Technics RS-1700

Data

General

• Manufacturer: Technics
• Model: RS-1700
• Type: Tape machine
• Years of manufacture: 1977 - 1986
• Made in: Osaka, Japan
• Color: Black, in Japan also in silver
• Remote control: optional with RP-9690 (wired remote control) or RP-070 (infrared remote control)
• Power consumption: 160 W
• Dimensions: 456 x 446 x 258 mm (WxHxD)
• Weight: approx. 25,7 kg
• New price approx.: 4.000 to 4.300 DM

Connections

• Number of outputs: 2
  • Headphones: 80 mV/8Ohm

Line Out: 0.5 V (OVU)/at 22 kOhm or more

• • DIN: No
• Number of inputs: 3
  • Microphone: 0.25 mV (-72 dB)/4.7 kOhm
  • Line In: 60 mV (-24 dB)/150 kOhm
  • Trough Out: 60 mV (-24 dB)/150 kOhm

Technical Data

• Max.coil diameter: 26,5 cm

Drive: Direct-drive, collectorless DC motor with phase-locked quartz control for the tone shaft, two direct-drive, collectorless DC motors with tape tension control for the winding plates

• Heads: 6 tone heads (headstock: RP-2R2R or RP-2R2RHF (lower gap depth)
• Tracks: 4-track, 2-channel stereo, with automatic tape reversal on record/playback
• Tape speeds: 9.5, 19 cm/s and 38 cm/s
• Slip:
• Synchronous slip:
  • at 9.5 cm/s: 0.018% (WRMS) +/-0.035% DIN)
  • at 19 cm/s: 0.03% (WRMS) +/-0.06% DIN)
  • at 38 cm/s: 0.06% (WRMS) +/-0.12% DIN)
• Pitch fluctuations:
• Overall frequency response:
  • at 9.5 cm/s: 20 - 15,000 Hz, +/-3 dB
  • at 19 cm/s: 20 - 25,000 Hz, +/-3 dB
  • at 38 cm/s: 30 - 30,000 Hz, +/-3 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio:
• extraneous signal-to-noise ratio (pickup level = 3% total harmonic distortion):
  • at 9.5 cm/s: 64 dB
  • at 19 cm/s: 66 dB

at 38 cm/s: 66 dB

• Total harmonic distortion (0 VU): 0.8%.
• Equalization:
• crosstalk attenuation at 1 kHZ in stereo mode: 50 dB
• Cancellation attenuation: at 19 cm/s: 65 dB
• Premagnetization and extinction frequency: 120 kHz

Special Features

• Autoreverse operation (works via photocell, requires clear tape to be spliced in).

Speed fine adjustment (recording/playback): +/-6%. Four-digit tape counter, real time display at 38 cm/s, other tape speeds require conversion.

• "Isolated Loop" tape guide

Accessories (see below and under RS-1506)

• RP-9100 flight case (1)
• RP-9110 Hard plastic dust cover to put on when coils are mounted (2)
• RP-9120 Wooden side panels (Rio rosewood, veneered, thickness of side panels: 3 cm)
• RP-9130 Brackets for shelf mounting (3)
• RP-9690 Cable remote control for RS-1500 and RS-1506 (4)
• RP-9170 Cable remote control for RS-1700
• RP-070 Infrared Remote Control with Receiver and Transmitter (see below)
• RP-10A 26.5 cm aluminium empty spool (5)
• RP-2224 half-track headstock (6)
• RP-2422 quarter-track headstock (7)
• RP-086 Battery adapter for 24 V DC operation

Remarks

• The machine is not EE tape compatible!

• The headstocks of the Technics_RS-1500_US and the Technics_RS-1506_US can also be used on the RS-1700. The RS-1700 automatically detects these headstocks and disables autoreverse operation. When using the RS-1500 head mount (RP-2224), two-track recording is also possible with the RS-1700. To get the original head mount (RP-2R2R) as a spare part is almost impossible even on ebay.

• Typical signs of age:
• Worn brake pads. The felt pads on the rewind motor brakes are usually worn out and the tape throws loops when you switch from rewind mode to play mode. The looping causes the key control to shut down and cannot be used again until the tape is retightened. You can remedy this by replacing the old felt brake pads with suede. How to do this is described in detail at [Tips for repairing Technics RS tape machines].
• Belt counter drive squeal. The drive pulley of the tape counter belt causes loud squeaking noises when rewinding. These squeaking noises disappear if you oil the axle of this drive pulley.

Worn out springs. If the machine has been standing around for years with the belt tensioned, the springs of the deflection pulleys are worn out. The machine will then no longer switch off when the belt has been unwound, as the deflection pulleys are no longer pulled completely upwards. The only remedy is new springs. Spare parts and accessories are no longer available from Panasonic or Technics.

• The AC power supply of the European version is switchable from 220V/240V to 110V/125V 50/60Hz. The American version is only designed for 110V/125V, but can also be operated on 220V/240V mains via an external transformer (so-called stepdown converter). The only important thing about such a converter is that it can handle the power consumption of the machine.
• Sending such a machine is a very delicate matter due to its heavy weight, as postal or parcel services are not exactly squeamish about such packages. I therefore recommend a personal delivery, even if you have to drive a few kilometers. Well packed, the Technics will even survive a trip across the pond. However, it is necessary to cover the front, back and sides with sufficiently thick polystyrene sheets. If the machine is only wrapped in crumpled up newspapers and styrofoam chips, the feet of the back or bottom panel or the switches, knobs or even the headstock on the front will inevitably punch into the machine when the package is thrown somewhere.

• Matching equipment from Technics:
  • Amplifier: Technics SU-7300K, Technics SU-7700K
  • Tuner: Technics ST-7300K
  • Receivers: Technics SA-300, Technics SA-400, Technics SA-500, Technics SA-600

• Other models in the same series:
• Technics_RS-777
• Technics_RS-10A02
• Technics_RS-1500_US
• Technics_RS-1500_S4
• Technics_RS-1506_US
• Technics_RS-1700
• Technics_RS-1800

Pictures

• Image: Technics RS-1700

• Picture: Technics RS-1700

• Image: Technics RS-1700 accessories

• Accessories: 3: RP-9130 rack-mount bracket, 4: RP-9690 wired remote control (for RS-1500 US and RS-1506 US), 6: RP-2224 head mount (RS 1500 US), 7: RP-2422 head mount (RS-1506 US).

• Picture: Technics RS-1700 accessories

• Accessories: Infrared remote control RP-070

• Picture: Technics RS-1700 accessories cover, infrared remote control and wooden side panel

• Picture: Technics RS-1700 in silver

Reports

Here are a few repair reports on faults with the machine, with a request to add them if anyone has ever had problems with the machine:

• Instructions for disassembling and cleaning the switches: switch-problems

• Brakes do not open in play or wind mode, noticeable by fidgeting idler pulleys and sudden machine shutdown. Possible cause see here: Replacement transistor for RS-1700
• For other general reports on Technics tape machine buying tips, care and repairs, see here: [RS-1500US]
• [Mackern.de Read Hifi Technics RS 1700]

Links

• Promotional brochure for the Technics RS-1700, RS1506US and RS-1500US as pdf file in color: Technics RS-1700, RS1506, RS-1500
• Operating Instructions (free download, registration required): Technics Tape Deck RS-1700 Operating Instructions
• Operating Instructions (free download, as pdf file): Technics Tape Deck RS-1700 Operating Instructions
• Sevice Manual Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (free download, registration required): Technics Service Manual RS-1700 Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
• Technics RS tape machines and accessories: The Vintage Knob
• Silver RS-1700: Japanese site and another Japanese site
• Oliver's Technics tape machine collection
• There's no accounting for taste, at least the Black Magic doesn't look that bad Modified Technics tape machines Silver plating the entire front panel of an RS-1700 is said to cost just under $1000.
• Headstock RP-2R2R (unfortunately already sold!): RP-2R2R
• Mackern.de Read Hifi Technics RS 1700