A high-end stereo cassette deck with a 3-head configuration and Hot Press Ferrite heads for better fidelity and durability.
Overview
The Technics RS-279US is a stereo cassette deck made by Technics / Panasonic, . It was the first cassette deck to have a 3-head configuration for recording monitoring, so you can hear what was just recorded in real time with high accuracy. It is built with professional-grade components. The heads are HPF (Hot Press Ferrite), made under high temperature and pressure for superior magnetic permeability and wear resistance. The head gap is finished to within 1/1000 mm, which keeps high-frequency loss from eddy currents down. The deck also has a full-scale Dolby B noise reduction system with level adjustment, a lock-type pause button, an operation indicator lamp, and a memory rewind mechanism.
Specifications
| Original Price | ¥99,800 |
| Head configuration | 3-head |
| Head type | HPF (Hot Press Ferrite) |
| Motor system | 2-motor direct drive |
| Capstan motor | Non-contact electronic commutator motor |
| Reel motor | DC motor |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (Dolby OFF) | 50 dB or more |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (Dolby ON) | 58 dB or more |
| Frequency response (Normal tape) | 20 Hz to 15 kHz |
| Wow & flutter | 0.10% or less (WRMS) |
| External dimensions | 440 mm (W) x 115 mm (H) x 325 mm (D) |
| Weight | 9.5 kg (approx.) |
Design
The RS-279US is Technics' first cassette deck with a 3-head configuration for recording monitoring. The HPF (Hot Press Ferrite) head is made by molding fine manganese-zinc ferrite powder under high temperature and pressure. That gives it high magnetic permeability and wear resistance, and it keeps high-frequency loss from eddy currents low. The head gap is finished with ultra-precision processing on the order of 1/1000 mm. The capstan motor is a non-contact electronic commutator type, electronically controlled for an ultra-low rotation speed of approximately 5 revolutions per second. Switching between microphone and line inputs can improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
Context
Market
One unit was listed for sale in Sacramento, CA. The listing described it as being in "good condition" at the time of documentation.
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