Technical Details
Brand: Uher
Model:SG 560 'Royal'
Category:Mid High Fidelity
Application:Consumer
Electronics:Solid State
Equalization:IEC
Country of Manufacture:Germany
Tracks:1/4 Rec/PB
Speeds: 1 7/8, 3 3/4, 7 1/2
Max Reel Size("): 7"
Number of heads: 3
Dimension: 17¾ x 7½ x 14" (460 x 190 x 355 mm)
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: Stereo
# Motors: 3
Auto Reverse?:No
Voltage(s): 110-120v, 220-240v
Outputs: DIN
Frequency Response:7½ ips: 20Hz - 20kHz 3¾ ips: 20Hz - 15kHz 1 7/8ips: 20Hz - 9kHz +-3dB
Wow and Flutter:0.04% at 7½ , 0.1% at 3¾ 0.2% at 1 7/8 ips
Signal-to-Noise Ratio:better than 65dB (quarter-track) and 67dB (half-track)
Sound quality rating:7 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 7/ 10
Weight: 28.8lbs (13.1 kg)
Additional Details
Description
Surpassing the requirements of German Hi-Fi standard DIN 45 500, the 560 Royal was a stereo tape recorder with interchangeable tape heads and a myriad of trick recording facilities. An inbuilt 10 watt per channel amplifier drove twin internal speakers and the recorder featured four tape speeds, from 15/16 ips to 7½ ips. Where most tape recorders have a power switch, this one incorporated it into the speed selector switch. German efficiency?
The ‘Tape Tension Comparator’, featured on this recorder, was developed by Uher to maintain constant tape movement. It utilized two sensing levers either side of the tape slot which matched the tape tension with the constant tension of a coiled spring, thus assuring the least tape damage possible even when using reels of differing sizes.
The fact that this great sounding tape recorder was capable of 20Hz – 20kHz at 7½ ips, it seems strange that they chose to include an amplifier and speakers which at that time was old-school.
Who needs a high-quality tape recorder at the beach playing through low-grade speakers?
Additional Info
Hum and noise: 56dB (quarter-track) and 58dB (half-track) at 7½ ips / Crosstalk: better than 45 dB stereo, 60 dB mono / Bias frequency: 100 kHz / Erase ratio: better than 72 dB / Audio output power: 10 watts continuous at 4 ohms / Inputs: mic: 0.12 mV- 70 mV / 2 kohms tuner (stereo): 1.2 mV- 110 mV / 47 kohms phono 1: 40 mV – 2.8 V / 1.2 Mohms phono 2: 200 mV – 18 V / 50 Kohms / Outputs: monitor: 750 mV / 15kohms line: 750 mV / 15kohms / Speaker(s): two internal speakers
Half or quarter-track stereo (interchangeable, plug-in heads)
Servicing the 560
It’s not immediately obvious how to get to the inside of this tape recorder. The service manual is in English German and French and is a bit vague but says the following…
1.0 Swinging the recorder from its case and removing depositor. (depositor means the front cover)
For the purpose of carrying out service work, the unit is swung out from the case or the front panel removed.
(a) Swinging out the recorder:
Unscrew the two large fixing screws. Now swing out the unit from the case and support it or place it an one side.
(b) Removing the front panel:
Pull off front sound-head cap and all control knobs. Unscrew the eight fixing
screws of the depositor and remove front panel . (sound-head cap means head covers)
Trying this myself, it appears that you need to do the front cover first and remove all the knobs etc. then you remove the setscrews on the sides (not the ones that hold the carrying handle)
now you can pull the plastic covers apart and they do need some gentle persuasion. They only spread apart so much, but enough to remove the chassis.
Seems like a pretty poor design for German engineering. But a nice sounding tape recorder.