Tandberg 1600X (circa 1969–1970)
Tandberg's 1600X is a fully transistorized, three-speed stereo tape deck. The company offered it in half-track or quarter-track configurations (HiFi-Stereo, January 1970, p.26). A Studio Sound review (June 1970, p.39) called it a "domestic stereo tape unit" with a crossfield bias head. That was a Tandberg hallmark: a separate bias head sits on the opposite side of the tape from the record head, which allows deeper, cleaner high-frequency recording. The same review noted that the heads have none of the usual pressure pads. A single pad and plate to the left of the erase head keep the tape tension constant instead.
Period announcements (e.g. HiFi-Stereo, January 1970, p.26) describe the front panel. It carried jacks for four microphones and two headphones, separate bass and treble controls for all four channels, and four front-panel meters to monitor each channel's output. Pushbuttons for loudness compensation, high- and low-frequency filters, and similar functions affected all four channels at once.
Known specifications (compiled from Studio Sound listings in late 1969-1970):
- Speeds: 7½, 3¾, 1⅞ ips
- Frequency response (±2 dB): 40–18,000 Hz (7½ ips); 40–14,000 Hz (3¾ ips); 40–8,000 Hz (1⅞ ips) (Studio Sound, October 1969, p.7)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: better than −55 dB (7½ ips), −53 dB (3¾ ips), −52 dB (1⅞ ips)
- Wow & flutter (RMS): less than 1 RMS (7½ ips), -15 R.M.S. (3¾ ips), 35 R.M.S. (1⅞ ips)
- Crosstalk: better than −60 dB
- Line output: -Hv output per channel
- Cabinet: teak
- UK price at introduction: £89.10.0
The 1600X was sold in the UK through Heathkit dealers (Studio Sound, January 1970, p.28).
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