BRAUN C 3 (1984) - Speed of Sound

The Braun C 3 cassette deck was introduced in 1984 and the same year the Atelier Hi-Fi system it was part of, received the prestigious "iF Design Award 1984" in the product design category. The design was the work of Peter Hartwein under the supervision of Dieter Rams. The housings of the Braun Atelier components are flat with uniform dimensions (44.5 cm wide and 7 cm high) and on the back of the devices, hinged metal panels cover the cables and plug contacts (the contact assignment is printed on the inside of the flap). All devices were produced in black and "crystal gray" (... white) and are also part of the Museum of Modern Art collection.

The Braun C 3 is a 3-Head deck with a 2-Motor mechanism mounted inside of a tray loading mechanism. It's a single capstan mechanism with Quartz-PLL Direct Drive motor operating at both 4.75 cm/s and 9.5 cm/s speed. The heads are of M&X type while for noise reduction it features both Dolby B and C circuits. Recording level can be adjusted with a rotary encoder with the help of a LED peak level meter while recordings can be made on all tape types: Normal, FeCr, Crome and Metal. 

Technical data: 

Wow and Flutter:

0.03% (WRMS 4.75 cm/s) and 0.025% (WRMS 9.5 cm/s)

Signal to Noise ratio: 

74 dB (Normal, Dolby-C, 4.75 cm/s) and 78 dB (Normal, Dolby-C, 9.5 cm/s)

76 dB (Chrome, Dolby-C, 4.75 cm/s) and 78 dB (Chrome, Dolby-C, 9.5 cm/s)

76 dB (Metal, Dolby-C, 4.75 cm/s) and (only) 72 dB (Metal, Dolby-C, 9.5 cm/s)

Frequency response:

20Hz ... 18/19/19/19kHz (Normal, Chrome, FeCr, Metal 4.75 cm/s)

20Hz ... 22kHz (Normal, Chrome, FeCr, Metal 9.5 cm/s)

Dimensions:

445 x 70 x 360 mm

Weight:

8.9 kg

This cassette deck can be found under the a/d/s brand name as well. These models were sold by a/d/s as Braun's USA distributor/partner. TDK has also used a BRAUN cassette deck in one of their TV comercials as seen here.

HITACHI MD-5 (1983) - Revolution in Hi-Fi

Hitachi (Lo-D in Japan) was a leader in CD player technology (a revolution in Hi-Fi) and the DA-1000 was one of the first CD players, introduced in october 1982. Hitachi was also the most prolific OEM provider with this model. (See all the Hitachi based models here). All these first generation CD players from Philips, Sony and this Hitachi were compact units, the Hitachi measuring only 32 cm wide.

To complement this new product, Hitachi introduced in 1983 a dedicated set of mini Hi-Fi components, the MD-5 set. These were all visually matching components with electronic controlled components using a flat stainless steel keypad on all units.

HITACHI DA-1000 - Front loading first generation vertical CD player. One of the most rebadged first generation CD player.

HITACHI HA-MD5 - 60 W/ch Stereo amplifier, feather touch control, six preset tone controls

HITACHI FT-MD5 - Quartz Digital Synthesizer AM-FM Stereo tuner, 12 presets

HITACHI D-MD5 - 2-Head 1-Motor IC logic controlled cassette deck, Dolby B-C, Digital counter, music search

HITACHI HT-L5 - Linear tracking Quartz Unitorque Direct Drive turntable, T4P cartridge system

HITACHI HS-20F - 2-way bass reflex loudspeaker, 20 cm metal flat cone, 3 cm flat cone tweeter

Unique Extra Component:

HITACHI D-MC50 - 2 motor IC Logic Controlled Stereo Microcassette recorder, Dolby B-C, Metal tape compatible, digital counter

DA-1000

FT-MD5

HA-MD5

D-MD5

D-MC50

HT-L5

HS-20F

SONY TA-N77ES (1988) - Digital to Analog

Introduced in 1988 the SONY TA-N77ES was the only power amplifier ever from SONY to support large VU meters as a visual element. ​Power amplifiers are usually tested when hooked up to 8-ohm laboratory resistors. While results may look fine on a spec sheet, they simply ignore an undeniable fact. Real loudspeakers - even those nominally rated at 8 ohms - simply refuse to behave like laboratory resistors. While the resistor presents a simple impedance that's constant at all audio frequencies, the speaker presents a complex impedance that varies dramatically. A typical "8-ohm" loudspeaker can have impedance peaks higher than 30 ohms and impedance dips lower than 3 ohms! And here's the catch: as impedance drops, more and more current is demanded from the amplifier. 

Thanks to large power transformers, generous power supplies, big output transistors and massive heat sinks, the SONY TA-N77ES produce this current in casual disregard of loads. In preference to inexpensive integrated circuit "power packs" SONY ES insists on individual (discrete) output transistors. Sony's carefully-selected discrete transistors cost more, but their enhanced cooling, proven reliability and superior frequency response make them more than worth the cost. To reduce resonance and vibration Sony used a G-Base made of calcium carbonate reinforced with glass fibers, a unique compound similar in composition to marble. To accompany the SONY TA-N77ES power amplifier there were two remote controlled preamplifiers, the SONY TA-E77ES and the TA-E77ESD with added Digital inputs. Technical data: 200 W/ch 20-20,000 Hz 8 ohm THD 0.004% Dimensions: 470 W x 185 H x 440 D mm, Weight: 25 kg.

ONKYO Grand Integra M-510 (1984) - Artistry in Sound

Introduced in 1984 the Grand Integra M510 was the biggest stereo amplifier built for home use by ONKYO. The M-510 has completely separate L/R channels all the way back to the power switch and AC cord. Each channel's power supply has two power transformers: one BIG toroidal unit with tremendous power capacity, and an "in-phase" transformer - which smooths out fluctuations in the charging currents. AC from the transformers is converted to DC by high-current rectifiers, and each channel has two massive 33,000 microfarad 100 volt filter/storage capacitors. A third, independent power supply provides DC energy for the front panel lights, protection circuitry and speaker relays. Meter sensitivity can be switched from normal to -10dB to get meaningful readings even at low power levels. The design is complemented with genuine wood side panels. No specifically matching preamplifier was built. Technical data: 300 W/ch (20Hz - 20 kHz 8 ohm) Dimensioms: 507x264x512 mm Weight 63 kg.