded recording, a feature not possible with decks equipped with only one Dolby circuit. The tape transport is a two-motor drive system in dual-capstan configuration. One motor for fast-forward/rewind and one for dual-capstan drive. The playback only pitch control allows you to play perfectly tapes made on inaccurate decks. The deck can handle normal/chrome and ferrichrome tapes and it features Dolby noise reduction calibration on the front panel with test tone, memory stop/memory play, logarithmic amp for large VU meters, direct logical controls, mpx filter for FM radio recordings, mic. /Line mixing and recording, timer recording, tape-end warning and full auto-stop and a front panel width and height machined to EIA (Electronic Industries Association) standards for professional-type rack mounting. The Pioneer JA-R102 handle adaptors are available option. Finally, the advert concludes: "You can buy a Nakamichi 1000II and get an incredibly expensive cassette deck. Or you can buy a CT-F1000. And get one that's simply incredible". Technical data: Wow and Flutter: 0.05% (WRMS) | Frequency Response: Normal 20 to 17,000 Hz, Chrome 20 to 19,000 Hz, Ferrichromium 20 to 19,000 Hz | Dimensions: 420x187x362 mm | Weight: 11.8 kg. | Wooden case is optional.

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck

cassette deck