Nikko ND-550 Stereo Cassette Deck

The Nikko ND-550 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, it was introduced by Nikko in 1985 with a list price of USD $180 and discontinued 2 years later in 1987.

The main features of the Nikko ND-550 cassette deck are: 2 heads, analog 3 digit tape counter, manual tape type selection with support for 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 Nikko ND-550 cassette deck are generic digital peak reading meters. Soft-touch controls for fast and easy transport function selection of the Nikko ND-550 cassette deck.

The Dolby-B system reduces tape hiss on tapes recorded on the Nikko ND-550 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.

Peak Program Level Meter
Soft Touch Operation
One Touch Recording Operation
Full Auto Stop Mechanism

Historic events

1985 Sony and Philips produced the standard for Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) computer discs that would use the same laser technology as the audio CD.

1986 IBM unveils the PC Convertible, the first laptop computer.

1987 S-VHS (Super VHS) introduction in Japan, an improved version of the VHS standard for consumer video cassette recorders.