Advent Model 100
The Advent Model 100 is a Dolby B noise reduction unit for home tape recording. It came out in 1970 at $250. It was designed to work with any tape deck and cut the audible hiss that limited the dynamic range of consumer tape recordings.
The Model 100 measures 13 by 5 by 7½ inches deep. It is a standalone, outboard processor that connects between a tape recorder and an amplifier. It uses Dolby's B-type encoding/decoding circuitry, which works mainly in the upper frequency range, where tape hiss is most noticeable. Audio (November 1970, p.19) described it as a product for people who "own good recorders and demand a great deal from them," and noted that the noise reduction let recordists use slower tape speeds without sacrificing quality. Audio (January 1971, p.51) listed the input impedances as 1,000 ohms (unbalanced) for microphone and 50,000 ohms (unbalanced) for line.
The Model 100 had a relatively long production run for a first-generation product. By 1972, Advent had introduced the Model 100A. Audio (May 1972, p.41) characterized it as incorporating "unspectacular but important engineering changes" to better match the unit to emerging Dolby applications. The Model 100A essentially replaced the original.
The Model 100 should not be confused with the later Advent 100A television receiver, which was a large-screen projection TV and an entirely different product. In the audio world, the Advent Model 100 and its successor represent an important bridge between professional noise reduction technology and the home recording enthusiast of the early 1970s.
Known specifications:
- Type: Standalone Dolby B noise reduction unit (encode/decode) for tape recording
- Price (1970): $250
- Dimensions: 13 × 5 × 7½ inches deep
- Microphone input impedance: 1,000 ohms, unbalanced
- Line input impedance: 50,000 ohms, unbalanced
- Manufacturer: Advent Corporation, 377 Putnam Ave., Cambridge, Mass.
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