Stereo Review 1978, it makes you wonder which model sold the best, I'm guessing one of the Sony's followed by JVC but I have no idea, just going by what pops up for sale around here.
Sony TC-3000 Weekly FM No. 17 (published in 1976) "From the new products I've gotten my hands on" Cassette players have clearly divided into two categories: portable, dual-power-supply models focused on live recording, and panel-type players with practical performance. However, these portable models are often too large and heavy, making them far from truly portable compared to cheaper, non-stereo models. Sony's new model is the smallest high-performance stereo cassette player available, and for the first time, it's comparable in size to a boombox. This is truly a genuine portable player. It's smaller and weighs only 4.6 kg, so you won't get tired even if you carry it on your shoulder, and yet its performance is the same as, or even better than, previous models—a true, authentic product. The new panel layout features a row of knobs other than the volume control below the control lever on the left, and a large, easy-to-use round volume knob positioned below a large, stylish meter on the right. The sound quality is even more hi-fi due to its excellent balance, with a strong wideband, clear sound, and low hiss. I was surprised that when used as a deck, it was in no way inferior to an amp-type deck. Recording with a microphone is also superb, with a detailed sound, sufficient wideband and low distortion, and a clear sound with magnificent clarity and power in the sound of instruments. The low level of hiss and noise is a noteworthy feature when recording live. The economic efficiency of 6 hours on 4 x D batteries is also outstanding, as expected of a portable device. Thus, the TC-2850 was reborn as the TC-3000, and it was completed as a true portable stereo cassette player.
Sony TC-5550-2 From Stereo Sound No. 41 (published December 1976), Special Feature: "World's Finest Products" There would be no disagreement that Sony is a world-class brand. As a Japanese person myself, I view Sony from many angles, so I don't necessarily see it as much as some foreigners do, but I still believe it is undoubtedly one of the world's top brands. If I were to name a Sony product that is considered top-notch, I would say something like the "Jackal," a compact device that combines a TV, radio, and cassette player, but unfortunately, this product does not fall under the category of audio. Speaking of compactness, Sony has a very long technological career in portable recorders, having had products named "Densuke" since way back. The EM3, a professional-use open-reel Densuke that is still used in broadcasting stations and other places today, is a well-known product in that field. If I were to name a consumer-use open-reel Densuke, it would have to be the TC5550-2. It has compact external dimensions of 333 x 136 x 296 (W x H x D) mm and is lightweight at 6.8 kg with batteries installed. As a portable tape recorder, it can be powered by four different sources: standard AC 100V, eight dry cell batteries, a rechargeable battery, and a car battery, making it usable anywhere. Therefore, I would recommend the TC5550-2 as a top-of-the-line product due to its excellent mobility and high performance. From Swing Journal, March issue (published February 1975), "SJ Selected New Product Listening Test Report" The joy of capturing sound is immense. For a long time, the world of audio was a world of listening. Only professionals were allowed to capture sound, and ordinary amateurs were limited to the enjoyment of listening. Records, music tapes, and radio—all of these were sources of program enjoyment. Of course, there was a great world of hobby in this. As is commonly said, listening is not necessarily a passive activity. Moreover, the enjoyment of audio, where one configures their own playback equipment and reproduces all sorts of variations of sound from the same program source, is a hobby with a strong degree of creativity, even though it is called reproduction. However, when it comes to recording oneself, its nature becomes even clearer. The enjoyment of photography lies in taking pictures, and the mechanism of photography has seen great development, such as the privacy that comes with amateur photography. If photography were limited to reproducing pre-exposed film, like audio, it would be impossible to expect the development it has seen today. The joy of recording sound lies not only in the mechanical pleasure of skillfully operating the recording equipment and recording and playing back sound with a good signal-to-noise ratio, but also in the true essence of materializing the sound that exists as an image in one's mind. In reality, the subject of recording is undoubtedly an external sound, but simply recording because there is sound there is too low-level and the enjoyment is shallow. Seeking a subject that matches one's image and recording it as imagined, or discovering an unexpected subject and instantly sparking a spark in one's imagination, accurately capturing it as the sound one felt, or sometimes forcibly reshaping the sound to fit one's image—this is the joy of recording as a creative production, and the world of recording is vast and profound. By the way, there are many tape recorders on the market that serve such purposes, and each has its own purpose and use as the basis of its design philosophy. However, the new Sony product TC5550-2 that I will introduce here is a high-end Densuke made for discerning hobbyists, designed as a tool for creating sound images with high-quality sound. The company calls it an Open Densuke, Type I, and I am pleased that such a fine machine has appeared, as is typical of Sony, which has extensive experience in this field. For me, who used to carry the heavy, spring-wound Densuke that gave the Densuke its name, this is an ideal machine in every respect. The most important point of this type of machine is the power supply, and this one has a convenient four-power system: eight D-cell batteries, a rechargeable battery, a car battery, and AC 100V, so you're covered no matter where you go. First of all, you won't have to worry about power wherever you go. The mechanism is a little complex, but that means it has a wealth of functions. While I personally prefer something simpler, this unit will more than satisfy the desires of those who appreciate intricate mechanisms. The design and finish exude a coolness that will appeal to enthusiasts. The transport mechanism is solidly constructed with die-cast metal, and the two-track, two-speed recording characteristics of 19cm/sec and 9.5cm/sec are superb. It's so good that it can be used without any worries for music recording, and is perfect for capturing natural sounds outdoors. It's so good that you might even want to use it as a home deck, and you might find yourself wishing it had a 7-inch reel slot—a slightly misguided desire. The head configuration is a three-head independent system, the drive motor is a single DC servo motor, and a 44x94mm oval speaker is included as a monitor. The microphone input is a professional-grade low-impedance input with a sensitivity of -72dB. The line input is, of course, 100Ω or higher with a sensitivity of -22dB. The sound quality is clear and stable, and both the bias and equalizer have three settings, offering wide adaptability to different tapes and allowing for the use of high-performance tapes. While the weight of 6.8 kg is not particularly light, it's well-considered for its features. The sound quality at 9.5 cm/sec is particularly impressive, as is the 19 cm/sec setting, demonstrating the solid mechanics and electronics that ensure excellent basic performance.
Sony TC-2850SD From Stereo Sound No. 31 (published June 1974), Special Feature: "Exploring the Charm of Audio Equipment" This was the first portable cassette player to appear, and while I would argue that it could be improved in terms of stability, miniaturization, and design, it is still a very appealing product at this stage. I have long hoped for the emergence of a portable cassette player that is a precision instrument, much like a high-end 35mm camera. How wonderful it would be if a cassette deck with Leica-level materials, manufacturing precision, and reliability were to be produced. I believe this machine foreshadowed that possibility.
