Sony TC-2160SD (1976)

A 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, aimed at bringing high-fidelity recording to home users. It was marketed as a professional reel-to-reel grade solution for cassette people. It has a durable F & F (ferrite & ferrite) head and a DC servo motor with FG for stable tape transport. It also has Dolby NR to cut tape hiss, a 3-type tape selector, and a limiter circuit to prevent distortion during recording. There is a built-in auto shut-off, a lock-type pause button, and an MPX filter. A line/microphone selector switch handles the 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 to control tape speed. The recording and playback head is an F & F (ferrite & ferrite) type with an all-ferrite structure. It is built for high abrasion resistance, approximately 200 times that of permalloy, while keeping excellent magnetic characteristics. The limiter circuit kicks in automatically on large input signals to prevent distortion, which supports clean manual recording under normal conditions.

Market

One listing shows a unit priced at $60.99, so they turn up on the secondhand market. A Facebook group post notes "สายพานใหม่" (new belt), which suggests belt replacement is a common maintenance job on surviving units.

Similar items on eBay

No exact Sony TC 2160SD listings are live right now — these searches show current Sony and similar vintage audio gear on eBay:

Search Sony TC 2160SD on eBay Browse Sony audio gear on eBay

As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.