Technical Details
Brand: Sony
Model:TC-580
Category:Mid High Fidelity
Application:Portable
Electronics:Solid State
Equalization:NAB
Country of Manufacture:Japan
Release dates:1971 - 1975
Original Price: $500
Tracks:1/4 Rec/PB
Speeds: 1 7/8, 3 3/4, 7 1/2
Max Reel Size("): 7"
Number of heads: 4
Dimension: 17½ x 18 x 9" (444 x 457 x 228mm)
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: Stereo
# Motors: 3
Auto Reverse?:No
Voltage(s): 110-120v
Outputs: RCA
Frequency Response:7½ ips: 30Hz to 25kHz 3¾ ips: 30Hz to 20kHz 1 ips: 30Hz to 9kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio:56 dB
Sound quality rating:5 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 5/ 10
Weight: 43 lbs (19.5 kg)
Additional Details
Description
Sony described this unit as ‘state of the art’ in their 1972 product brochure. The three-motor TC 580 incorporated Electro-Bilateral Heads and ESP Automatic .Reverse which provide continuous bi-directional playback. The ESP system worked by monitoring both sides of the tape simultaneously (the right channel only). if it detected 7 seconds of un-interrupted silence, it would “presume'” that the end of the program had been reached and switch into reverse mode. Rather annoying if only one side of your tape was recorded. The thing would reverse after every track! Luckily there was a manual override.
On paper, the transport looked impressive. center capstan tape drive,feather-touch control buttons, servo-control capstan motor, automatic tape lifters, no pressure pads, electrical speed change, full logic feather touch pushbutton transport and automatic total-mechanism shut-off.
Additional Info
Price when new (in the USA)
$449.95
Heads
Four
Motors
Three
Tape speeds
7½ , 3¾ , and 1 ips
Frequency response ( 3dB)
7½ ips: 30Hz -25kHz
3¾ ips: 30Hz -20kHz
1 ips: 30Hz -9kHz
Bias Frequency
160 kHz
Rewind speed
60 sec./ 1200 ft
Inputs
line: input sensitivity: 0.06 V, impedance 100k Ohms
microphone: low impedance
Outputs
line: greater than 10k Ohm impedance
Dimensions
17½ x 18 x 9″ (444 x 457 x 228mm)
Weight
43 lbs (19.5 kg)