Technics RS-1800

Description

In 1978, the Japanese were beginning to see potential in the professional studio market. With the introduction of the the RS-1800, Technics, a relative newcomer to the high-end market, the bar was really being raised and other Japanese companies paid attention! At that time Pioneer had produced the RT-2022, Sony the 880-2 and Teac, with their A-7300RX, 25-2 and F1, all pretty serious contenders. But the Technics RS-1800 was now the top Japanese dog. None of the aforementioned machines reached much beyond semipro status in contrast to the more prevalent American tape recorders and a few European models, that were mainstays in recording studios.
The RS-1800 was likely the impetus for Sony starting to shop the American pro-market and their acquisition of MCI in 1982, which would lead to the APR 5003, a very highly regarded tape deck today.

So over to the top tape recorder of 1978…
A semi-professional model, it is very rare and one of the most highly sought after Reel to reel tape recorders today that came stock with  half track track record,  quarter track playback using the RP-2224 headblock.

The RS-1800 was the only Technics recorder ever made that could run at 30 ips. Utilizing their unique  Isolated Loop tape path, developed by Technics, a very respectable wow and flutter figure of .025%  was achievable while reducing modulation noise.
A large 34mm capstan with 2 pinch rollers makes for a very smooth and stable tape path with an electronic tension control system. A Quartz-Locked Direct-Drive Capstan Motor completed the well-designed assembly.

Logic controlled electronic braking, which applies reverse torque to the motor prior to deploying a mechanical brake, results in very smooth transition between function selections and virtually no tape stretch.

Bias and equalization can be adjusted automatically or manually.

Quartz synthesizer pitch control with a wider range of adjustability than the other isolated loop decks with 20% variation.

Digital tape counter reading in hours, minutes &  seconds with peak hold option.

Technics isolated loop system

The Technics single capstan system offered advantages over double capstan as variations in the speed of two capstans and the pressure of the two pinch rollers to maintain the desired temp tape tension makes speed and tension adjustment complex and difficult often increasing the tape tension which is not desirable. The relatively long distance between the two capstans over which the which the tape must stretch contributes to higher modulation noise and scrape flutter. In contrast the Technics single capstan system maintains exactly the same speed and pinch roller pressure on both sides of the capstan. The wide contact area between the pinch rollers and the single extra-large capstan allows for lower tape tension, about 80 g and very steady because the tape path between the capstan and the reversing roller is relatively short. So modulation noise, wow & flutter and level fluctuations are dramatically reduced. Add to this the quartz locked slow speed direct capstan drive system, aided by tension controlled direct drive reel motors and air dampened tension rollers  the Technics isolated loop system achieves excellent overall performance.