Page 129 - Hi-Fi_News_-_December_2020 video

Other common features include Pioneer has thoughtfully supplied to say at the outset, that while I had
a basic system design for vertical colour-coded cables so that links considerable respect for the A77,
operation, although the decks can may readily be traced. What’s more, I did not personally favour certain
be used horizontally. However, the several inputs and outputs are also aspects of its performance, notably
controls, tape paths and meter brought forward to the front panel poor level matching, premature
systems are all most accessible to by means of jack cables, in order overload of electronics and poor
hand and eye if the machines are that supplied signals may be quickly control ergonomics. However, all
vertically positioned on a rack or routed from one track to another. these have been resolved in the new
shelf of convenient height. Mechanically, the deck is robustly model, as well as refi nements made.
Other points common to all four constructed with a die-cast frame For example, the capstan
machines are features now taken for and a 5mm-thick machine alloy motor – the famous direct-drive
granted with high-quality decks. For main bed-plate. Two eddy/induction tachogenerator design – has been
example, a three-motor transport, hybrid reel motors are used, plus further developed and is now closer
one for each reel in addition to the a hysteresis synchronous capstan to that of the Revox A700. The deck
capstan. Three magnetic heads are motor driving the will also accept

also employed – erase, optimum flywheel via a resilient ‘All the decks an accessory that

record and an optimum replay. Good belt. Damped tension allows fine control of
tape handling goes almost without arms smooth the are capable of capstan speed and
saying, and all have tape back- tape transport and hence of musical
tension switches to allow for small- the heads maintain master-quality pitch, when required.
core reels; the exception to this is contact with the recordings’ Improvements
the Technics deck, whose special tape by back-tension to head quality
tensioning will accommodate these. alone. A fl utter roller have resulted in
BELOW: The is also incorporated. Finally, the increased life as well as a more
PIONEER RT2022 Pioneer RT2022 deck’s side panels are fi nished in uniform frequency response, and
(RT2044 – FOUR CHANNEL) comprised two black leatherette though their the transport section has now
Designated individually as the units – the RTU11 appearance, reinforced by the eliminated those occasionally
RTU11 tape transport and TAU11 tape transport massive carrying handle and chrome troublesome relays, with their

amplifier units, together this dual and TAU11 latch fittings, visually suggests function now carried out by

combination is called the RT2022. amplifi er. A location recording rather than a semiconductors, bringing an
Without factory modifi cation or second TAU11 domestic hi-fi installation. expected increase in reliability.
lab alignment this deck can, with unit could be In addition to all the basic
an additional head-block and clipped beneath REVOX B77 features, certain more specialised

control amplifier, perform in stereo/ the first by means The successor to the A77, the B77 functions are included in this deck,

mono record or playback modes, of tensioned represents a development of the their use facilitated by a clear
½- or ¼-track format; four-channel latches to give older model rather than an entirely instruction manual and internal
play/record with ¼-track; NAB four-channel new design. A number of changes switch connections. For instance,
equalisation at 19cm/sec and 38cm/ operation have been made, signifi cant enough as well as the edit button, which
sec speeds; IEC equalisation at
38cm/sec, with cross-dubbing, echo,
multi-track and sound-on-sound.
To aid multi-tracking, the
record heads may also be used
for monitoring to allow accurate
synchronisation of the second track.
Furthermore, several self-correction
features are built into the transport
section. A test oscillator with 1kHz
and 10kHz tones allows selection of
optimum tape equalisation and bias
settings, this oscillator together with
the bias settings being adjustable
from the front panel, protected by a
removable smoked Perspex cover.
For four-channel operation the
second TAU11 unit clips beneath the
first by means of tensioned latches,

with recesses provided in the top
panels to stow the interconnecting
cables. Almost every input and
output socket is duplicated, and
when the four-channel system is
fully assembled the rear resembles
a telephone exchange! However,

DECEMBER 2020 | www.hifi news.co.uk | 129