Fostex X-26 (c. 1989–1990)
The Fostex X-26 is a six-input, four-track cassette mixer/recorder. It is a compact self-contained studio aimed at home recordists. It was a two-head deck running at standard cassette speed, 1⅞ ips. DB Magazine's buyer's guide listing (July 1990, p.61) gave its specs as 40 Hz to 12.5 kHz frequency response, 0.15% flutter, and a 58 dB A-weighted signal-to-noise ratio. List price was $449.00.
The machine was advertised from at least early 1989. A DB Magazine ad (January 1989, p.11) called it a six-input stereo mixer with a four-track cassette recorder, and added a stereo effects return and tape sync capability for MIDI, all "less than $450". The same campaign ran in Mix (February 1989, p.111). It kept turning up in tape-recorder directories into mid-1990.
Beyond the period listings, documentation on the X-26 is thin. In Fostex's contemporary four-track line it sat below the 160 and 260 models. Those ran at the faster 3¾ ips speed, had better specs and cost $840. The X-26 was the budget, standard-speed option. Production years are not documented.
Known specifications:
- 6-input stereo mixer / 4-track cassette recorder
- 2-head deck, 1⅞ ips
- Frequency response: 40 Hz–12.5 kHz
- Flutter: 0.15%
- S/N: 58 dB (A-weighted)
- Stereo effects return; tape sync for MIDI (per period advertising)
- List price: $449
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