Tandberg TCD-330 (c. 1977–1978)
Little is documented about the Tandberg TCD-330 outside of period reviews. Those reviews describe a serious, ambitious cassette deck. It had three heads and three motors, the kind of design Tandberg was known for in their reel-to-reel days, applied here to a compact cassette format that aimed at near-reel-to-reel performance.
A built-in azimuth alignment system let the user optimize the record head for any tape brand. It had a 10 kHz signal generator and a screw adjustment under a small cover plate. The three motors included a synchronous motor for record and play, which addressed the speed stability that often plagued lesser decks. Measured unweighted RMS flutter was 0.06 percent, which the reviewer called among the best they'd seen. Signal-to-noise ran about 51 dB unweighted, improving to 57 dB with IEC "A" weighting and to 66 dB with Dolby B engaged and XL-I tape. Frequency response was specified at 20 Hz to 20 kHz (DIN 45500) and 30 Hz to 18 kHz ±3 dB with the FM/MPX filter out. Harmonic distortion stayed under 0.3 percent at 0 dB recording level.
The deck was compact for its feature set, roughly 18.5 by 9.5 by 4.25 inches and 15.5 pounds. Price in 1978 was $999, which put it in serious enthusiast territory. Studio Sound (July 1978, p.67) reported that Polydor used one in their London studios to make cassette copies for artists and producers to take home. It cited the adjustable azimuth alignment as particularly useful when working with a variety of cassette brands.
The TCD-330 sat at the top of Tandberg's cassette range, above models like the TCD-310 Mark II. It was advertised in early 1978 alongside the TR-2075 receiver as "the world's most sophisticated cassette tape recorder" (HiFI-Stereo, 1978, p.120). Precise production years are not pinned down, but the review activity suggests roughly 1977-1978.
Known Specs (from period reviews)
- Type: Three-head, three-motor cassette deck with Dolby B
- Heads: Separate erase, record, play
- Motors: One synchronous for record/play, plus two others
- Azimuth adjustment: Built-in 10 kHz oscillator and screw adjustment
- Frequency response: 20–20,000 Hz (DIN 45500); 30–18,000 Hz ±3 dB (FM/MPX out)
- Signal/noise: ~51 dB unweighted; 57 dB IEC “A”; 66 dB “A” with Dolby (XL-I tape)
- Flutter: 0.06% RMS unweighted
- Distortion: <0.3% at 0 dB recording level
- Fast wind: C-60 in 48 seconds (forward), 50 seconds (rewind)
- Dimensions: 18½ × 9½ × 4¼ inches
- Weight: 15.5 lb
- Price new: $999 (1978)
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