Unidirectional Auto Reverse Cassette Deck
Since unveiling the world's first fully Discrete Three-Head cassette deck with the Model 1000, Nakamichi has long dreamt of making the Discrete Three head design possible in a record/playback auto reverse deck. With the RX-505, we've made the dream a reality. It combines the superior quality of a one-way, Discrete Three-Head, Closed-Loop Dual-Capstan Deck, with the outstanding convenience of auto reverse operation.
Conventional auto reverse decks are designed to reverse the direction of tape travel at the end of a cassette side. Because of this, they all suffer from the resulting problem of azimuth error between the two sides of a tape, causing an audible deterioration in sound quality. And no matter how precise a tape transport is made, azimuth error arising from a reversal in tape travel direction can't be completely eliminated by conventional designs because of irregularities in the construction and "performance" of standard cassette shells. It look the engineering genius and incredible precision of the NAAC system in the Nakamichi Dragon to fully eliminate the problem, with continuous automatic playback head azimuth alignment of both sides of the tape.
The Unidirectional Auto Reverse mechanism solves the same problem with a completely new concept in auto reverse mechanism design. Instead of reversing tape travel direction, this unique mechanism automatically reverses the cassette instead, so absolutely identical tape travel conditions are maintained for both sides A and B of a tape.
Not only is azimuth error between sides of a tape fully eliminated, the inherent advantages of tape travel accuracy and reliability in a one-way transport mechanism can be brought to the highest possible level.
Fully Discrete Tree-Head design guarantees exceptionally wide, flat frequency response to 20 kHz. Tape travel is controlled with extreme precision by only the capstans themselves in a highly accurate Closed-Loop Dual-Capstan silent mechanism, and the individual capstans are machined to slightly different diameters so that unwanted flutter components are not allowed to arise. The recording and playback amps are full DC configuration with bipolar power supply, for extremely low total harmonic distortion of less than 0,005%, a figure rivalling that of the finest home audio preamplifiers.
The RX-505 also offers a full complement of features and functions that add more versatility and convenience to the auto reverse format. Automatic fade-out and fade-in prior to and after the reverse operation provide a smooth transition between sides of a tape. Auto Rec Standby, Auto Rec Pause, program Seek, a Master Fader control, and more provide the operating control and convenience cassette enthusiasts will find most useful - especially with an auto revers deck.
With the RX-505 Nakamichi has again created an all new standard in cassette deck performance.
Specifications
Track Configuration: 4-track, 2-channels stereo - Auto reverse Rec and Playback
Heads: 1 x Erase Head, ! X Record Head; ! X Playback head
Motors: Pll Servo Motor for capstan Drive; DC Motor for Reel Drive
Tape Speed: 1-7/8 ips (4,8 cm/sec)
Wow and Flutter: less than 0,04% (WTD RMS); 0,08% (WTD Peak)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz ±3 dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Dolby C type NR On [70 µs, ZX tape] : better than 70 dB (400 Hz, 3% T.H.D., IHF-A WTD RMS)
Dolby B type NR On [70 µs, ZX tape] : better than 64 dB (400 Hz, 3% T.H.D., IHF-A WTD RMS)
Total Harmonic Distortion : less than 0,9% (400 Hz, 0 dB, ZX tape)
Erasure: better than 60 dB (100 Hz , 0 dB)
Separation: better than 86 dB (1 kHz, 0 dB)
Crosstalk: better than 60 dB (1 kHz, 0 dB)
Bias Frequency: 105 kHz
Input :
Line : 50 mV/70 k Ω
Output:
Line : 1,0 V / 2,2 k Ω
Headphone : 12 mW/ 9 Ω load
Fast Winding Time : 60 sec (C-60 cassette)
Power Requirements: 100, 120, 220-240 V AC 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 33 W max
Dimensions (W x H x D): 450 x 144 x 300 mm ( 17-3/4" x 5-11/16" x 11-13/16")
Weight: 10 kg (22 lb 1 oz)