Technical Details
Brand: Pioneer
Model:RT 909
Category:Super High Fidelity
Application:Consumer
Electronics:Solid State
Equalization:NAB
Country of Manufacture:Japan
Release dates:1979 - 1984
Original Price: $895
Tracks:1/4 Rec/PB
Speeds: 3 3/4, 7 1/2
Max Reel Size("): 10.5"
Number of heads: 4
Dimension: 19 x 13½ x 12½ " (480 x 340 x 318 mm)
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: Stereo
# Motors: 3
Auto Reverse?:Yes
Voltage(s): 110-120v, 220-240v
Outputs: RCA, 1/4" Headphone
Frequency Response:7½ ips: 20Hz to 28kHz - 3¾ ips: 20Hz to 18kHz (LH tape) +-3dB)
Wow and Flutter:.04% at 7½ ips - .08% at 3¾ ips
Signal-to-Noise Ratio:better than 60dB at 7½ ips,better than 55dB at 3¾ ips
Sound quality rating:8 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 8/ 10
Weight: 47lbs (21.5kg)
Additional Details
Description
The RT-909, an auto reverse / auto repeat-playback stereo tape deck produced from 1979 until 1984 , has 4 heads with reverse playback (erase, record and two playback). A closed-loop dual capstan drive system isolated the tape at the heads from any external interference, which resulted in a constant tape-to-head contact. Rack-mountable and designed to take 10½ ” reels, Pioneer also produced a non-auto reverse model, the RT-901.
We have seen buyers guides list the 909 selling at $795 in 1982 but many people on the Internet report that it sold for $1100. Whatever the price, the combination of ultramodern appearance and very decent sound quality, combined to make this a winner for Pioneer, who likely sold significantly more units than the more expensive (and superior) Technics 1700. Relative to similar Akai or Teac models, the 909 has a very deep rich bass sound quality.
Independent microphone and line mixing inputs, Azimuth adjustments for the heads, Fluroscan meter, 4 digit tape counter, Timer start switch
Specs
Year 1979
USA Price New RT 909: $895.00; RT 901: $795.00
Track system Quarter-track stereo
Heads (4) Ferrite erase head, Hard Permalloy recording head, 2x Hard Permalloy playback heads
Motors FG Servo DC dual capstan drive motor – 2 x 6-pole inner-rotor special induction reel motors
Maximum Reel Size 10½ ”
Tape speeds 3¾ & 7½ ips
Frequency response (3dB) 7½ ips: 20Hz to 28kHz with LH tape – 3¾ ips: 20Hz to 18kHz with LH tape
Equalization NAB curve on both tape speeds speeds
Wow & flutter Less than 0.04% at 7½ ips, less than 0.08% at 3¾ ips
Signal to noise ratio 60dB at 7½ ips,better than 55dB at 3¾ ips
Stereo separation more than 50dB
Crosstalk more than 50dB
Distortion No more than 1% at 7½ ips
Bias frequency 125kHz
Erase ratio more than 60dB
Semi-conductors 4 Fets; 43 ICs; 121 transistors; 125 diodes; 2 photo interrupters
Rewind Speed approx. 120 seconds (10½ reel 720m tape)
Inputs (sensitivity/maximum/impedance)
mic x 2: 0.316mV /80mV/27K ohms, 6mm phono jacks
line x 2: 50mV/25V/ 50K ohms
Outputs (ref.level/max/imp)
line x 2: 450mV/900mV/2.6K ohms
headphones: 50Mv/100mV/8 – 250 ohms
Additional Info
A Swiss rebuild/renovation of the RT-909
Here’s a very decent Service Summary that seems to be widely circulated on the Internet. We have included some part numbers and sources to make it more accessible.
– Perform a complete initial functional test, to determine if there are any repair operations need to be performed before restoration, and to provide a baseline for comparison with post-restoration performance.
– Replace both pinch rollers (for some reason, all RT-909 original pinch rollers are gooey/gummy at this age), and adjust the pinch roller pressure. Rollers are still available from Pioneer at a reasonable cost. Oaktreevintage.com
Terry’s rollers – pinch roller rebuild $75.00 for 2
Vintage Electronics – $64.00 for 2 pinch rollers
The Pioneer part number is ?
Replace the capstan drive belt, also still available from Pioneer. Here’s an alternative source for the Capstan Flywheel Belt FBL14.5
Replace the felt brake pads (felt brake pads that are almost 30 years old probably have dried out adhesive, and may appear to work, but we are shooting for another 20-30 years of use here).
Rebuild the tension rollers (they all need to be cleaned, lubed, and fresh damping fluid added)
– Replace the tape sensor micro-switches (they all are somewhat corroded at this age) DigiKey SW765-ND Omron Electronics Inc SS-3GL13P $2 (see last photo on this post)
Micro-switch Notes- In short order, I did verify 24VDC coming off the power supply board pin 43 (green wire) that goes to the left micro switch. The voltage looked good going to the right micro switch (white wire), but as soon as the right switch closes, it dropped the voltage to 2 volts, that goes back to the power supply board pin 29 (yellow wire).
Yes, the micro switches are bad. They couldn’t pass the voltage once any current was needed. I verified this by just jumping from pin 43 to 29 with a clip lead.
Completely disassemble, clean, lube and adjust the transport mechanism (a real contributing operation to sonic performance, like wow and flutter).
Adjust reel torques (braking, take-up, back, FF and REW).
Clean and deoxidize all user controls and internal switches/contacts (most units have dirty controls).
Relap the heads (an absolute necessity if you are going to change how the heads are aligned at all, since they normally have significant wear grooves in them).
Rotate all tape guides (necessary, since they also develop wear grooves from the tape passing over them)
Replace all electrolytic capacitors (they have only a 20-30 year lifespan)
Refresh all circuit board solder joints (flow-soldered joints also have only about a 30 year lifespan)
Verify the power supply voltages and filtering.
Perform a complete REC/PLAY alignment/calibration (head alignments, bias, equalization, levels, meter indications, etc.), optimizing performance for the owner/customer’s blank tape selection (necessary for best performance).
Extended functional testing (over several days), to determine the effects of the restoration, and to ensure that nothing was missed, or damaged.
Perform a complete cosmetic detailing (there are a couple of tricks and gotchas, even for this operation).
The Pioneer RT-909 has 8 circuit boards, with 121 caps, and the parts cost for the caps alone is approximately $65.00. The labor for the complete restoration, for a good tech, will likely be 30 to 40 hours.