Aiwa CS-550U (1981)
Portable stereo radio cassette recorder with FM/AM/SW tuning, dual mic inputs, and remote control capability.
Overview
The Aiwa CS-550U is a portable stereo radio cassette recorder manufactured by Aiwa Co. Ltd., Tokyo, in 1981. It features a "knob-top" design with primary controls located on the top panel and includes a cassette deck with LED lights. The unit has four loudspeakers with pseudo-circular grille slits and supports AM, two shortwave bands, and stereo FM reception. It includes a detachable full remote control, Super Bass, a cassette lid lock, and a hearing protection function called Ear Guard.
Specifications
| Dimensions (WHD) | 468 x 271 x 149 mm / 18.4 x 10.7 x 5.9 inch |
| Net weight | 4.7 kg / 10 lb 5.6 oz |
| Power type and voltage | Line / Batteries / 110-120; 220-240; 8 x 1.5 Volt |
| Battery requirement | 8 x "D"-cell batteries |
| Loudspeaker | 4 Loudspeakers |
| Number of Transistors | 27 |
| Main principle | Superheterodyne |
| Wave bands | Broadcast, 2 Short Wave plus FM or UHF |
| Power consumption | 14 W |
| Features | LED level meter, LED music sensor, tape counter, metal tape bias, line in, line out, 2 built-in mics, 2 x mic in, ext. speaker jacks, headphones jack |
Design
The CS-550U follows a "knob-top" layout with all primary controls on the upper surface. The speaker grilles and tweeters feature pseudo-circular slit patterns. It has a plastic body and includes LED indicators on the cassette deck. The unit supports external control via a detachable remote and includes a cassette lid lock and Ear Guard hearing protection function.
Context
The Aiwa CS-550U competed with models such as the Panasonic RX5150. It is associated with the G-Metal X collection, though the original 1981 model is constructed with plastic, not metal.
Market
The CS-550U is not considered rare, appearing on eBay periodically. One mint, fully functional unit sold for $150.00 plus shipping in July 2016. Tape deck mechanisms may require servicing beyond belt replacement, based on reports from similar Aiwa models.
eBay Listings
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