Sharp / Optonica RT-7000
Dolby B NR Soft Touch Direct Drive Metal Tape

This Optonica RT-7000 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, it was first sold by Optonica in 1981 and discontinued a year later.

The main features of the Optonica RT-7000 cassette deck are: 2 heads, mechanical 3 digit tape counter, tape type selection and capable of handling normal, chrome, ferro-chrome and metal tapes, 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-7000 cassette deck are generic digital peak reading meters with peak hold for easy adjustment of optimum recording level. Soft-touch controls for fast and easy transport function selection of the Optonica RT-7000 cassette deck.

The Dolby-B system reduces tape hiss on tapes recorded on the Optonica RT-7000 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-7000 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.

Compact Cassette
  • APSS (Auto Program Search System)
  • Direct Drive (DD)
  • Microprocessor / Solenoid Control
  • OPTO Peak Level Display

Historic events

1981 Dave Smith proposes the Universal Synthesizer Interface that would become the MIDI standard in 1983.
1982 Seiko introduced the world’s first TV watch.

Features of Optonica RT-7000

Connectors
Connectivity
2 Mono Microphone Inputs RCA Input/Output Connectors DIN Input/Output Connector Headphones
Display
Display
3-Digıt Mechanical Counter Digital Peak-Reading Meters Peak Hold
Electronics
Electronics
Record Protection
Cassette Exterior
Exterior
Silver Finish Orientation Left Front Loading
Compact Cassette
General
Stereo
Head Configuration
Head Configuration
2 Head Desiǥn 4 Track / 2 Channel
Indicators
Indicators
Record Play Pause
Noise Resuction
Noise Reduction
Dolby-B Noise Reduction MPX Filter
Controls
Operation
Music Scan Soft Touch Transport Control Line / Mic Input Select Auto-Space Timer Recording
Power
Power Requirements
Alternating Current
Preamplifier
Preamplifier
Individual Input Level Controls Output-Level Control
Tape Speed
Speed
1⅞ ips - 4.76 cm/s
Tape
Tape
Ferro-Chrome Tape Capabilıty Normal Tape Capabilıty Chrome Tape Capabilıty Metal Tape Capabilıty
Transport
Transport
Solenoid Control (Mechanism) Auto Shutoff Direct Drive (Capsŧan) Mechanical Tape Loading Sìngle Capsŧan Transport Well Loading

Similar to Optonica RT-7000 from the period 1981 - 1982