Technics RS-1520 Stereo Open Tape Deck (1978-1985)
This is a very special Technics RS-1520 OPEN REEL TAPE RECORDER that first a careful and complete REBUILD, and then on top it gained a plethora of functional upgrades - A Rebuild Like No Other!"
The Technics RS-1520 has long been regarded as one of the prized tape decks. Impeccable consideration to the points only the most meticulous of audiophiles would understand. The Technics RS-1520 open 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 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 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.
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.
Technics RS-1520 Some Specifications:
Manufacturer: Technics
Model: RS-1520
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 30kHz (15ips)
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
Year of manufacture: 1978
Made in: Osaka, Japan
Made in Japan
Rebuild production: 2024
Rebuild in USA
Below is a description of one of a kind total rebuild, make new tape recorder.
Bespoke REBUILD LIKE NO OTHERS:
REEL MOTORS: Reel motors totally disassembled. Plastic tridents, which are a subject to break easily, are replaced with metal tridents made from non-magnetic aluminium. Bearings inside motors cleaned, filled with lubricant.
Brake drums removed from the shaft, old paint stripped. Repainted with glossy hard scratch resistant high temp paint. Quality of this paint is crucial for proper brakes. Table painted to base machine colour. Shaft assembly with brake drums and tridents balanced. Motors assembled.
CAPSTAN: Capstan motor disassembled, cleaned. Aluminium cup removed and replaced with another one made from nonmagnetic aluminium bronze. Precisely machined and polished. Bearings replaced with original NOS NSK(made in Japan) bearings. Incredibly silent. Capstan assembled, installed.
HEAD BLOCK: Head block disassembled. Plate stripped, cleaned, painted to base machine colour. New metal letterings and some metal accents applied. Heads had incredibly low usage, recapped & polished under water. Resoldered, realigned. Head block reassembled. 4t-2t switch disassembled, cleaned, reassembled.
TAPE COUNTER: Large 128x22px screen with bright YELLOW pixels. Powered by SSD1305 and Teensy4.0 (600MHz) controllers. Auto scaling with speed switch on left panel. With memory on power off. Prewired for future installation of WiFi remote control and programming block. Screen installed on totally reengineered counter and cue plate , 3D printed on Formlabs3+ printer from high temp resin, powder coated to base machine colour. New reset switch and precisely machined button installed. CUE functionality untouched.
CONTROL BUTTONS: Control buttons block disassembled, Plastic buttons replaced with CNC machined aluminium, powder coated to base colour. REC, PAUSE and PLAY buttons have light bulbs under which are visible in corresponding mode through symbols.
TAPE PATH: All bearings were replaced with original NOS NSK. All parts polished, replaced with non magnetic aluminium bronze where possible, realigned. Some decorative parts were added.
CONNECTORS: All back connectors replaced with gold plated. AC cord connector added.
All visible metal parts are hand made from non magnetic aluminium bronze polished.
Splicing block fully functional with spring loaded levers. Cuts for blades are made for 22.5 and 45 deg for right and left handed peoples. Insert for lower panel levers also CNC machined from C62400, polished.
All old Philips bolts were replaced with new HEX just to make future maintenance easy.
Side panels treated with special blend oil, polished. Each flange on side panels has engraving "Technics RS-1520".
the deck is fully recapped and readjusted, lubricated, aligned and calibrated for SM911 RTM tape.
BESPOKE REBUILD LIKE NO OTHERS IN USA - Technics by Alter Ego Appearance.
