TEAC A-550RX Stereo Cassette Deck

This TEAC A-550RX is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B and DBX noise reduction, it was first sold by TEAC in 1979 with a recommended retail price of USD $550 and discontinued 2 years later in 1981.

The main features of the TEAC A-550RX are: 2 heads, mechanical 3 digit tape counter and memory stop, manual 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 A-550RX are analog needle VU reading meters. Full-logic transport controls used on the A-550RX let it respond to the slightest finger contact for fast and effortless transport function selection.

The Dolby-B system reduces tape hiss on tapes recorded on the A-550RX by as much as 10 dB at the highest frequencies. Dbx Type II found in the A-550RX is a simplified version of the Type I noise reduction system. The dbx Type II system was designed to be used with systems with limited bandwidth such as cassette based recorders and also uses a simple 2:1:2 compander to reduce noise.

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. All main transport commands can be issued remotely with a wired remote control.