SAE C102 Computer Direct-Line Cassette Deck

The SAE C102 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B and C noise reduction, it was introduced by SAE in 1985 with a recommended retail price of USD $499 and discontinued 6 years later in 1991.

The main features of the SAE C102 cassette deck are: 2 heads, electronic tape counter with 4 digits, automatic 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 loading/unloading is operated motorized and the cassette needs to be placed horizontally in the drawer.

Level meters used on the SAE C102 cassette deck are generic digital peak reading meters with peak hold for easy adjustment of optimum recording level. Full-logic transport controls used on the SAE C102 let it respond to the slightest finger contact for fast and effortless transport function selection.

Dolby C-type used in the SAE C102 provides 20 dB of noise reduction above about 1,000 Hz, fully doubling the amount given by B-type.

Connection to other audio components for plaback can be achieved by a RCA cable and recording from a source by a RCA cable.

Sendust Head
Horizontal Transport
Auto Tape Selector

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.

1988 Sony begins producing VHS recorders

1989 Commodore announces that 1 million Amiga computers have been sold.

1990 Commodore announces the Amiga 3000 computer.

1991 The first digital 2G (Second Generation) cellular technology was launched by Radiolinja in Finland on the GSM standard