Sony TC-2160SD (1976)
A professional-grade cassette deck from Sony’s 1970s lineup, built for accurate home recording with Dolby noise reduction and a durable ferrite head.
Overview
The Sony TC-2160SD is a stereo cassette deck released in 1976, designed to bring high-fidelity recording to home users. Marketed as a professional reel-to-reel–grade solution for cassette enthusiasts, it featured advanced engineering for its time, including a durable F & F (ferrite & ferrite) head and a DC servo motor with FG for stable tape transport. It included Dolby NR for reduced tape hiss, a 3-type tape selector, and a limiter circuit to prevent distortion during recording. The unit also had a built-in auto shut-off mechanism, lock-type pause button, and MPX filter, with a line/microphone selector switch for flexible input options.
Specifications
| Tape Speed | 4.75 cm/s |
| Heads | 1 x Combination, F & F (ferrite & ferrite) |
| Frequency Response (Dolby NR Off) | 30Hz to 15kHz |
| Wow and Flutter | 0.1% WRMS |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 56 dB (Dual Cassette, Dolby Off, Peak Level) |
| Dimensions | 390 mm (W) × 110 mm (H) × 250 mm (D) |
| Weight | 3.6 kg |
| Features | Dolby NR, 3-type tape selector, DC servo motor with FG, ON/OFF Sony Limiter Recording switch, auto shut-off, lock-type pause, MPX filter, line/microphone selector |
| Original Price | ¥49,800 |
| Accessory | Dust Protector DP-28 (sold separately, ¥3,500) |
Design
The TC-2160SD uses a DC servo motor with FG for precise tape speed control. Its recording and playback head is an F & F (ferrite & ferrite) type with an all-ferrite structure, designed for high abrasion resistance—approximately 200 times that of permalloy—while maintaining excellent magnetic characteristics. The limiter circuit activates automatically with large input signals to prevent distortion, supporting clean manual recording under normal conditions.
Market
One listing shows a unit priced at $60.99, indicating availability on the secondhand market. A Facebook group post notes "สายพานใหม่" (new belt), suggesting that belt replacement is a common maintenance requirement for surviving units.
eBay Listings
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