Teac 124 (circa 1979)

The Teac 124 is a stereo cassette deck with Simul-Sync, a feature far more common on open-reel multitrack machines than on cassette decks. Simul-Sync lets you record the left channel first, then lay down the right channel later in sync with it. That made the 124 a practical tool for musicians and home recordists overdubbing parts one at a time. HiFI-Stereo (September 1979, p.63) noted this unique (for a cassette) feature and put the deck through a battery of lab tests.

Measured performance was solid for the era. Using TDK SA tape, HiFI-Stereo reported an unweighted signal-to-noise ratio of 55.8 dB, rising to 64.4 dB with Dolby B (CCIR/ARM weighting). Frequency response with chrome tape was within +2/-0.7 dB from 40 Hz to 10 kHz (relative to the 315 Hz level). Dolby tracking stayed within 1.5 dB across the band (HiFI-Stereo, 1981, p.51). Reviews consistently described low wow and flutter and wide, clean response.

Little else is documented about the Model 124. It appears to have been marketed to the same semi-pro and serious hobbyist audience that made Teac's multitrack reel-to-reel decks famous. No service manual or detailed sales literature has surfaced in the archive. Production years remain uncertain, and the earliest magazine references date to mid-1979. If you own a 124 and can fill in the gaps, the Archive would like to hear from you.

Known Specifications (from period reviews)

Type: Stereo cassette deck with Simul-Sync
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (TDK SA, unweighted): 55.8 dB (without Dolby); 64.4 dB with Dolby B (CCIR/ARM)
Frequency Response (chrome tape): +2/–0.7 dB, 40 Hz–10 kHz (ref. 315 Hz)
Dolby tracking: Within 1.5 dB up to 11 kHz
Review appearances: Audio (June 1979), HiFI-Stereo (September 1979, 1981), Modern Recording (May/June 1979)