TEAC A-480 Stereo Cassette Deck

This TEAC A-480 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, it was first sold by TEAC in 1978.

The main features of the TEAC A-480 are: 2 heads, mechanical 3 digit tape counter, manual tape type selection and capable of handling normal and chrome tapes with additional manual equalization selection, 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 A-480 are analog needle VU reading meters. Mechanical transport controls for reliable A-480 transport function selection.

The Dolby-B system reduces tape hiss on tapes recorded on the A-480 by as much as 10 dB at the highest frequencies. The 19kHz multiplex pilot slgnal present in FM stereo broadcasts can cause false triggering of the noise reduction system. The switchable MPX filter of the A-480 filters out the pilot signal, and assuring proper Dolby processing of FM stereo programs.

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.