Optonica RT-6502 Stereo Cassette Deck

This Optonica RT-6502 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, it was first sold by Optonica in 1980 with a manufacturer suggested retail price of USD $400 and discontinued a year later.

The main features of the Optonica RT-6502 cassette deck are: 2 heads, digital tape counter with 4 digits, manual tape type selection and capable of handling normal, chrome, ferro-chrome and metal 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 Optonica RT-6502 cassette deck are generic digital peak reading meters with peak hold for easy adjustment of optimum recording level and peak indicator for easy adjustment of optimum recording level. Mechanical transport controls for reliable Optonica RT-6502 transport function selection.

The Dolby-B system reduces tape hiss on tapes recorded on the Optonica RT-6502 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 RT-6502 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.