Sony TC-KA 6 ES

Data

General:

• Manufacturer: Sony
• Model: TC-KA 6 ES
• Type: Cassette Tape Deck
• Years of manufacture: 1995 - 2000
• Made in: Japan
• Color: Black, Champagne
• Remote control: yes
• Power consumption: 220 V, 50 Hz, 30 W
• Dimensions: 430 x 135 x 360 mm (WxHxD)
• Weight: 7,6 kg
• Original price: 1'400 DM (black) / 1'500 DM (champagne)

Connections:

• Number of inputs:
  • Line Cinch: 0.16 V/ 47 kOhm
• Number of outputs:
  • Line Cinch: 0.5 V/ 47 kOhm

Load impedance 10 kOhm

• • Headphones: 0-3 mW at 32 Ohm (6.3 mm jack)

Technical data:

• Audio heads: 3
• motors: 3
• Variation of synchronism: 0.025 % (WRMS), ± 0.07 % (DIN), ± 0.05 % (IEC)
• Band types: Type I / II / IV
• Frequency response:
  • 20-21,000 Hz (Pure IV, ±3 dB).
  • 20-19,000 Hz (Type II CrO2)
  • 20-17,000 Hz (Type I Ferro)
• Distortion factor:
  • Type I: 0.4 %

Type IV: 1.5

• Signal-to-noise ratio:
  • I: 57 dB

II: 59 dB

• • IV: 61 dB
• Auto Reverse: no
• Title search: yes (AMS)
• Dolby: B / C / S / HX-Pro
• MPX filter: yes, switchable
• Rewind time: 90 s (C-60)
• Fader: no
• Pitch control: no
• CD synchro recording: yes

Special features:

• Dolby HX-pro is always on (switchable on KA 3/5/7 ES).
• 3-head deck with rear tape control
• Automatic tape type detection
• Double-capstan tape drive with direct drive and sapphire bearings of the sound waves
• Fluorescent level meter with 2 × 24 segments
• Gold-plated inputs and outputs
• Cassette compartment motor-controlled and with fixed locking mechanism for the inserted cassette for maximum precision
• Timer pre-installation for recording / playback
• CD synchro playback with Sony CD players possible
• Built-in sensor for remote control (RM-J701)
• Aluminium front panel
• SD sound heads (Super Density = Permalloy)
• Tape calibration on 3 levels with test tone generator: Bias, Level and Equalizer
• Test tones: 15 kHz, 3 kHz, 400 Hz
• Headphone output, adjustable (6.3 mm jack, gold-plated)

Comments

• Previous model:
  • Sony TC-K 909 ES
• Successor model: none. The TC-KA 6 ES marks the end of the high-quality ES series of cassette decks.
• Only cassette deck from Sony over 1000 DM in Germany, in the late 90s.
• The Sony TC-KA 6 led the test best lists of the Hifi magazine Stereoplay for a long time (1995-2000, see below).
• The TC-KA1ESA and TC-KA2ES, released a year later, are rebadged mid-range decks.
• The unit shares a user manual with the Sony TC-KA 3 ES. The KA3 was intended for USA, Canada and other non-European market countries (see Bda, pg.2), the differences of both decks, e.g. sound heads, are listed in the BDA, pg.2

• Other models of the same series:
  • Sony TC-KA 1 ES
  • Sony TC-KA 2 ES
  • Sony TC-KA 3 ES
  • Sony TC-KA 5 ES
  • Sony TC-KA 6 ES
  • Sony TC-KA 7 ES

Pictures

• [[Picture: Sony TC-KA 6 ES

• Picture: Sony TC-KA 6 ES

• Excerpt from brochure: Sony TC-KA 6 ES

Reports

• Stereoplay 9/1995: Absolute top class IV (Only device of this class). Then 1997- July 1998: 20 points, top class, very good (Only device in this class). From 8/1998-2000 : 41 points, top class, very good, only unit in this class. (Stereoplay had refined the rating system from 8/98 = doubled).

Stereo 8/1995: 2 stars, very good. 2nd place in the best list (until 1997). "Smooth sound for the life of the recorder. The cast drive is now back in top form."

Links

• https://www.sony.de/electronics/support/audio-components-cassette-decks/tc-ka6es#manuals , January 20, 2018 accessed.
• Dolby S cassette decks compared