TEAC 450 cassette deck (Jun. 1973)

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TEAC announces a major achievement in tape technology: A totally new transport drive system has produced the fist cassette deck with record and playback wow and flutter of less than 0.07%: Measurably better than any other cassette deck in the world.

THE TEAC 450 CASSETTE DECK with enhanced Dolby system.

No other cassette deck can touch it.

Here's why it has no peer among cassette decks and why its specs are matched by only a few reel-to-reel decks.

TEAC can now announce a remarkable achievement in sound: a cassette deck with an enhanced Dolby system, and record and playback wow and flutter of less than 0.07%! This WRMS measurement is not just an abstract statistic; it is a measurement that assures you a steady, flutter-free sound previously unheard of in cassette decks. This is measurably better than any other cassette deck in existence! How did we do it? With a hardheaded, uncompromising philosophy of design leadership, and incredible quality control.

The heart of this accomplishment is TEAC's new transport drive system-a system with all new parts and exceptional critical tolerances.

(Actual wow and flutter chart of the 450 shows WRMS measurement of considerably less than 0.07%.)

Item: our new capstan

A newly designed capstan has a shaft with a diameter of 2.4 mm. The shaft has a critical tolerance of 0.15 microns (the accompanying diagram shows this 0.15 micron tolerance enlarged 4000 times). This perfect roundness allows the tape to be transported at a much steadier rate, smoothing the tape flow and greatly reducing one of the significant components contributing to wow and flutter.

Item: our new clutch

Until now cassette decks had clutches that, because they were mass produced, had variations that created unacceptable variants in tape torque and head-to-tape contact. Our new slip clutch for the supply and take-up reels has been critically machined to give optimum torque perfect balance of tension between take-up reel and capstan. This helps eliminate another of the causes of wow and flutter, and reduces level fluctuation (dropouts) to a new low for cassette recording.

Item: our outer rotor motor

Our hysteresis synchronous motor has the outside revolving, rather than the inside--as in a normal motor.

The flywheel is exceptionally large (93mm) and has twice the mass of any other TEAC flywheel. This increases the inertia and stability of the transport drive element which pulls the tape.

Our outer rotor motor is even dynamically balanced, to be completely free of rotation variation! It drives the capstan flywheel with a professional quality flat belt made of a new synthetic material created for minimum stretch and maximum durability.

(Actual tape speed chart using TEAC test tape with 3 kHz signal is extremely constant over 30 minute time span.)

(Actual "Roundness" tolerance of the 450 capstan shaft shows enlarged critical tolerance of 0.15 microns.)

Item: our enhanced Dolby system

TEAC has given Dolby circuitry a significant new flexibility: our exclusive Dolby FM / Copy control.

In the past, when recording Dolbyized tapes or Dolbyized FM broadcasts, the high-pitched emphasis of the encoded Dolby signal was heard as you monitored an inaccurate and disturbing representation of the sound being recorded.

The exclusive TEAC Dolby FM / Copy switch decodes the Dolby signal for monitoring, while leaving the recorded encoded Dolby signal undisturbed.

While today there are only a handful of Dolbyized FM stations broadcasting throughout the country, TEAC has created this forward-thinking feature to enhance your enjoyment of their signal.

And for good measure, we've added an automatic output stabilizing network that maintains Dolbyized levels despite changes in the line levels!

So what else is new?

Literally dozens of new exclusive TEAC features--both electronic and mechanical--can be found on the 450. For instance:

Three-level bias and equalization. Flick the two switches and instantly adjust for normal, high output or chromium dioxide tapes. A vital, but neglected feature in other cassette decks.

Automatic timer circuit. You can plug into an external timer and control your entire system when you're not present. The 450 will turn on automatically, come out of pause, record, then shut off any connected component, as well as its own electronics, at the end of the tape!

Mic / line mixing. A feature of reel-to-reel decks now found on the 450. Professional slide controls allow you to mix 2 mic inputs and 2 line inputs to create voice and stereo instrumental mixing.

Lighted tape run indicator. A glance at the 450 from across the room tells you the tape is flowing normally.

Two heads. A record-playback head and an erase head of a new material called Permaflux--the lowest distortion head ever made.

Solid-state triggering devices. Solid-state switching and the elimination of relays further enhance reliability.

Signal-to-noise ratio of 60dB. This important rating places the 450 with the finest in reel-to-reel decks. Which translates into superior sound.

LED. A light emitting diode backstops your 2 VU meters by warning you of transient high-level highs, and helps you avoid saturation distortion (about which we've spoken in a previous ad).

What does it all add up to?

A cassette deck that is in a class by itself. A sophistication in tape technology that is exclusive with TEAC. The TEAC 450 has the flexibility to function as a complete record / playback unit, or as an integrated component in a total system. It is a pace-setter for the industry.

And to top it all, TEAC now offers a two-year warranty on all parts and labor-a warranty that reflects total confidence in our superior TEAC engineering and workmanship.

That 0.07% wow and flutter may be much better than anyone else's cassette deck. But it is only a hint of things to come from TEAC. Only a hint.

Here are the specs:

Heads: Two, erase and record-playback, 4 track 2 channel stereo.

Motor: Hysteresis synchronous outer-rotor motor

Wow and Flutter: 0.07% (wrms)

Frequency Response: 30-16,000 Hz (Chromium dioxide tape)

Signal to Noise Ratio: 60 dB (with Dolby process)

Dimensions: 61 5/16" (H) x 17 1/2" (W) x 10 5/8" (D)

Features and specifications subject to change without notice

*Dolby is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

TEAC® The leader. Always has been.

TEAC Corporation of America Headquarters: