RS-B305 - Cassette player TECHNICS - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Stereo Cassette Deck
Brand	Technics
Model	RS-B305
Track System	4-Track, 2-Channel
Heads	Record/Play: Solid Permaloy; Erase: Double-Gap Ferrite
Motor	Electronically Controlled DC Motor
Tape Speed	4.8 cm/s
Frequency Response (Metal)	20 Hz–16 kHz (DIN 30 Hz–15 kHz, ±3 dB 40 Hz–15 kHz)
Wow and Flutter	0.08% WRMS, ±0.2% DIN
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Dolby C)	74 dB (CCIR)
Noise Reduction Systems	Dolby B and Dolby C
Fast Forward/Rewind Time	Approx. 100 s for C-60 cassette
Input Sensitivity (Line)	60 mV / 47 kΩ
Output Level (Line)	400 mV / 2.7 kΩ
Headphone Output	65 mV / 8 Ω
Power Consumption	13 W
Power Supply	AC 50/60 Hz, selectable 110–240 V (depending on region)
Dimensions (W × H × D)	430 × 102 × 237 mm
Weight	3.3 kg
Voltage Selector	Rear panel, adjustable with screwdriver
Special Features	Record muting, timer recording/playback, auto stop
Maintenance	Clean heads every 10 hours; demagnetize when needed
Safety Features	Primary circuit live even in standby; use standard AC outlet
Spare Parts and Repairability	Authorized service centers available

Frequently Asked Questions - RS-B305 TECHNICS

How do I clean the tape heads?

Use a cotton swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the record/play head, erase head, capstan, and pinch roller after every 10 hours of use. Avoid touching the head with metal objects.

How do I select the correct voltage?

Before plugging in, use a minus screwdriver to set the voltage selector on the rear panel to match your local mains voltage. For 117–120 V, set to 127 V position. Incorrect setting may damage the unit.

Can I use metal tapes with this deck?

Yes, the Technics RS-B305 supports Metal (Type IV), CrO2 (Type II), and Normal (Type I) tapes. Use the tape selector accordingly.

How do I use the Dolby noise reduction?

Select Dolby B or C with the front panel switch. For playback, use the same system that was used during recording. Dolby C provides greater noise reduction (about 1/10 of original noise) than Dolby B (about 1/3).

What is the record muting function?

Record muting creates a silent gap (about 4 seconds) during recording. Press the record mute button once for a 4-second mute, or hold for longer. It is useful to skip commercials or create pauses between tracks.

How do I perform timer recording?

Connect an external audio timer. Set the tuner to the desired station, prepare for recording (set tape, input, etc.), set the timer to the start time, and flip the timer stand-by switch to 'rec'. Ensure the power switch is on.

Why is there no sound during playback?

Check that the amplifier's volume is not at minimum and that the input selector is set to 'Tape'. Also ensure the tape is not a blank or damaged.

How do I prevent accidental erasure of a tape?

Break out the erase-prevention tabs on the cassette edge using a screwdriver. To record again, cover the slots with adhesive tape.

What is the fast forward/rewind time for a C-60 cassette?

Approximately 100 seconds for a C-60 tape.

How do I demagnetize the head assembly?

Use a commercial head demagnetizer following its instructions. This is recommended if distortion or poor high-frequency response persists after cleaning. Keep metal tools away from the heads.

USER MANUAL RS-B305 TECHNICS

●These instructions also to units of different colour.

Notes:

• Specifications differ according to the area code.
  ●The "EK" area code, for example, indicates United Kingdom specifications.
• The "EK" indication is shown on the packing case and serial number tag.

Before operating this unit, please read these instructions completely.

Dear Stereo Fan

We want to thank you for selecting this product and to welcome you to the growing family of satisfied Technics product owners around the world.

We feel certain you will get maximum enjoyment

from this new addition to your home.

Please read these operating instructions carefully, and be sure to keep them handy for convenient reference.

Contents

•For United Kingdom 2
-Accessories 2
- Technical Specifications 2
●Before Use 3
•Suggestions for Safety 3
- Placement Hints 4
- Connections 4
- About Cassette Tapes 4
●Front Panel Controls and Their Functions .. 5
-Standard Operating Procedures 6
•To listen to Tapes 6
●Recording 7
●Timer Recording/Playback 8
●Noise Reduction Systems 9
●Maintenance 10
●Troubleshooting Guide 10

For United Kingdom

("EK" area code model only)

The "EK" indication is shown on the name plate.

Important

THE WIRES IN THIS MAINS LEAD ARE COLOURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE.

BLUE: NEUTRAL

BROWN: LIVE

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this unit may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows. The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.

The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED.

This apparatus was produced to BS 800: 1977

Accessories

(Refer to page 4.)

- Stereo connection cables 2

- AC power supply cord 1

Technical Specifications

■ CASSETTE DECK SECTION

Deck system	Stereo cassette deck
Track system	4-track, 2-channel
Heads
REC/PLAY	Solid Permaloy head
Erasing	Double-gap ferrite head
Motors	Electronically controlled DC motor
Recording system	AC bias
Bias frequency	80 kHz
Erasing system	AC erase
Tape speed	4.8 cm/sec.
Frequency response
METAL	20 Hz~16 kHz
	30 Hz~15 kHz (DIN)
	40 Hz~15 kHz (±3 dB)
CrO2	20 Hz~15 kHz
	30 Hz~15 kHz (DIN)
	40 Hz~14 kHz (±3 dB)
NORMAL	20 Hz~15 kHz
	30 Hz~15 kHz (DIN)
	40 Hz~14 kHz (±3 dB)
S/N	(signal level = max recording level, CrO2 type tape)
Dolby C NR in	74 dB (CCIR)
Dolby B NR in	66 dB (CCIR)
NR out	56 dB (A weighted)

Wow and flutter	0.08% (WRMS)±0.2% (DIN)
Fast Forward and Rewind Time
Approx. 100 seconds with C-60 ca
Input sensitivity and impedance
MIC	0.25 mV/400 Ω~13 kΩ
LINE	60 mV/47 kΩ
Output voltage and impedance
LINE	400 mV/2.7 kΩ
HEADPHONES	65 mV/8 Ω

GENERAL

Power consumption	13W
Power supply
For continental Europe	AC 50 Hz/60 Hz, 220V
For United Kingdom and Australia	AC 50 Hz/60 Hz, 240V
For others	AC 50 Hz/60 Hz, 110V/127V/220V/240V
Dimensions (W×H×D)	430 × 102 × 237 mm
Weight	3.3 kg

Note:

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Weight and dimensions are approximate.

Before Use

Be sure to disconnect the mains cord before adjusting the voltage selector.

Use a minus (−) screwdriver to set the voltage selector (on the rear panel) to the voltage setting for the area in which the unit will be used.

(If the power supply in your area is 117 V or 120 V, set to the "127 V" position.)

Note that this unit will be seriously damaged if this setting is not made correctly. (There is no voltage selector for some countries; the correct voltage is already set.)

Suggestions for Safety

■ Use a standard electrical AC wall outlet

1. Use from an AC power source of high voltage, such as for air conditioners, is very dangerous.
   Be extremely careful not to make a connection to the electrical outlet for a large air conditioner or central-heating unit which uses high voltage, because there is the possibility of fire.
2. A DC power source cannot be used. Be sure to check the power source carefully, especially on a ship or other place where DC is used.

■ Connection and removal of the power cord plug

1. Wet hands are dangerous. A dangerous electric shock may result if the plug is touched by wet hands.

2. Don't pull the power cord. Always grasp the plug; never pull the cord itself.

■ Never attempt to repair or reconstruct this unit

A serious electric shock might occur if this unit is repaired, disassembled or reconstructed by unauthorized persons, or if the internal parts are accidentally touched.

■ For families with children

Never permit children to put anything, especially metal, inside this unit. A serious electric shock or malfunction could occur if articles such as coins, needles, screwdrivers, etc. are inserted through the ventilation holes, etc. of this unit.

■ Turn off after use

If the unit is left for a long time with the power on, this will not only shorten its useful operation life, but may also cause other unexpected trouble.

■ If water is spilled on the unit

Be extremely careful if water is spilled on the unit, because a fire or serious electric shock might occur. Immediately disconnect the power cord plug, and consult with your dealer.

■ Place the unit where it will be well ventilated, and away from direct sunlight

Place this unit at least 10 cm (4") away from wall surfaces, etc., and away from direct sunlight.

■ Keep the unit away from heaters, etc.

Heat can damage the external surfaces as well as internal circuits and components.

■ Avoid spray-type insecticides

Insecticides might cause cracks or "cloudiness" in the cabinet and plastic parts of this unit. The gas used in such sprays might, moreover, be ignited suddenly.

■ Never use alcohol or paint thinner

These and similar chemicals should never be used, because they may damage the finish.

■ If trouble occurs

If, during operation, the sound is interrupted or indicators no longer illuminate, or if abnormal odor or smoke is detected, immediately disconnect the power cord plug, and contact your dealer or an Authorized Service Center.

Placement Hints

If this unit is placed near a stereo amplifier or tuner, a "hum" noise may be heard during tape playback, during tape recording, or during AM reception of the tuner. If this occurs, leave as much space as possible between the units, or place them where there is the least amount of "hum". Place the tape deck and amplifier 5–10 cm or more apart.

Connections

Stereo amplifier (option)

Configuration of AC power supply cord differs according to area.

About Cassette Tapes

■ Selection of cassette tapes

A wide selection of cassette tapes is available today. To make tapes longer than 90 minutes, it is necessary to use thinner tape, which is fragile and must be handled with extreme care. Because the possibility of a cassette failure increases greatly as the playing time is increased, we recommend not using tapes longer than necessary.

- Fe-Cr tape

The high range will be emphasized and a flat frequency response characteristic cannot be obtained.

■ Tape slack

This may cause the tape to break. Use pencil or similar object to take up the slack.

Use a pencil or similar object to take up the slack.

Illustration of a cassette tape with a screwdriver and eraser (no text or symbols)

■ Do not expose to a magnetic object.

Recordings will be erased.

■ To prevent erasing of recorded sounds

Remove the erase-prevention tabs (thus preventing recording).

Tab for side 2
Use a screwdriver or similar object to break out the tab.

■ To record again

Cover the slot with adhesive tape.

Diagram showing a mechanical component before and after assembly, with no visible text or symbols

Attach tape

Front Panel Controls and Their Functions

Standard Operating Procedures

Power switch (power)

This switch turns on and off the secondary circuit power only. The unit is in the "stand-by" condition when this switch is set to the "stand by" position. Regardless of the switch setting, the primary circuit is always "live" as long as the power cord is connected to an electrical outlet.

To Listen to Tapes

Have you completed the "Standard Operating Procedures"?

Recording

Have you completed the "Standard Operating Procedures" (page 6)?

Adjustment of the recording level

The numbers which you should use as a guide for the adjustment of the tape level will differ depending upon the type of tape used.

Normal TapeCrO2Tape	Metal Tape
+3 dB	+6 dB

- Make the adjustment so that the maximum level indicated in the table illuminated.

To erase recorded sounds

Note that any sounds on the tape will be automatically erased if a new recording is made on that part of the tape.

1 Press the noise-reduction select button marked "out".
2 Set the input level control to the minimum (0) position.
3 Prepare in the same way as for recording, and then let the tape run.

Recording

(continued)

Record muting

This is a feature which makes it possible to make a non-recorded portion on the tape while a recording is in progress.

This feature is convenient in the following ways:

• To avoid recording unwanted commercial announcements.
• To avoid recording the noise produced when the phono needle descends to a disc.
• To produce the interval between tunes which is necessary for correct operation of the tune-select system.

During recording

- Press once.

(After about 4 seconds, the unit will automatically change to the recording stand-by mode.)

- Press for more than 4 seconds.

(The unit will automatically change to the recording stand-by mode when the button is released.)

- A recording can be started immediately, even during the record-muting operation, by pressing the playback button for the side to be recorded.

Timer Recording/Playback

If an audio timer (option) is connected to this unit, recording of a radio broadcast, or tape playback, will automatically begin at the preset time.

■ Connections

Connect the power cord from the amplifier to the AC outlet of the timer so that the power of the amplifier can be turned on and off when the power of the timer is turned on and off.

Timer recording

1 Tune to the broadcast station which will broadcast the program to be recorded.
2 Prepare for recording. (Refer to page 9.)
3 Set the timer to the desired recording-start time. (At the set time, the power will come on, and the broadcast will be recorded.)
4 Set the timer stand-by switch to the "rec" position.

After setting the timer

Make sure that the power switch is set to the "on" position.

Timer playback

1 Rewind the tape to the position from which you want playback to begin.
2 Stop the tape at the place where you want playback to begin.
3 Set the timer to the desired playback-start time. (At the set time, the power will be turned on and the playback will begin.)
4 Set the timer stand-by switch to the "play" position.

After setting the timer

Make sure that the power switch is set to the "on" position.

Noise Reduction Systems

• Noise-reduction systems can be used to reduce tape "hiss" noise, which is a natural characteristic of tape, to an acceptable low level.
• Because such tape noise is mostly in the middle and high-frequency ranges, it would be possible to forcibly cut this out, but at the same time the music signals in those tanges would also be cut out.
• It is for this reason that this unit includes 2 noise-reduction systems (the Dolby noise-reduction systems B type and C type) which have been developed to solve this problem.

Noise-reduction effects of each noise-reduction system

When the noise-reduction results are compared with the noise level when a noise-reduction system is not used (when the noise-reduction button marked "out" is used for the recording), the noise level using the Dolby B type system is about 1/3, the level using the Dolby C type system is about 1/10.

Dolby noise-reduction systems (B type and C type)

Because the level of tape noise is a fixed level, such noise is more easily heard as the level of the music signals becomes lower. Thus, when a recording is made, low levels are recorded at a high level, and, when this recording is played back, it is played back, conversely, at a low level. Because the tape noise will also be then played back at a low level, the result is a reduction in the noise level.

- The B type Dolby noise-reduction performs this function in the high-frequency range, and the C type functions for the high-frequency range and the middle-frequency range.

Anti-saturation network

The C type Dolby noise-reduction system includes an anti-saturation network (saturation-prevention circuitry). With this circuitry, the high-frequency dynamic range is expanded, compared to the B type system because the tape's recording level is improved by about 1.6 times (10 kHz).

Examples of uses of the noise-reduction systems

Dolby B system

Use this system for playback of tapes which were recorded by the conventional "Dolby noise-reduction" system, and for playback of commercially available music tapes.

Dolby C system

These systems are suitable for recording and playback of live FM broadcasts and other music sources which have superior tone quality and a wide dynamic range. For other recordings, use whichever system that you find preferable.

Dolby noise-reduction system manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. "Dolby" and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

Notes:

• In order to obtain the best possible results from a noise-reduction system, a sound source which has relatively little noise will give the best results.
  Note that noises which are already in the sound source (such as, for example, a scratch on a disc) cannot be reduced by any noise-reduction system.
• When playing back a tape which was recorded by using a noise-reduction system, be sure to select the same noise-reduction system for the playback.
  It is recommended that you make a note, on the cassette's index card, of which system was used.

Maintenance

Head care

To assure sound quality for recording and playback, be sure to clean the heads after approximately every 10 hours of use.

■ Cleaning with a cotton swab

Head demagnetization

In order to maintain good sound quality during recording and playback, it is recommended that the head assembly be demagnetized when distortion or poor sound quality persist after cleaning the heads.

If the head assembly becomes magnetized, it could create noise in the recordings, loss of high-frequency response or erasure of valuable recordings. Several types of head demagnetizers are available and may be purchased separately at local electronics supply stores. Follow the instructions that are supplied with the device.

- Do not bring any type of metal objects or tools such as magnetic screwdrivers in contact with the head assembly.

Maintenance of external surfaces

To clean this unit, use a soft, dry cloth.

If the surfaces are extremely dirty, use a soft cloth, dipped into a soap-and-water solution or a weak detergent solution.

Wring the cloth well before wiping the unit.

Wipe once again with a soft, dry cloth.

Never use alcohol, paint thinner, benzine, nor a chemically treated cloth to clean this unit.

Such chemicals may damage the finish of your unit.

Troubleshooting Guide

Before requesting service for this unit, check the chart below for a possible cause of the problem you are experiencing. Some simple checks or a minor adjustment on your part may eliminate the problem and restore proper operation.

If you are in doubt about some of the check points, or if the remedies indicated in the chart do not solve the problem, refer to the directory of Authorized service centers (enclosed with this unit) to locate a convenient service center, or consult your Technics dealer for instructions.

Problem

Probable cause(s)

Suggested remedy

While using the tape deck
Tape moves but no sound is heard.	The volume control of the stereo amplifier is set to its minimum position.	Adjust the volume control to the desired level.
	The input selector of the stereo amplifier is not set to the "tape" position.	Set to the "tape" position.
The sound	The recording level is too high.	Select the appropriate recording level.
Dolby noise quality	The Dolby noise-reduction switch is not set properly.	Set it to the correct position.
Recovery in the high table (the video range)
Erase prevention tabs have been removed.		Attach tape to cover space left by removal of erase-prevention tabs.
Heads, capstan and/or pinch roller are dirty.		Clean the heads.