Another Dimension: Technics RS-1520 — The Snowflake of Open Reel Tape Decks
In the year 2024, different companies manufactured brand new reel-to-reel tape recorders, and the most demanding of listeners want the best.
Alex Dorin’s Alter Ego Appearance takes one of the top spots, with the Snowflake — Its Technics RS-1520 Open Reel Tape Deck.
Alexsander Dorin Is the Creator of Alter Ego Appearance Bespoke Deluxe Tape Recorders.
Alter Ego Appearance combines art with technical skill. Custom would be an understatement as each machine is its new creation; a snowflake. No two machines will ever be identical. Every part of the tape decks is rebuilt; brand new front panels (from scratch), switches, head blocks, caps, motors, and everything is rebuilt! It is basically a brand-new machine. Every single piece of this Technics 1520 has been custom-made from blocks of solid metals & alloys. Each knob, lever, pinch roller cap, face plate, head block and more was made brand new. Technics RS-1520 is a complete rebuild inside & out with new features and components. This restoration provides endless features: multiple VU meter backgrounds, improved counter, exquisite knobs, buttons and levers, bespoke NAB adapters and reels, jewellery grade raised metal lettering, aerospace grade titanium, textured coated front panel and so much more.
Technics RS-1520 Completely Rebuilt and Fully Serviced: —
- Heads Relapped and as NEW
- Boards checked, re-soldered
- Brand new front panel, switches, knobs, controls
- Completely recapped
- Custom-made hubs and reels
- Gorgeous side panels
- Brand new VU Meters
- Recording and Playback perfect frequency response.
This Reel-To-Reel Tape Deck is a semi-professional machine that has great similarities to the 1500 but with a separate dual mono preamplifier section that features more adjustability.
The Technics RS-1520 Reel-To-Reel Tape Deck is a half track record, quarter track playback deck with a switch on the headlock to change the playback head to quarter track.
It has the Isolated Loop tape path developed by Technics which improves wow and flutter (.018%) as well as 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.
The tape tension is low compared to many other machines, so for those using older tapes with rippled edges, this may not be the ideal. 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.
Technics RS-1520 Tape Recorder Generic Specifications:
Brand: Technics
Model: RS-1520
Year: 1978–84
Track system: 2-channel, stereo system
Heads: 2 x erase/record, 2 x playback
Motor: 2 x reel, 1 x capstan
Reel size: up to 10.5-inch reel
Equalization: NAB Tape Speeds: 33⁄4, 71⁄2, 15 ips
Wow and flutter 0.035% (15 ips)
Frequency response 30Hz to 30kHz (15 ips)
Signal to Noise Ratio 68dB
Made in Japan
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.
Alter Ego Appearance is located in Brooklyn, NY and their machines can be experienced at the Reel to Reel Haven showroom in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. This Technics RS-1520 Alter Ego Appearance Edition tape recorder located in the Reel-To-Reel Haven showroom, 266 Freeman Street Brooklyn, NY 11222, USA. Custom Creation By Alter Ego Appearance, USA.
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