Technics

Technics RS-1520 Reel Tape Recorder

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: Reel-to-Reel Tape Players & Recorders

Technics RS-1520 Open Reel Tape Recorder A Rebuild Like No Other The Technics RS-1500 series machine is built to order and on...

Technics RS-1520 Open Reel Tape Recorder A Rebuild Like No Other

The Technics RS-1500 series machine is built to order and on demand according to buyer's preferences and wishes, but each deck will never be identical. 

Technics RS-1520 received a careful and complete restoration, and then on top of it gained many functional and cosmetic upgrades. Each new deck is a complete rebuild inside & out. No two machines will ever be identical. Every single part of the tape decks is rebuilt; brand new front panels (from scratch), switches, head blocks, caps, motors, EVERYTHING is rebuilt! 

Enrich For Life - Audio Precision Engineering: Alter Ego Appearance in response to “the rapidly decreasing availability of Technicians who perform this level of rebuild.” Alter Ego Appearance combines design with technical skills. The word custom would be an understatement as each machine is its new creation, none of the open reel tape decks will ever be identical.

Technics RS-1520 By Alter Ego Appearance

The Technics RS-1520 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 is a half-track 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 on the 1506 is low compared to many other machines, so for those using older tapes with rippled edges, this may not be 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 a very smooth transition between function selections and virtually no tape stretch.

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 tape must stretch contributes to higher modulation noise and scrape flutter. In contrast, the Technics single capstan system maintains 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 is 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 brings tape deck restoration to the next level with jewellery-grade metal lettering, powder coating, 3D printing, and more. It is a brand new Technics RS-1520 machine. Equally as precise as this rebuild, only the best for the best!

Technics RS-1520 Features

- Completely rebuilt open reel tape recorder 
- Heads had very low usage, incredible find!
- Boards checked, re-soldered
- Brand new front panel, switches, knobs, controls
- Completely recapped
- Heads Relapped
- Custom-made hubs and reels
- 18k gold lettering, knobs, switches
- Gorgeous African rosewood side panels
- Brand new laser printed VU Meter with HOT PINK needles
- Flat/perfect frequency response. No losses


Technics RS-1520 Specifications: 

- Track system: 4-track, 2-channel, stereo/monaural system
- Reel size: up to 10.5 inch reel
- Tape speeds: 3 3⁄4  7 1⁄2  15 ips
- Wow and flutter: 0.035% (15 ips)
- Frequency response: 30Hz to 20kHz (15 ips)
-  Signal to Noise Ratio: 68dB
-  Total harmonic distortion: 0.8%
-  Input: 60mV (line), 0.25mV (mic)
-  Output: 2.19V (line)
-  Dimensions: 502 x 456 x 257mm
-  Weight: 28kg


SOLD  -  Each machine is built to order on demand

The Bespoke restoration:  Each offered open reel deck complete rebuild inside & out - each machine will always be unique. Every part of the tape deck is rebuilt with top quality materials, brand new front and back panels (from scratch), switches, head blocks, caps, motors, EVERYTHING is new and improved functionality of the tape deck to another level to play master tape copy.

Alter Ego Appearance https://www.alteregoappearance.com brings tape deck restoration to the next level. Creating brand new front panels, jewellery grade metal lettering, powder coating, 3D printing, coding for custom modifications and much more. Each custom restoration is completed with your input. The Technics RS-1500 series machine is built to order according to your preferences and wishes.

 International clients are welcome. All products come with FULL WARRANTY!

Technics RS-1520 Open Reel Tape Stereo Deck (1978-1985) - Each custom restoration is completed with your input.  Only for the most meticulous of listeners. Those who want the absolute best!

ITEM DELIVERY: Delivery times vary widely based on destination.

Terms of Sale: In principle, we can't accept returning and refunding but, we can accept only for defective products.

International Buyers - Please Note: Import duties, taxes & charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please be aware of these are buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.

  • Standard delivered 4-5 Days
  • Express delivered 2-4 Days
  • Worldwide tracking delivered 4-14 Days

Orders are processed and delivered Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays)


Our customers enjoy top class customer services and 30 days returns.

  • Item Returns:

  • We want you to feel happy with your purchase, so if for any reason you are not, you may send your item(s) back to us within 14 days for a full refund or exchange free of charge.


    Item Returns: We want you to feel happy with your purchase, so if for any reason you are not, you may send your item(s) back to us within 14 days for a full refund or exchange free of charge.


    Please note, postage costs are non-refundable except in the following circumstances:

    * the item you receive is different to that ordered.

    * OR the item you receive is damaged or faulty.

    In the above cases, a full refund/exchange will be issued including any additional postage costs incurred by the buyer.


    *Please note, we can only refund up to the minimum postage amount required to send your item(s) back to us. Therefore, we always recommend that items be returned to us using the royal mails 2nd class service with recorded delivery for insurance purposes.


    All items must be returned to us in their original condition within 14 days of receipt. Please let us know beforehand why you are planning on sending an item back to us and remember to include this information in your return. It is also vital that you include your user id & item number so we can deal with your request for a refund or exchange as quickly as possible.


    All refunds will be issued via your original method of payment and normally take up to 3 working days to process.