Sony TC-AV1 (1987)
A mini component size double reverse cassette deck released by Sony in 1987. It has dual-deck operation and Dolby NR-B noise reduction.
Overview
The Sony TC-AV1 is a dual cassette deck released in 1987 for compact audio systems, hence the mini component size. It has two independent decks. Deck A plays back only. Deck B records and plays back, so basic tape dubbing is covered. It also does high-speed dubbing. The auto-reverse mechanism is called an "Oatley berth mechanism" in the documentation, likely a transcription error. It lets you play or record both sides of a cassette without flipping it by hand.
Specifications
| Released | 1987 |
| Type | Cassette deck |
| Heads | Play : 1 (A Deck) Erase : 1 (B Deck) Recording : 1 (B Deck) |
| Motor | DC servo motor : 2 DC Motor : 2 |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (EIAJ) | 56 dB (Dolby off, peak level, Metal-S cassette) 66 dB (Dolby NRB, peak level, Metal-S cassette) |
| Frequency characteristic | 30 Hz ~ 16 kHz ± 3 dB (EIAJ, Metal-S Cassette) |
| Frequency range | 20 Hz ~ 17 kHz (EIAJ, Metal-S Cassette) |
| Wow and flutter (EIAJ) | ± 0.07% Wpeak 0.05%WRMS |
| Distortion factor | 0.5% (EIAJ, Metal-S Cassette) |
| Power consumption | 18W |
| External dimensions | Width 355x Height 130x Depth 345 mm |
| Weight | 4.9kg |
| Original price | ¥ 54,800 |
Design
The TC-AV1 has two twin decks. Deck A is for playback and Deck B is for recording and playback. Both have an auto tape selector that detects the tape type on its own. The auto-reverse uses that Oatley berth mechanism. A linear electronic counter shows tape position in minutes and seconds. A 12-segment x 2-channel peak level meter handles monitoring during recording. Noise reduction is Dolby NR-B type.
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