It "blows" all cassette & 4 track 7.5 ips open reels away ! Ferric oxide @ 15 ips is better than cassette.This open reel makes cassette look like a joke(which it is).

Wally's World(wal-mart)does not carry 10.5 inch reel tapes.I have to special order them.

I received the Technics RS-1500 15 ips 2 track for a Graduation present.I have taken good care of it over the years.I used it to record rock & jazz bands back in the 80's.I "burned" CD-Rs from these master tapes & people wonder if I had a DAT back then.

Similar Products Used:

Sony model 777s pro-open reel.

AMMENDMENT TO THE SPECS ON THE TECHNICS RS-1500US. SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO AT 15 IPS/38CMS IS 60DB AS IS 7.5 IPS /19CMS. I JUST WANTED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. THESE ARE THE MANUFACTURERS CLAIMS.

Have just upgraded noise reduction to Dbx type 1 noise reduction. I have relagated the type 2 noise reduction unit to the Teac X-10. The Dbx type 1 unit is a rightful match for this deck. A slightly,but more meaningful improvement here. The Dbx type 1 noise reduction unit was designed with open reel decks in mind. The Technics RS1500 still performs well. I must say that the Teac X-10 has better logic control than my RS1500. That aside,the RS1500 is still the serious value 2 track for me at 15ips. Tough act to beat at the price.

This is a product along with other open reels is still popular with "analog" feigns out there who have not been duped with the coldness of "digital". It is an open reel that just skirts between pro,and just consumer stuff. We'll call it "pro-sumer" then. First the numbers: 30hz-30khz @ 15ips/38cms signal to noise greater than 62db. Wow and flutter @ .018% @ 15 ips/38cms. Guess-timate on weight is close to 60 lbs. Dimensions: 19 3/8"w x17 1/2" h 10 1/8 d. High speed wind times with 2500' tape 1.5 mil , 150 seconds. Now the general. This is a 2 track 4 head,that will play 1/4 tapes too. It is however a 2 track recorder/player mainly. It uses an "iso-loop tape" loading system instead of the more conventional loading methods. It is a 3 motor direct drive quartz lock on the capstan motor,with torque sensing types for the reels. Full mic/line mixing is possible,and there are 2 sets of inputs and outputs in back. Sound on sound mixing possible? Don't know. Don't have owners manual to confirm that. 3 tape bias and eq settings,pitch control,meter scale +3db/6db maybe selected.A cue lever is provided for high speed tape searches by releasing the tape lifters manually. Real time tape counter set primarily for 15/38 ips/cms reading. Variable output control with its unity/or cal setting at "8" mark. I should note that this iso-loop system uses 2 pinch rollers off a common capstan. This capstan is the largest I have seen. Inside the deck,once the back cover is removed,is a plethora of circuit boards and wiring with a number of discrete components. The most prominant object centrally is,the very large capstan motor and flywheel. It is about 6 inches in diameter,and about 4.5 inches deep. Again the largest motor I have seen for a capstan drive. The flywheel appears to be dynamically balanced. The preamp input/output circuits are in a separate sub-chassis from the transport section. Various harnesses join the transport and pre-amp together. One has to wonder why remove the rear cover? Well I purchased this deck used. While the cosmetics are about a 6.5 on a scale of 1 to 10,10 being great,the mechanicals,and electrics seem to be in good order. Some dirty pots,and switches and a mis routed harness rubbing against the capstan flywheel,but no other apparent damage. Missing are the side panels. Rosewood panels came with this deck originally. Upon initial cleaning,the deck seems to perform well. The sound is good,and the mechanicals function for the most part well. My only main caveat with the design is the hard to read silk-screen on the dark charcoal color faceplate. It is a dark dingy mustard yellow that does not make reading control locations easy. White would have been my first choice but...So at this time no real in depth listening has occured with it,pending final cleaning and adjustments withstanding. The missing switch "knobettes" and side end caps may prove challenging to obtain. I may just make my own end caps with a black "piano" finish laquer to help give this "dark looking" deck some class.
Overall thus far,I am pleased with it. It won't replace my Teac x-10 with DBX combo,but will make a great master deck with my studio once I get all things sorted out. I am using Monster 300 interlink for now,but that is subject to change with final restoration. I will post another more in depth review on the sonics of the RS100US once I have finished its restoration.

Like "Beethoven on the piano,I have labored to produce". As the laquer black paint dries on the replacement side panels,now is a great time to update this review...or part "deux". First of all,the modulation noise from the transport was driving me nuts. I had traced it down to noisy idler bearings,and dirty tape guides just above the pinch/capstan station. The pinch rollers recieved service as well. For a deck that had been just serviced a year ago,this problem seems rather odd to say the least. At any rate,the modulation noise is now silenced. I may now audition the RS-1500US sans the mechanical cocophony. At 15 ips/38cms,the sound is full and clear. The bass response is better than my Teac X-10. The midrange and treble are fine,and free of grit,and glare. However,like most open reels, the signal to noise is only fair to good. Hiss is now banished with the use of my DBX type 2 noise reduction system. When setup correctly,the presentation is very aimable,easy on the ears,less the "hiss". The decks wow and flutter are very low,especially after my cleaning and servicing.When listening to Peter Kater,his piano has good tone,without any souring of the notes that a higher wow and flutter deck would cause. Its pitch and sustain are very realistic here. This deck does voices just fine too. Natalie Cole singing her fathers hits sound just like they should. At 7 1/2,the sound is still very good,though its' treble response is alittle compressed at higher levels,than at 15ips naturally. I am very satisfied with the 1500s' sound overall. It will make some great master tapes once my project studio is complete. One annoying thing this deck does have is,an incredibly difficult to read silk-screen. The control panel is a dark charcoal color to begin with,now the silk-screen is a dark mustard yellow "dingy" color as well. In moderate to low light,reading the control panels script could be challenging. I suppose after time,I will remember every control on this machine like my other decks,but this is definately a gaff here. I would have chosen "white" silk-screen to make the panel easier to read but...Erogomics aside,this Technics RS-1500US is a very capable deck with semi-pro features that will garantee a fine recording. The DBX noise reduction is a great compliment here,and I can't see making a great recording without it. Infinately superior to Dolby "b" or "c". These decks generally sell for around $500.00 on up. Of course these are used. If a great 2 track open reel is in your wish list,be sure to include the RS-1500.