PIONEER CT-720 (1979) | 3 Head System - Metal Tape

30 July 2025

PIONEER CT-720 (1979) | 3 Head System - Metal Tape

The CT-720 introduced in 1979 uses Pioneer's unique recording/playback combination head, which uses Sendust alloy as the core material. This improves wear resistance, distortion characteristics at high inputs, frequency response, and signal-to-noise ratio, while also providing an extremely smooth head touch. Furthermore, this Sendust alloy head is resistant to deterioration of characteristics due to the adhesion of magnetic powder or dust, or magnetization. This results in smooth frequency response (20-19,000Hz-METAL) and a high signal-to-noise ratio (over 69dB with Dolby ON), bringing out the full potential of metal tape with its wide dynamic range. The CT-720 is equipped with a high-precision two-motor mechanism, with a constant-speed drive motor for driving the capstan and a separate motor for the reel drive. For the constant-speed drive, an electronically controlled DC servo motor with a built-in generator is used. This motor detects and corrects even the slightest change in rotation speed using the frequency generated by the generator, ensuring accurate and stable rotation at all times. Furthermore, by combining a capstan that has been processed to micron-order accuracy using Pioneer's precision processing technology with a large flywheel that has excellent dynamic balance, it achieved an excellent rotational fluctuation of less than 0.04% (WRMS). The reel drive uses a DC high-torque motor with strong rotational torque and minimal ripple, enabling stable tape fast-forward and rewind operations while also providing extremely high reliability and durability. Another unique feature is the 2-color FL level meter. The level meter features a high-precision FL level meter that eliminates overshoot and undershoot even for high-level recordings. It covers a wide range of -20 to +8 dB, making it easy to handle even metal tapes capable of high-level recording. Its easy-to-read two-color display illuminates blue for levels below 0 dB and orange for levels above 0 dB. Furthermore, the FL level meter can be switched between an average meter that indicates the average value of the input signal and a peak meter that quickly indicates instantaneous pulse components. This allows for reliable level monitoring for a wide range of program sources, including music with sharp attack times like piano solos, ensuring the best performance of not only metal tapes but also various other tapes, ensuring high-quality recordings. One aspect of cassette decks that is surprisingly often overlooked is the pursuit of ease of use. The CT-720 employs a full-open loading system that allows for quicker and more reliable loading and replacement of cassette tapes, as well as checking the tape's running status and label. The head is located at the front, making cleaning and maintenance of the head and capstan easy. The tape running switching mechanism also employs an electronic direct change footbush operation button. Moreover, this operation button is extremely rational from an ergonomic standpoint. The buttons are arranged in a convenient manner, eliminating the risk of misoperation and enhancing reliability. The operation buttons can be preset, so you can link them with the timer to record voice messages and play alarms. Equipped with a monitor switch, by switching the switch to SOURCEŁTAPE you can instantly check the recording quality by ear. The bias fine adjustment knob allows you to adjust the optimum bias value, which varies slightly from tape to tape, while monitoring by ear. The 4-stage tape selector (METAL/CrO, Fe-Cr/STD) allows recording and playback to take full advantage of the characteristics of the tape being used.

Specifications:

Recording head: Sendust head x 1

Playhead: Sendust head x 1

Erasing head: Special alloy head x 1

Constant speed drive motor: Electronically controlled DC motor (built-in generator) x 1

Fast forward/rewind motor: DC high torque motor

Wow & Flutter: 0.04% or less (WRMS)

Frequency response:

(LH tape, -20dB recording) 20 to 17,000Hz

(Ferrichrome tape, -20dB recording) 20 to 18,000Hz

(Chrome tape, -20dB recording) 20 to 18,000Hz

(Metal tape, -20dB recording) 20 to 19,000Hz