Sanyo MR-939 (c. 1968–1970)
The Sanyo MR-939 is a solid-state, four-track, three-speed stereo tape recorder. It first showed up in Studio-Sound advertising in May 1968, where Sanyo pitched it as its entry into the "world class" of compact recorders. When the magazine later tested one, the verdict was warm. Studio-Sound (February 1970, p.20) called it the most complete and compact stereophonic record/playback unit it had come across, with performance well within the manufacturer's specification.
The MR-939 ran at 7½, 3¾, and 1⅞ ips. Wow-and-flutter is rated at 0.20% RMS at 3¾ ips and 0.30% RMS at 1⅞ ips. The built-in amplifier delivers 7W × 2 music power (4W × 2 undistorted). It feeds either 8-ohm speaker outputs or a 10 kΩ headphone jack. It shipped with two dynamic microphones and a pair of built-in 4" free-edge permanent dynamic speakers. A 1200 ft. stereo reel gave 64 minutes of recording time at 7½ ips. Mics, amps and speakers all sit in one box.
Beyond that period coverage, the archival record on the MR-939 is thin. Little detailed documentation appears to have survived.
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