Sharp RT-32 Stereo Cassette Deck

This Sharp RT-32 is a stereo cassette deck, it was first sold by Sharp in 1981 with a recommended retail price of USD $180 and discontinued 4 years later in 1985.

The main features of the Sharp RT-32 cassette deck are: 2 heads, mechanical 3 digit tape counter, tape type selection and capable of handling normal and chrome 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-32 cassette deck are generic digital peak reading meters. Full-logic transport controls used on the Sharp RT-32 let it respond to the slightest finger contact for fast and effortless transport function selection.

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.

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.

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.