Technics RS-B100
A high-end three-head stereo cassette deck designed as a reference machine for the CD era.
Overview
The Technics RS-B100 is a stereo cassette deck developed to serve as a reference deck during the transition to the CD era. It features advanced tape transport and signal processing technologies aimed at preserving audio fidelity. The deck includes an auto tape selector that detects tape type and adjusts settings accordingly, along with independent left/right level calibration and bias adjustment for optimal recording performance.
Specifications
| Heads | Recording / Playback : AX Amorphous Combination Head; Erasing : double-gap sendust heads |
| Motor | For Capstan : Quartz Lock DD Motor; For Reel : Electronically controlled DC Motor |
| Wow flutter | 0.022%(W.R.M.S.) |
| Frequency characteristic | Normal (ED) : 20 Hz to 19 kHz ± 3 dB (EIAJ); CrO 2 (EX) : 20 Hz to 21 kHz ± 3 dB (EIAJ); Metal (EM) : 20 Hz ~ 23 kHz ± 3 dB (EIAJ) |
| Dynamic range | 110 dB (dbx in, 1 kHz, EX Tape) |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | NR off : 61 dB (EX tape, WTD, 1 kHz, 3% third order distortion); Dolby B NR in : 68 dB (EX Tape, WTD, 1 kHz, 3% third order distortion); Dolby C NR in : 74 dB (EX Tape, WTD, 1 kHz, 3% third order distortion); Dbx in : 92 dB (EX tape, WTD, 1 kHz, 3% third order distortion) |
| Input Sensitivity / Impedance | Line : 60mV/47k Ω |
| Output Level / Impedance | Line : 400mV/2.2k Ω; Headset : 2mW/8 Ω (compatible impedance 8 Ω ~ 600 Ω) |
| Power | 100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz |
| Power consumption | Approx. 24W |
| Maximum external dimensions | Width 430x Height 98x Depth 274 mm (Including Knob and Rubber Foot) |
| Weight | Approx. 5.7 kg |
Design
The RS-B100 uses a Quartz D.D. closed-loop double capstan system with a Kyoshin distributed capstan and three tape guides for improved driving accuracy. It features a phase correction circuit to maintain constant group delay, reducing sound quality degradation during dubbing. The amplifier section uses a linear feedback circuit and direct-coupling dual FETs to minimize noise and distortion. The recording and playback head is an AX combination head made of amorphous alloy, offering high-frequency performance, high MOL, and wear resistance. The deck supports three noise reduction systems—dbx, Dolby B, and Dolby C—with dual circuit configurations on both recording and playback sides for simultaneous monitoring. It includes a 2-way digital counter showing tape count or remaining time, a built-in music selector, Auto Rec Mute, Auto-Rec memory, a 3-color wide-range FL display, auto monitor functionality, and support for the optional RP-9645 wired remote controller.
Context
Developed as a reference cassette deck for the CD era, the RS-B100 was designed around the theme of precise waveform transmission.
Market
The optional wired remote controller RP-9645 was sold separately for ¥6,000. Original price was ¥148,000 around 1983.
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