Rotel RD-20 Stereo Cassette Deck

The Rotel RD-20 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, it was introduced by Rotel in 1976 with a manufacturer suggested retail price of USD $400 and discontinued 5 years later in 1981.

The main features of the Rotel RD-20 cassette deck are: 2 heads, analog 3 digit tape counter and memory stop, manual tape type selection with support for normal, chrome and ferro-chrome tapes, belt driven single-capstan transport.

Typical of this deck is the 70's top loading layout 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 Rotel RD-20 cassette deck are analog needle VU reading meters with peak indicator for easy adjustment of optimum recording level. Mechanical transport controls for reliable Rotel RD-20 transport function selection. Cue and review can be used to easily and quickly locate the beginning of a passage.

The Dolby-B system reduces tape hiss on tapes recorded on the Rotel RD-20 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.