Rotel RD-500 Stereo Cassette Tape Deck

The Rotel RD-500 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, it was introduced by Rotel in 1981 with a recommended retail price of USD $320 and discontinued 3 years later in 1984.

The main features of the Rotel RD-500 are: 2 heads, analog 3 digit tape counter, manual tape type selection with support for normal, chrome, ferro-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 RD-500 are analog needle VU reading meters with peak indicator for easy adjustment of optimum recording level. Mechanical transport controls for reliable RD-500 transport function selection.

The Dolby-B system reduces tape hiss on tapes recorded on the RD-500 by as much as 10 dB at the highest frequencies.

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. Connection to other audio components for plaback can be achieved by a RCA cable and recording from a source by a RCA cable.