Hitachi D-E66 Stereo Cassette Tape Deck

This Hitachi D-E66 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B and C noise reduction, it was first sold by Hitachi in 1982 with a manufacturer suggested retail price of USD $400 and discontinued 2 years later in 1984.

The main features of the Hitachi D-E66 are: 3 heads and no off-tape monitoring to save production cost, mechanical 3 digit tape counter, tape type selection and capable of handling normal, chrome and metal tapes, belt driven single-capstan transport.

Typical front loading cassette deck with the cassette compartiment located on the left side of the deck. Tape eject is operated mechanically and the cassette needs to be placed with the side to be played facing forward in the cassette well.

Level meters used on the D-E66 are generic digital peak reading meters. Full-logic transport controls used on the D-E66 let it respond to the slightest finger contact for fast and effortless transport function selection.

Dolby C-type used in the D-E66 provides 20 dB of noise reduction above about 1,000 Hz, fully doubling the amount given by B-type.

To make live recordings this deck has 2 microphone inputs to connect microphones with a jack connector. For undisturbed listening a jack connector for a pair of stereo headphones is supplied.