Braun TG 1000-4

Description

The TG 1000 tape-deck was first shown to the public at the “Hi-Fi ’70” audio show in Dusseldorf,
Germany in September of 1970. Designed by Dieter Rams, the 1000 won quite a few design awards and is in the San Francisco Museum of modern Art.

The preamps, bias circuitry electronics, transport control electronics and heads were made by Uher and are the same as found in the Uher Royal DeLuxe 10000, a pretty decent machine.

The transport is incredibly smooth and quiet and it is best explained in the Braun brochure…
The TG 1000 features a three motor transport which is the smoothest on the market. The unique transport electronically regulates current to the torque motors, thus achieving extremely low tape tension variations. In fact there is just about zero tape tension at the capstan. And the capstan itself acts as a metering device, neither pulling nor pushing the tape across the heads as in most machines. Tape tension remains constant for both large and small hub reels and tension does not vary more than 10 g from a full two empty reel. Thus, there is no undue head wear from the high torque on an empty reel and no poor had contact often found with full reels. The high-performance of the Braun transport allows use of the thinnest tapes with complete safety, even in the high-speed wind and rewind operations. And high-speed (3300 ft in 90 seconds) is so smooth, the wound reel looks like it has been played at 7 1/2.
The capstan motor is one of the most sophisticated ever designed. It is a tiny DC brushless motor that operates on the Hall effect. The motor is driven by a DC amplifier that is incredibly stable over a wide range of voltage and temperature variations. Thus, tape speed is accurate and stable. Speed changes is accomplished by switching resistance values in the amplifier and the preset values can be modified easily if one wanted some odd speeds. It is also possible to make minor speed adjustments to correct for a tape that was recorded off speed.
3 motors (one brushless DC-servo motor, 2 AC-servo motors)
All functions relay controlled and solenoid actuated
Noisefree “pause” button for tape editing

Available in two colour schemes and offered in either quarter track (1000/4) or half track (1000/2)

The TG 1000 was rather expensive – more than double the price of the top-of-the-range Philips at that time, the N4510. Interestingly, the maximum reel size was 8½ inches – not 10½ or 7 inches. Another surprising feature was that the recorder could run off AC or 10 x 1.5V batteries.

When you pick this machine up you know you’re dealing with a solidly constructed device as for its size, it is quite heavy with its metal case.

This three head machine has space for a fourth head in its plug-in head assembly. The additional head can be used as 4-track play back head or be used for slide synchronizing.

Peak reading meters
3 speeds: 7-1/2; 3-3/4; 1-7/8
4-digit counter
Built-in tape splicer

Frequency Response
20 – 25,000 Hz at 7-1/2 lps ±2,5 dB
20 – 15,000 Hz at 3-3/4 ips ±2,5 dB
20 – 8,000 Hz at 1-7/8 ips ±2,5 dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (two track)
60 dB at 7-1/2
60 dB at 3-3/4
57 dB at 1/7/8
Distortion at 0 dB VU-meter reading:
0,6% at 7-1/2
0,7% at 3-3/4
0,8% at 1-7/8
Wow and flutter 
Less than 0,05% at 7-1/2
Less than 0,09% at 3-3/4
Less than 0,25% at 1-7/8

Rewind time 90 sec for 3300 ft

Optional Remote control TGF3