Sharp RT-20
Dolby B NR Metal Tape

The Sharp RT-20 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, it was introduced by Sharp in 1982 with a manufacturer suggested retail price of USD $190 and discontinued 6 years later in 1988.

The main features of the Sharp RT-20 cassette deck are: 2 heads, electronic tape counter with 4 digits, 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 Sharp RT-20 cassette deck are generic digital peak reading meters. Mechanical transport controls for reliable Sharp RT-20 transport function selection.

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

Compact Cassette
  • Full Auto Stop
  • Computer Controlled Multi-Display

Historic events

1982 Seiko introduced the world’s first TV watch.
1983 The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is introduced at the first North American Music Manufacturers (NAMM) show in Los Angeles.
1984 The first episode of the Miami Vice television crime drama series, premiered on NBC.
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

Features of Sharp RT-20

Connectors
Connectivity
2 Mono Microphone Inputs RCA Input/Output Connectors Headphones
Controls
Controls
Tape Length Selection
Display
Display
Digital Peak-Reading Meters 4-Digıt Digital Counter Remaining Time Digital Clock
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
End of Tape Indicator
Noise Resuction
Noise Reduction
Dolby-B Noise Reduction
Controls
Operation
Timer Recording/Playback Mechanical Transport Control
Preamplifier
Preamplifier
Individual Input Level Controls
Tape Speed
Speed
1⅞ ips - 4.76 cm/s
Tape
Tape
Manual Tape Type Selection Normal Tape Capabilıty Chrome Tape Capabilıty Metal Tape Capabilıty
Transport
Transport
Auto Shutoff Mechanical Tape Loading Sìngle Capsŧan Transport Belt Drive (Capsŧan)

Similar to Sharp RT-20 from the period 1982 - 1988