Sony TC-165
Auto Reverse 3 Head

This Sony TC-165 is a auto-reverse stereo cassette deck, it was first sold by Sony in 1971 with a recommended retail price of USD $260 and discontinued 2 years later in 1973.

The main features of the Sony TC-165 cassette deck are: 3 heads and no off-tape monitoring to save production cost, mechanical 3 digit tape counter, manual tape type selection and capable of handling normal and chrome tapes, belt driven dual-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 Sony TC-165 cassette deck are analog needle VU reading meters with multi-color indication to provide visual saturation level of tape. Mechanical transport controls for reliable Sony TC-165 transport function selection.

To make live recordings this deck has 2 microphone inputs to connect a microphone with a mini-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
  • Closed Loop Dual Capstan
  • Auto Reverse

Historic events

1971 Sony introduced the U-matic videocassette format
1972 The first video game "Pong" is released by Atari.
1973 Computer graphics are used for the first time in a Motion Picture Industry for the movie Westworld.

Features of Sony TC-165

Connectors
Connectivity
RCA Input/Output Connectors Headphones 2 Mono Microphone Inputs AC Power Cord / Plug DIN Input/Output Connector
Controls
Controls
3-Position Direction Selector
Display
Display
3-Digıt Mechanical Counter Multi Color Peak-Reading Meters Analog Needle Meters
Electronics
Electronics
Peak Limiter
Cassette Exterior
Exterior
Orientation Left Top Loading Wood Case Black Finish
Compact Cassette
General
Stereo
Head Configuration
Head Configuration
3 Head Desiǥn 4 Track / 2 Channel 2-Erase Heads
Indicators
Indicators
Auto Reverse Direction
Controls
Operation
Mechanical Transport Control
Power
Power Requirements
Alternating Current
Preamplifier
Preamplifier
Individual Input Level Controls Headphone Low/High Volume Positions
Tape Speed
Speed
1⅞ ips - 4.76 cm/s
Tape
Tape
Manual Tape Type Selection Normal Tape Capabilıty Chrome Tape Capabilıty
Transport
Transport
Auto Reverse Mechanical Tape Loading Auto Stop Dual-Capsŧan Transport Belt Drive (Capsŧan)

Similar to Sony TC-165 from the period 1971 - 1973