Technics RS-1520 - Aereum Edition

Technics RS-1520 Aereum Edition - Open Reel Tape Recorder

A Rebuild Like No Other By Alter Ego Appearance

No one can deny that the best medium in audio is back-and-back big. With eight different companies making a brand new tape deck, the most demanding of listeners want the best.

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 RS-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.

Alter Ego Appearance writes: “High resolution screens as VU meter backgrounds allow to customize the appearance of this machine into any existing system. Upgraded head block. Stroboscope LED circuit with 5V amplitude and 64Hz, 128Hz, or 256Hz (depends of tape speed) removed as possible source of distortions.

Capstan speed monitored by 600MHz clock speed microcontroller and indication on the counter screen. No belts in tape counter. Tape counter wheel made from aerospace grade nonmagnetic, non-corrosive 6AL4V Titanium CNC machined, polished, centered, and mounted directly on high precision encoder shaft. Encoder mounted to the face plate with precisely machined and centred adaptor. All exposed white metal parts are made from white bronze, provided by Belmont Metals, Brooklyn NY. Unfortunately white bronze is jewelry-grade material and coming only in forms of small dices 0,5 in size. For each metal knob, lever or roller graphite form machined, white bronze melted and formed, then CNC machined for the final appearance. Weak plastic tridents and weal springs were removed from reel motors. New CNC machined from white bronze and stronger springs installed.All bearings include capstan bearings replaced. Tape tensioner bearings of nonmagnetic stainless steel. Every single letter on the front, top, and sides of this machine are made from silver containing alloy. Raised 0,4mm. Will shine forever. Even tape load pattern on the top is metal. Which was extremely hard to produce.

Back side of this machine made of acrylic with very simple purpose. Rubbed slightly with natural wool it attracts dust and let air go in and out. We have possibility to make back panel from any material, but acrylic demonstrates the best dust protection. Needless to say is recapped. Is recapped the hard way. Each capacitor for each channel matched using high precision lab equipment with a difference no more than 0,2%.

Rebolted as well for convenience of future maintenance. Which may not happened for another decades. Precisely machined NAB adaptors from 7075-T6 aviation grade aluminum, centered, spring loaded. American white oak stabilized and dark colored with Cactus Juice, then baked and CNC machined, polished to silk like touch. Metal CNC machined protective flanges added to the top and bottom of panels as most fragile areas.

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 RS-1520 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 on the 1506 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 before 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 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.

The best can only be hand-crafted, one at a time and is never replicated.

The chase for the top is over. Alex Dorin’s Alter Ego Appearance takes the top 1, 2 & 3 spots. Almost 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 and it is breath-taking.

This restoration provides endless features. Multiple VU meter backgrounds, Improved counter, exquisite knobs, buttons and levers, bespoke NAB adapters and reels, Jewelry grade raised metal lettering, aerospace grade titanium, textured coated front panel and so much more.

For more information, specifications, images and videos please call our team today at +44207-617-75-32

Alter Ego Appearance Technics RS-1520 Aereum Edition (A Rebuild Like No Other) - https://www.thesoundoftape.com