RD-955AX - Cassette player ROTEL - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Cassette Tape Deck
Brand	Rotel
Model	RD-955AX
Power Supply	AC 220-240V, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption	15 W
Dimensions (W x H x D)	430 x 120 x 300 mm
Weight	7.5 kg
Tape Speed	4.76 cm/s
Wow and Flutter	0.08% WRMS
Frequency Response	30 Hz - 18 kHz (chrome tape)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	60 dB (Dolby NR on)
Head Type	Permalloy Record/Playback Head
Motor Type	DC Servo Motor
Auto Reverse	No
Output Level	500 mV (line out)
Input Sensitivity	100 mV (line in)
Remote Control	Not included
Functions	Play, Record, Pause, Stop, FF, Rew, Eject
Maintenance	Clean tape path and heads regularly
Cleaning	Use isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs
Safety Precautions	Avoid moisture, heat, and magnetic fields
Spare Parts	Belts, pinch rollers, heads available
Repair	Service by qualified technician recommended

Frequently Asked Questions - RD-955AX ROTEL

How do I clean the tape heads?

Use a cotton swab lightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) to gently wipe the playback and record heads. Never use abrasive materials.

How often should I demagnetize the heads?

Demagnetize the heads every 20-30 hours of playing time using a tape head demagnetizer. Keep the demagnetizer moving to avoid magnetization.

What type of cassette tape works best?

For best performance, use Type II (chrome) high-bias tapes. The RD-955AX also accepts Type I (normal) and Type IV (metal) with proper bias settings.

How do I set recording levels?

Use the recording level control knobs while monitoring the VU meters. Adjust so peaks reach around 0 dB for optimal signal-to-noise ratio.

Why does the playback sound muffled?

Dirty tape heads are a common cause. Clean the heads and pinch roller. If that doesn't help, the head alignment may need adjustment by a technician.

Can I use the deck with a modern amplifier?

Yes, connect the line out jacks to any auxiliary input of your amplifier. Ensure proper phono/stage selection if using a turntable input.

How do I prevent tape jams?

Ensure the cassette is in good condition and properly seated. Avoid using stretched or damaged tapes. Keep the transport mechanism clean.

What should I do if the deck doesn't power on?

Check the power cord and fuse. If the fuse is blown, replace with same rating (e.g., 250V 2A). If persists, consult a technician.

How do I replace the drive belts?

Remove the outer case and carefully note belt routing. Use a belt kit specifically for Rotel RD-955AX. Reassemble in reverse order.

Is the RD-955AX compatible with Dolby NR?

Yes, it features both Dolby B and C noise reduction. Select the same NR type used during recording for proper playback.

USER MANUAL RD-955AX ROTEL

TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD,

DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO

RAIN OR MOISTURE.

A WORD FROM ROTEL

Rotel take this opportunity to thank you for choosing our equipment for your home entertainment.

Rotel equipment represents a very high state of the art in sound reproduction, as the result of our everlasting determination to achieve the truly hi-fi performance. Please enjoy the sound Rotel have created for many years to come.

To make sure you get the most of your equipment, please read this owner's manual carefully before you attempt any connections.

BEFORE CONNECTION

1. Place for Installation

Ensure to place the unit in a f, at surface where it is free from humidity, vibration, high temperature and not exposed to direct sunlight. Also, be careful not to place the unit in a highly enclosed area without adequate ventilation around the unit.

2. Electrical Requirements

Your equipment has been designed to be powered by the local AC voltage. Check the setting of your unit by looking at the rear panel name plate. Never try to plug the unit into an outlet of higher voltage, as this causes a serious fire hazard. Consult your dealer if in doubt.

3. Connecting the Power Cord

Always handle the Power cord with care. Ensure to connect the cord to the household wall outlet. When plugging and unplugging make sure the power switch on the unit is turned off.

4. Do not Open the Cabinet

There are no user-serviceable parts inside the cabinet of the unit. Do not attempt to open the cabinet or tamper with the internal components. If water or foreign object falls inside the unit by accidents, disconnect the power cord immediately and consult a qualified electrician of your dealer.

5. Cleaning Your Unit

If your unit becomes dirty, wipe it gently with a soft, dry cloth. Never use solvents of any kind.

CONNECTIONS

1. Connecting to Integrated Amplifiers, Preamplifiers or Receivers

The illustration shows how the input and output terminals should be properly hooked up via the interconnect cords supplied with the unit to the Tape input and output terminals of your amplifier (integrated amplifier, preamplifier or receiver).

Ensure that the Right (red) and the Left (white) channels are correctly matched.

2. Connecting for Remote control

There is the DIN type socket marked REMOTE on the back of the unit. This is for connecting the unit to the Rotel tuner-preamplifiers or receivers which have wireless-remote control systems. When the unit is connected in such way, the control functions of the unit can be operated by remote control.

SPECIAL FACILITIES

1. Automatic Shutoff System

When either end of tape is reached in play, record, fast forward, or rewind mode, the motor and transport mechanism will automatically shut off, disengaging the present mode.

NOTE: It is still necessary to turn off the unit electrically by pressing the Power button to off.

2. Automatic Tape Selection System

The unit is equipped with the automatic tape selection factility which eliminates the need of manual tape selectors. When a tape is inserted, the setting for correct equalization and biasing in accordance to the type of the tape will be automatically done and indicators show what type of tape is inserted.

CASSETTE TAPES

1. Use only high quality tapes for best possible result in sound recording. The good or better quality TDK, MAXELL, etc. well known tapes are recommended.
2. To prevent possible trouble with the transport mechanism, the use of C-120 or longer hour tapes is not recommended.
3. Handle tapes with care. Keep them away from heat, dust, or magnetic field (TV set etc.).
4. A loosened tape may cause trouble in playback or recording. Check the tape before loading it into the deck. If it is slack, insert a pencil or the into either of cassette's hubs, and rotate it carefully until the slack is taken up.

Illustration of two hand-cranked cassette tape devices, one with a handle and the other with a spool (no text or symbols)

1. Each tape has safety tabs on its back edge prevent accidental recording. Each tab is provided for one side (2 tracks) of the tape. Once the tab is removed, recording cannot be done on the side the tab has been taken out.

The tab can be removed with a screwdriver, etc. If you wish, however, to record on the side with no tab, place a piece of adhesive tape, etc. over the opening where the tab has been.

SWITCHES AND CONTROLS

(1) Power Button

Press this button to turn on and off the unit.

(2) Power Indicator

Glows when power is turned on with the POWER button.

(3) Eject Button

Press this button to open the cassette door when loading or unloading the cassette tape.

(4) Cassette Door

Cassette tape is loaded into the cassette holder. Press the EJECT button to open the door. To close the cassette door, push it gently backward.

(5) Multi-function display

1). Tape Counter—The 4 FL digit tape counter indicates the amount of tape travel.

2). Peak Level Indicator—Two bank FL displays show the recording or playback level for both left and right channels.

3). Tape Selection Indicators—When a tape is inserted, an indicators will light up automatically to indicate the type of tape used. NORMAL for normal tape; SPECIAL for Chrome tape, METAL for metal tape.

4). Dolby NR B/C Indicator—Either of these indicators will light up when Dolby NR switch is activated ON and in accordance with whether Dolby type switch is set at Dolby B or Dolby C.

(6) Recording Level Control

Used to adjust the recording level of incoming signals from line source.

(7) Counter Memory

Depress it and the unit memorizes "0000" position on the tape counter, in this state, if you press the REW button after playback of the specific section is finished the tape will rewind to the "0000" position on the counter.

The LED on display window light up when Memory button activated.

(8) Repeat

Depress this button to repeat playback of the selected tape automatically. Please ensure to activate the button before

pushing the PLAY button. When used with the MEMORY button only "0000" position to tape end will be repeated.

The LED on display window light up when REPEAT button activated.

(9) Counter Reset

Depress the button to reset the tape counter to zero. The display will indicate "0000" for the numerical count.

(10) MPX Filter Button

Depress this button when recording stereo FM broadcasts. FM stereo broadcasting system uses a 19 kHz pilot signal which may adversely affect the sound quality in some case. When the MPX filter button is depressed to ON, the MPX filter is activated to eliminate the 19 kHz pilot signal, and clean stereo FM recording is achieved.

(11) Dolby NR Buttons

Depress the Dolby NR button when you wish to record or playback through the built-in Dolby noise reduction circuit. Next to this button is a switch for selecting Dolby B type or C type noise reduction. Select B-type by setting button in released position, and C-type by setting button in depressed position.

NOTE: DOLBY HX PRO circuit is always effected during recording.

(12) Cassette Controls

REW Button ◀◀

For rapid tape rewind, depress this button.

PLAY Button ▶

Depress this button to start the cassette for playback of recorded tape. The LED above the button glows when PLAY activated.

SEARCH

Press the Fast Forward button after the PLAY button activated, the beginning of the program next to the present program being played will be seeked forward automatically. In reverse, press the REW button, then the beginning of the present program being played will be seeked backward automatically. The LED indicator above PAUSE button blinks quickly when SEARCH activates.

F.F Button ▶▶

Depress this button to advance the tape rapidly forward.

STOP Button ■

Depress this button to stop the tape in any mode: record, playback, rewind or fast-forward. This button will release any transport button current engaged.

REC Button ●

To record, depress this and PLAY button. The deck is now in the recording mode, and the tape should be winding. The LED provided on the button glows during recording.

PAUSE Button II

Press this button to stop the tape temporarily during recording or playback without disenganing the mode currently employed, and LED indicator above the button blinks. In this state, pressing the PLAY button restarts the tape in the interrupted mode.

(13) Rec Balance Control

Adjusts the relative recording levels between the left and right channels. Rotate the knob to the left so that the left channel sound is recorded at a louder level than the right. and vice verse, normally set the knob at the mid-position. (14) PHONES

Used to plug headphones jack for the private listening.

WORDS ON OPERATION

Precaution

1. Before commencing operation, check to see if all connections are properly made.
2. When recording, be sure the safety tabs on the cassette tape edges are not removed.
3. When recording from line sources, choose the desired program (tuner, Turntable, CD etc.) on your integrated amplifier, preamplifier, or receivers.

Recording

1. Depress the DOLBY NR button ON, and then set the DOLBY B/C button to the desired position when record through DOLBY NR circuit.
2. Depress the deck POWER button ON.
3. Depress PAUSE button, then simultaneously depress REC button and the unit is put into REC PAUSE state.
4. Adjusts recording level controls, if necessary, depress the PLAY button to put the unit into recording mode and start the tape movement.
5. Carefully watch the counter indication during recording as well. PAUSE button may be used to temporarily halt recording.
6. Press STOP button when recording is finished.

Playback

1. Depress the DOLBY NR button ON, when playback a tape recorded with DOLBY NR, and then set the DOLBY B/C button according to whether DOLBY B or DOLBY C is used.
2. Turn on the power switch on your amplifier and keeping its volume control to minimum.
3. Depress the deck POWER button ON.
4. Press PLAY button and playback will gegin. Raise the volume to the desired level.
5. To momentarily halt playback, press the PAUSE button. When wish to end playback, press the STOP button.

HEAD CLEANING

The most frequent cause of failure to record in one or both channels, or of weak, distorted sound, is dirty tape heads and capstan. So, be sure to clean the heads, capstan,

pinch roller and tape guides as often as possible using a "Q" tip dipped in ordinary rubbing alcohol or commercial liquid tape head cleaner. Thoroughly wipe the surface of the heads, capstan, roller and tape guide.

HEAD DEMAGNETIZING

The tape heads, capstan and tape guides gradually become magnetized with use, which will eventually affect the sount quality of your tapes. Demagnetizing should follow cleaning, but need not take place as often as cleaning, once after every 20 to 30 hours of use should suffice.

A demagnetizer may be purchased at a moderate cost from any dealer carrying tape recording accessories. Follow the instruction supplied with the demagnetizer.

Caution: Be sure to turn off the unit before you attempt demagnetizing.

SPECIFICATIONS RD-955AX

Heads: Rec/ Play.....Permalloy core

Erase....Ferrite core

Track....4-track/2-channel

Tape Speed....4.8 cm / sec

Motor.....Electric Governor

Wow and Flutter....0.2 % (DIN) 0.06 % (WRMS)

Distortion (REC/PB, 400 Hz).....2 % (METAL)

Frequency Response (-20 dB):

Normal,LH....30 to 15,000 Hz +/-3 dB

Special....30 to 16,000 Hz +/-3 dB

Metal....30 to 17,000 Hz +/-3 dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (WTD. 0 dB = 710 mV, Chromium):

Dolby NR in....64 dB (B Type)

73 dB (C Type)

Dolby NR out....55 dB

Input Sensitivity/ Impedance:

LINE....60 mV/ 33 kohms

Output Level/ Impedance:

LINE....710 mV/ 1.5 kohms

Fast Wind Time (C-60).....80 seconds

Tape Selector BIAS EQUALIZER

Normal, LH....100 % 120 uS

Special....150 % 70 uS

Metal....220 % 70 uS

MISCELLANEOUS

Power Requirement.....120 V/ 60 Hz, 220 V/ 50 Hz,

240 V/ 50 Hz (depending on

destinations)

Power Consumption......30 watts

Dimension (overall)....440 (W) x 121 (H) x 286 (D) mm

17-3/8"×4-13/16"×11-1/4"

Weight (net)....5.6 Kg / 12.32 lbs

• Specifications and design subject to possible modification without notice.
• Dolby noise reduction and HX PRO headroom extension manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
  HX PRO originated by Bang and Olufsen. "Dolby", the double-D symbol, and "HX PRO" are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.