Harman Kardon CAD-4 (circa 1969–1970)
Little is documented about the Harman Kardon CAD-4 beyond its period press coverage. The record shows a cassette tape recorder deck aimed at the emerging high-fidelity cassette market of the late 1960s. It had a built-in recording/playback preamp and measured 12½ by 3⅜ inches, which was compact for the era. Its original list price was $159.50, per High Fidelity (January 1970, p.47).
The deck got particular praise for its low-frequency performance. High Fidelity (August 1970, p.27) noted that the CAD-4 had “a very uniform and extended low end” that surpassed many far more expensive reel-to-reel tape recorders. Tape-Recording (January 1969, p.82) reported that the CAD-4 used a push-pull bias oscillator set at 105 kHz and a record/playback head with four laminations per stack. That helped it reach a frequency range of 30-12,500 Hz at ±2 dB.
- Type: Cassette tape recorder deck with built-in preamps
- Dimensions: 12½ × 3⅜ inches
- Price (1969): $159.50
- Frequency response: 30–12,500 Hz ±2 dB
- Bias oscillator: Push-pull, 105 kHz
- Head: Four laminations per stack record/playback
Beyond these specifications and the positive reception for its bass extension, the CAD-4 remains a relatively obscure model today. No production run figures, successor models, or service documentation appear in the usual collector channels.
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