Tandberg TCD 310

 In professional reel-to-reel tape recorders and in the most advanced semi-professional machines 3 motors are taken for granted. Now Tandberg has made a Hi-Fi cassette tape recorder which is the first in the world with 3 motors, with a very special tape transport system, with peak level meters and with the Dolby B noise reduction system.

Features:

Specifications better than requirements of DIN 45 500

Tape transport system has 2 capstan and 2 pressure rollers (closed loop)

Amongst other things this means that speed variations are reduced to a very low level.

Electronic controls

High quality magnetic heads

Large peak level meters

Mixing in mono

Automatic stop

Can be used in vertical position

For use with separate Hi-Fi stereo amplifier

 The Dolby B System

The TCD310 has the Dolby noise reduction system. This reduces tape noise by about 10 dB compared with conventional systems. The Dolby system is especially important in a cassette tape recorder because the tape noise is higher than in a reel-to-reel tape recorder. The Dolby system can be connected and disconnected with a switch.

Tape Selector

The magnetic heads and the electronic circuits in the TCD310 were designed for maximum exploitation of the best characteristics of the newest tapes. A selector allows you to adjust the tape recorder to optimum for different types of tape.

Peak level meters

These provide the best method of controlling a recording. The meters can also be used to indicate the replay level.

 The Tape Transport

In a tape recorder it is a big advantage if the number of moving parts is reduced to a minimum. All mechanism sooner or later wear out, and complicated clutch systems and mechanical linkages contribute to a worsening performance. This is particularly true for cassette machines because the cassette's construction gives narrow tolerances for high quality sound reproduction.

Even heavily worn cassettes will not be damaged in the TCD310 because it has a built-in safety device that automatically stops the tape-drive  if the tape is jammed.

The dual-capstan closed-loop system consists of 2 capstan with precision flywheels and 2 pinch rollers. This provides a stable tape path with minimum speed variations. The mechanism is simple and solid giving a reliable performance. The tape transport system provides the correct tape tension across the magnetic heads and cancels irregularities in the sound level caused by the pressure pad in the cassette. During record/play nad fast wind/rewind the driving mechanism is automatically disconnected at the end of the tape.

 3 Motors

The TCD310 has one synchronous motor for record/replay and two motors for fast forward and backward winding. These two motors are in direct contact with the spool spindles. This ensures that the number of moving parts is reduced to a minimum, and there is no complicated mechanical transmission that could eventually wear and reduce the performance of the machine. The spooling speed is high and it only takes about 40 seconds to spool a C60 cassette.

 Self-Adjusting Input Amplifier

This novel self-adjusting input amplifier was specially designed at Tandberg Radiofabrikk. While conventional input amplifiers are optimised to a particular programme source and are often badly matched to other programme sources, this amplifier adjust itself automatically to different programme sources (radio, record player with ceramic pick-up, amplifier, microphone). The result is something that cannot be achieved with conventional amplifiers; a full dynamic range and the absolute minimum noise from the input circuits - regardless of which programme source and which recording level are used.

Specifications:

Tape Speed:  1-7/8 i.p.s.

Speed Tolerance:  ±1,0%

Wow and Flutter:  0,2% (peak DIN 45 511); 0,15% (WRMS)

Frequency Response (DIN 45 500):  30 - 16,000 Hz (40 - 14,000 Hz ±3 dB)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio:  65 dB (weighted, DIN 45 500); 55 dB (unweighted , DIN 45 500)

Crosstalk Attenuation:

Side 1 to side 2 :  60 dB

Track 1 to track 2 :  35 dB

Harmonic Distortion:  0,3%(from amp. At 0 dB); 3% (from tape at 0 dB record level)

Input Sensitivity/Impedance (max. Voltage at 400 Hz)

Mic : 0,15 mV - 20 mV

Line : 40 mV - 5 V/ 220 k Ω

Radio : 8 mV-1 V/47 k Ω

Output Voltage/Load Impedance (with unlouded output or power output for each channel)

Radio : 0,775 mV/10 k Ω

Line : 0,775 V/10 k Ω

Power Requirements:  115 V, 230 V,  50 or 60 Hz

Power Consumption:  34 W

Dimensions (W x H x D):  430 x 105 x 230 mm (17 x 4-1/4 x 9-1/4 inches)

Weight:  6,5 kg (15,5 lb)