Hitachi D-980 Stereo Cassette Tape Deck

This Hitachi D-980 is a stereo cassette deck with double Dolby B noise reduction, it was first sold by Hitachi in 1979 with a list price of USD $500 and discontinued 5 years later in 1984.

The main features of the Hitachi D-980 cassette deck are: 3 heads and off-tape monitoring, mechanical 3 digit tape counter and memory stop, manual tape type selection and capable of handling normal, chrome and ferro-chrome tapes with additional manual equalization selection, dual 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 Hitachi D-980 cassette deck are analog needle VU reading meters with peak indicator for easy adjustment of optimum recording level. Full-logic transport controls used on the Hitachi D-980 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 Hitachi D-980 by as much as 10 dB at the highest frequencies. The three-head configuration of the Hitachi D-980 requires a Double Dolby system, one for recording and one for playback. 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 D-980 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. All main transport commands can be issued remotely with a wired remote control.

• Uni-Torque Direct Drive
• 3 Head System
• IC Logic Control
• 2 Motor
• D.C.C.S.
• Dual Capstan