Dolby S Cassette Decks In Comparison

Short description[edit]

Most Dolby S<ref group="*"> Dolby S at German Wikipedia </ref> cassette decks are listed here, so you can easily compare the specifications at a glance.

Limitation

To keep the list from getting too long, only units with synchronicity fluctuations of less than 0.08% are listed.

Data[edit]

Pioneer CT-S 430 S <ref group="*">Attention. Frequency response ± 6 dB and not ± 3 dB as usual.</ref>|| 1994 || 2 || || No || 0.07% || <1.0% || - || - || 25 - 18,000 || 25 - 17,000 || - || - || 57 dB || Automatic || No Pioneer CT-S 630 S <ref group="*">Caution. Frequency response ± 6 dB and not ± 3 dB as usual.</ref>|| 1994 || 3 || || 2 || No || 0.05% || <0.6% || - || - || 20 - 19,000 || 20 - 21,000 || - || - 59 dB || Automatic || No Pioneer CT-S 830 S <ref group="*">Caution. Frequency response ± 6 dB and not ± 3 dB as usual.</ref>|| 1994 || 3 || || 2 || No || 0.023% || <0.6% || - || - || 15 - 20,000 || 15 - 20,000 || - || - 59 dB || Automatic || No Sony TC-K 511 S || 1993 || 3 || S&F || SD/SD || 2 || No || 0.07% || 1.5% || - || 0.4% || 30 - 19,000 || 30 - 18,000 || 30 - 17,000 || 60 dB || 59 dB || 57 dB || Manual || No Sony TC-K 611 S || 1993 || 3 || F&F || SD/SD || 3 || No || 0.05% || 1.5% || - || 0.4% || 20 - 20,000 || 20 - 18,000 || 20 - 17,000 || 60 dB || - || - || manual || No Sony TC-K 711 S || 1993 || 3 || S&F || SD/SD || 3 || Yes || 0.05% || 1.5% || - || 0.4% || 20 - 20,000 || 20 - 18,000 || 20 - 17,000 || 61 dB || 59 dB || 57 dB || manual || No Sony TC-K 715 S || 1994 || 3 || F&F || SD/SD || 3 || No || 0.045% <ref group="*">The previous model 711 S had a dual capstan, but the 715 S had a quartz locked servo, but only one capstan and still slightly better</ref>. || 1.5% || - || 0.4% || 20 - 20,000 || 20 - 18,000 || 20 - 17,000 || 61 dB || 59 dB || 57 dB || manual || No Sony TC-K 815 S || 1994 || 3 || S&F || SD/SD || 3 || Yes || 0.04% || 1.5% || - || 0.4% || 20 - 20,000 || 20 - 18,000 || 20 - 17,000 || 61 dB || 59 dB || 57 dB || manual || No Sony TC-KA 3 ES || 1995 || 3 || S&F || LA/LA || 3 || Yes || 0.022% || 1.3% || - || 0.4% || 15 - 22,000 || 15 - 20,000 || 15 - 17,000 || 61 dB || 59 dB || 57 dB || manual || No Sony TC-KA 6 ES || 1995 || 3 || S&F || SD/SD || 3 || Yes || 0.025% || 1.5% || - || 0.4% || 20 - 21,000 || 20 - 19,000 || 20 - 17,000 || 61 dB || 59 dB || 57 dB || manual || No Sony TC-S 1 || 1995 || 2 || F&F || SD || - || No || 0.06% || 1.5% || - || 0.4% || 25 - 19,000 || 25 - 17,000 || 25 - 16,000 || 58 dB || 57 dB || 55 dB || Automatic || Yes
specifications
Specifications Sound heads Distortion factor Frequency response in Hz Signal to noise ratio (without Dolby) Bias Auto-
Model Year No. Erase Record/Playback Motors Dual Capstan Synchronization in WRMS Metal Chrome Normal Metal Chrome Normal Metal Chrome Normal Calibration reverse
Aiwa XK-S 7000 1992 3 3 13 - 23.000 13 - 21.000 13 - 20.000 manual No
Aiwa XK-S 9000 1992 3 4 0,018% 0,002% 13 - 24.000 <ref group="*">Attention! Frequency response ± 0.3 dB and not ± 3 dB as usual.</ref> 13 - 22.000 13 - 21.000 manual No
Arcam Delta 100 1992 Yes 0.04 % 20 - 20,000 66 dB manual No
Harman/kardon TD 4600 1990 2 A 20 - 20.000 57 dB manual No
Harman/kardon TD 470 1995 3 A Yes 0.06% (DIN)<ref group="*"> The DIN requirements for synchronization were higher than WRMS.</ref> 1.1% 1.3% 0.6% 20 - 20,000 56 dB<ref group="*"> File:Hk td470 Infos 2016.pdf </ref> manual No
Kenwood KX-7060 S 1994 3 Yes 0.055% / 0.15% (DIN) 20 - 22,000 20 - 19,000 60 dB - - Automatic No
Kenwood KX-9050 S 1992 3 A 4 Yes 0.024% / 0.05% (DIN) 20 - 22,000 20 - 19,000 59 dB - - Automatic<ref group="*"> Manual fine tuning of the automatically determined bias in +/- 3 steps possible</ref>. No
Pioneer CT-95 <ref group="*">Attention! Frequency response ± 6 dB and not ± 3 dB as usual.</ref> 1993 3 - -/- 3 Yes 0.022% 0.6% 0.6% 10 - 30,000 10 - 21,000 64 dB - - Manual No
Sony TC-RX 611 S 1993 2 F&F LA 3 No 0.06% 1.8% - 0.4% 20 - 19,000 25 - 18,000 25 - 16,000 59 dB - Automatic Yes
Sony TC-K 707 ES 1993 3 S&F SD/LA 3 Yes 0,05% 1,5% - 0,4% 20 - 21.000 20 - 19.000 20 - 17.000 61 dB 59 dB 57 dB Manual No
Sony TC-K 717 ES 1994 3 S&F SD/LA 3 Yes 0.04% 1.5% - 0.4% 20 - 21,000 20 - 19,000 20 - 17,000 61 dB 59 dB 57 dB manual No
Sony TC-K 909 ES 1993 3 S&F LA/LA 3 Yes 0.022% 1.3% - 0.4% 15 - 22,000 15 - 20,000 15 - 17,000 61 dB 59 dB 57 dB manual No
Sony TC-KE 600 S <ref group="*">Although the 600 S may have a lower-quality impression and technically has only SD heads, the smoothness and frequency response are excellent .</ref> 1996 3 S&F SD/SD 3 No 0.045% 1.5% - 0.4% 15 - 21,000 15 - 18,000 61 dB 59 dB 57 dB manual No
Sony TC-WA 7 ES 1995 2x2 - - 2x2 No 0.07% 1.8% - 0.4 % 30 - 18,000 30 - 17,000 30 - 15,000 58 dB 57 dB 55 dB Automatic Yes
Teac V-2030 S 1995 3 - - 2 No 0,045% - - - 15 - 21.000 15 - 20.000 15 - 18.000 60 dB - - Manual No
Teac V-6030 S 1995 3 - AC/AC 4 Yes 0.027% - - - 15 - 21,000 15 - 20,000 15 - 18,000 60 dB - - manual No
Teac V-8000 S 1991 3 - AC/AC 4 Yes 0.022% - - - 15 - 21,000 15 - 20,000 15 - 18,000 60 dB - - manual No
Teac V-8030 S 1995 3 - AC/AC 4 Yes 0.022% - - - 15 - 21,000 15 - 20,000 15 - 18,000 60 dB - - manual No
Yamaha KX-580 1994 2 F HP 2 Yes 0.05% < 0.8% < 0.8% < 0,8% 20 - 20.000 20 - 18.000 20 - 17.000 >60 dB Automatic No
Yamaha KX-690 1996 3 F HP/HP 3 Yes < 0.8% < 0.8% < 0,8% 20 - 21.000 20 - 19.000 20 - 18.000 >60 dB Automatic No

Deviation in WRMS[edit]

Professional cassette decks could achieve synchronization fluctuations around 0.02%, which was described as no longer audible.
Consumer cassette decks reached values around 0.08% WRMS, which is still audible in some situations.
Dolby S decks and other high-end decks managed to get closer to the 0.02% mark.

Sound heads[edit]

Head types:

  • A = Amorphous (harman/kardon, Kenwood).
  • F&F = Ferrite & Ferrite (Sony)
  • S&F = Sendust & Ferrite (Sony)
  • SD = Sendust (Sony)
  • LA = Laser Amorphous (Sony)
  • AC = Amorphous Cobalt - consisting of 14 layers. (TEAC)
  • F = Ferrite Head - Double Slit (Yamaha)
  • HP = Hard Permalloy head (Yamaha)

See also article about tone heads <ref group="Nachweis">http://www.stereo2go.com/topic/is-it-all-in-your-head</ref>

Notes[edit]

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Individual references[edit]

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