Technics RS-B85 Stereo Cassette Deck

This Technics RS-B85 is a stereo cassette deck with double Dolby B and C and DBX noise reduction, it was first sold by Technics in 1986 with a recommended retail price of USD $600.

The main features of the Technics RS-B85 cassette deck are: 3 heads and off-tape monitoring, digital linear tape counter with 3 digits, automatic tape type selection and capable of handling 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 Technics RS-B85 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 Technics RS-B85 let it respond to the slightest finger contact for fast and effortless transport function selection.

Dolby C-type used in the Technics RS-B85 provides 20 dB of noise reduction above about 1,000 Hz, fully doubling the amount given by B-type. The three-head configuration of the Technics RS-B85 requires a Double Dolby system, one for recording and one for playback. Dbx Type II found in the RS-B85 is a simplified version of the Type I noise reduction system. The dbx Type II system was designed to be used with systems with limited bandwidth such as cassette based recorders and also uses a simple 2:1:2 compander to reduce noise.

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. All main transport commands can be issued remotely with a wired remote control.