Technical Details
Brand: Sony
Model:TC-850
Category:Mid High Fidelity
Application:Consumer
Electronics:Solid State
Equalization:NAB
Country of Manufacture:Japan
Release dates:1971 - 1974
Original Price: $895
Tracks:1/2 Rec/Play+1/4PB
Speeds: 3 3/4, 7 1/2, 15
Max Reel Size("): 10.5"
Number of heads: 4
Dimension: 445 x 501 x 254mm
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: Stereo - Stacked
# Motors: 3
Auto Reverse?:No
Voltage(s): 110-120v
Outputs: RCA
Frequency Response:15 ips: 20Hz to 30kHz - 7½ ips: 30Hz - 22kHz - 3¾ ips: 40Hz - 15kHz
Wow and Flutter:15 ips: .03% - 7½ ips: .04% 3¾ ips: 0.08%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio:56 dB (standard tape) 59 dB (SLH tape)
Sound quality rating:7 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 8/ 10
Weight: 26 kg.
Additional Details
Description
The TC 850 was a semi-professional three-motor, four head tape deck with a 10½ ” reel capacity.
The recorder could record in half-track stereo, but thanks to the extra playback head, quarter-track stereo playback was possible.
All transport controls were servo-controlled, which resulted in a seamless transition between transport modes. The recorder was considered ‘easy to use’ by reviewers.
This was not a cheap machine, in 1974 it cost almost twice as much as a Revox A77 so it is fairly easy to see why not many were sold.
Additional Info
Heads Four: erase, record, half-track playback & quarter-track playback
Motors Three
Maximum reel size 10½ ”
Tape speeds 15, 7½ and 3¾ ips
Frequency response ( 3dB)
High output tape:
15 ips: 30Hz – 25kHz
7½ ips: 30Hz – 22kHz
3¾ ips: 40Hz – 15kHz
Standard tape:
15 ips: 30Hz – 20kHz
7½ ips: 30Hz – 18kHz
3¾ ips: 40Hz – 12kHz
Wow & flutter
15 ips: 0.03%
7½ ips: 0.04%
3¾ ips: 0.08%
Signal to noise ratio
56 dB (standard tape) 59 dB (SLH tape)
Crosstalk: 52 dB / Harmonic distortion: 1.5% / Semi-conductors: 77 transistors, 79 diodes / Rewind speed: 2 minutes and 10 seconds with 2,427 ft (740m) tape / Inputs: microphone: 0.2 mV (- 72dB), impedance 600 ohms line: 0.07 mV (- 22dB), impedance 100 K DIN / Outputs: line: impedance 2.2 K, output level 0.775 V (0 dB) headphones: 8 ohms DIN / Dimensions: 19¾ . x 17½ x 10″ (508 x 457 x 254mm) / Weight: 57 lbs (25.9 kg) / half-track stereo record, half & quarter-track stereo playback