My Telefunken Collection


RC 300

Photo of RC 300's Front
Photo of RC 300's Back
Photo of RC 300's Innards

Device Type

Cassette Deck

Start of Sale

1981

General Description

The RC 300 is arguably one of the best, luxurious...and most expensive tape decks Telefunken has ever built. No tape deck before or after had a longplay option, or a three-motor mechanics. The drive mechanism is the MultiDrive mechanism that was developed by Papst, a company that is today still known for the quality of their fans. With a separate motor for the capstan and each reel, there is no need for belts or rubber rolls, all controls are done electronically and there are much fewer parts that can fail.

The RC 300 was part of Telefunken's T 300 high-end component system, and it has a remote control input that allows the drive functions to be controlled via the RP 300 pre-amplifier.

Photo of RC 300's Innards (Audio PCB Swung Out)

Similar to other T 300 components, the RC 300 was manufactured in Germany and its inner construction is significantly different to the RC 100 or RC 200 decks, which were manufactured in fareast. One might think that it was designed by an engineer who previously designed TV chassis - metal-framed PCBs that could be swung out for servicing were typical for TVs built in the 60s/70s.

Features

three-motor drive, two tape speeds, auto rewind/auto play, electronic tape counter with memory function, switchable MPX filter, remote control input.

Connectors

Line (DIN and Cinch), Remote Control

Technical Data

(taken from the user's manual)

Tape Speed 4.75 cm/s +/- 1.0 %
Tone Height Variations: <= +/- 0.1 % (Rec + Play)
<= +/- 0.08 % (only Play)
Frequency Range: Fe2O3: 30-16000 Hz
CrO2: 30-18000 Hz
FeCr: 30-16000 Hz
Metal: 30-18000 Hz
Distortion Factor: Fe2O3 and FeCr: <= 1 %
CrO2: <= 3 %
Metal: <= 2 %
Reduction of Max. High Frequency
Level at 10 kHz: Fe2O3: <= 12 dB
CrO2: <= 10 dB
FeCr: <= 10 dB
Metal: <= 2 dB
S/N Ratio with High COM NR: Fe2O3: 74 dB
CrO2: 78 dB
FeCr: 75 dB
Metal: 77 dB
Play Deemphasis: Fe2O3: 3180 µs/120 µs
CrO2: 3180 µs/70 µs
FeCr: 3180 µs/120 µs
Metal: 3180 µs/70 µs
Tape Speed 2.4 cm/s +/- 1.5 %
Tone Height Variations: <= +/- 0.2 % (Rec + Play)
<= +/- 0.15 % (only Play)
Frequency Range, Metal: 30-12500 Hz
Distortion Factor, Metal: <= 2 %
Reduction of Max. High Frequency
Level at 10 kHz, Metal: <= 10 dB
S/N Ratio with High COM NR, Metal: 72 dB
Play Deemphasis, Metal: 3180 µs/120 µs

All data about distortion, reduction of max. high frequency level at 10 kHz, and S/N ratio are based on a tape magnetization level of 200 nWb/m.

Common Failures

Photo of RC 300's
Level Indicators

Due to its three-motor drive, the RC 300 is relatively insensitive to the mechanical failures typically known from other cassette decks. There is another small problem: the level indicators are integrated devices, i.e. the driver chip is integrated into the display. Such devices are not made these days any more, and they are said to be somewhat...unreliable. I've had one deck with broken indicators so far, and I had to think of a 'replacement circuit' with two UAA 180 driver circuits. I've heard reports of other people who used the LED indicators from an RC 200, or people who replaced the indicators with something completely different - which is basically justified: 10 LEDs per channel, just as many as for the simpler decks, is not too much for such a high-class deck...

Spare Part Numbers

(taken from the service manual)

Cabinet Parts
Position Order No. Designation
1 339 130 109 front mask, complete
2 339 130 107 side panel, right hand
3 339 130 108 side panel, left hand
4 339 160 106 cassette frame, printed
5 339 270 109 counter window
6 339 270 110 ring for microphone jack
7 339 270 111 insert for recording level
10 339 201 107 var. knob 1 for recording level
11 339 201 108 var. knob 2 for recording level
12 339 210 109 memory button
13 339 210 110 tumbler switch button
14 339 201 109 var. button for headphone level
15 339 210 111 mains button with switch rod
16 339 210 112 microswitch for cassette flap
17 339 210 113 button cover for logic circuit
18 339 210 114 button for logic circuit
19 339 210 115 button for logic circuit
20 339 170 107 mask for cassette mechanism
25 339 150 106 housing, upper part
26 339 060 107 foot
27 339 905 966 spring for foot
28 339 064 109 felt washer
Mechanical Parts
Position Order No. Designation
29 339 820 106 bearing support
30 339 870 111 clamping piece for PCB
31 339 870 112 clamping piece for switch board
32 339 870 113 supporting angle
33 339 870 114 supporting angle
36 339 785 106 counter support
37 339 870 110 support for level indicator
38 339 910 107 bow spring
39 339 910 106 flat spring for mask
40 339 870 115 supporting angle
41 309 900 333(a) support for mains switch
42 339 870 116 cable socket for pull-relief
43 339 870 117 module holder
44 339 870 961 LED holder, 2-fold
45 339 870 108 LED holder, 3-fold
46 309 870 109 LED holder, 3-fold
Electrical Parts
Position Order No. Designation
BU 801 339 540 137 DIN socket, 5 contacts
BU 802 309 671 967 headphone jack, 3 contacts
BU 803/804 339 540 136 DIN socket, 8 contacts
HSK 1 339 350 106 record/playback head
LK 1 339 355 950 erasing head
S 1 309 630 035 mains switch
FU 1 309 627 912 fuse T 160 mA
TR 1 339 310 107 mains transformer
ZA 1 339 780 107 electronic counter
S 5/6 339 440 116 contact spring set for cassette flap
LT 1 309 695 928 mains cable
Amplifier Board
Position Order No. Designation
C 346/1346 339 510 021 trimmer 8 P 60 P
D 505 309 325 118 diode BZX 55 B 2 V 7
D 501-504/506/ 339 529 034 diode 1 N 4148 G
507/701-739/
744/752/757/
760-765/801/
802/804-806/
808-822
D 740/741 309 325 090 diode BZX 55 C 3 V 3
D 742/743 309 325 077 diode BZX 55 C 10
D 751 309 325 951 diode 1 N 4001
D 803 309 325 073 diode BZX 55 B 8 V 2
D 807 309 325 103 diode BZX 55 C 12
D 745 309 327 053 LED CQY 85 red
D 746-750/829 309 529 149 LED CQY 86 green
D 823 309 325 092 diode BZX 55 C 9 V 1
ABS 302/1302 339 335 106 level indicator, 10-fold
FI 301/1301 339 365 006 MPX filter
FI 302/1302 339 365 106 POL filter
FU 501 309 627 919 fuse T 1 A
FU 502/503 309 627 918 fuse T 800 mA
GR 501 309 322 902 rectifier B 80 B 800
GR 502 339 520 046 rectifier B 80 B 800 B 2
IC 301/1301 309 368 212 IC HA 1457
IC 501/503/ 309 368 295 IC CD 4016 AE
803/804
IC 502/801/ 339 575 120 IC UPC 4558 C
806
IC 507 309 368 105 IC UA 7818 C
IC 504 339 575 126 IC UA 7918
IC 505 339 575 068 IC UA 7824 UC
IC 506 339 575 069 IC UA 7815
IC 701/702 339 575 259 IC LM 392 N
IC 703 309 368 229 IC MC 14011 CP
IC 704 309 368 149 IC MC 14025 CP
IC 705 339 575 225 IC TL 9121 P
IC 802 339 575 260 IC U 353 M
IC 805 339 335 855 IC MC 1458 CP 1
L 301/1301 339 345 109 deemphasis coil
L 701-703 339 345 350 anti-interference coil
L 801 339 345 950 oscillator coil 85 kHz
R 346/1346 309 509 705 var. resistor 50 kOhm
R 361/714/ 309 509 401 var. resistor 10 kOhm
1361/1714
R 384/1384 309 509 735 var. resistor 25 kOhm
R 832-834 309 504 921 var. resistor 5 kOhm
R 1309 339 500 106 potentiometer 2x20 kOhm
R 1357 339 500 107 potentiometer 2x5 kOhm
RS 801/802 339 405 106 reed relay
S 701-706 339 440 964 touch switch
S 801 339 440 110 tumbler switch without button
S 802/803/807/ 339 440 112 tumbler switch without button
808
S 804-806 339 440 111 tumbler switch without button
T 301/312/ 309 001 211 transistor BC 550 B
1301/1312
T 302/313/ 309 001 242 transistor BC 550 C
1302/1313
T 304-309/311/ 339 556 224 transistor BC 548 C
314-318/390/
501-503/506/
717-721/802-805/
809-812/901/
1304-1309/
1311/1314-1318/
1390
T 310/701/714/ 339 556 077 transistor BC 548 B
715/723/814/
1310
T 702/705/706/ 309 001 226 transistor BC 558 B
724/808/813
T 707/711/712 339 556 417 transistor BC 516
T 709 339 556 124 transistor BC 517
T 713/716 339 556 094 transistor BC 337
T 725 339 556 419 transistor BC 558 C
T 726 339 001 292 transistor BC 558 C
High COM Module
Position Order No. Designation
ABS 301/1301 349 355 029 High COM module
C 1 309 411 703 Al.-electr. cap. 22 µF/6.3 V
C 2 309 410 634 Al.-electr. cap. 4.7 µF/35 V
C 8/12/18 309 412 667 Al.-electr. cap. 47 µF/50 V
C 15 309 410 655 Al.-electr. cap. 2.2 µF/25 V
C 17/20 309 411 647 Al.-electr. cap. 10 µF/16 V
C 22 309 413 486 Al.-electr. cap. 100 µF/10 V
IC 2 339 575 020 IC MC 14066 BCP
Mechanism
Position Order No. Designation
1 339 035 107 mechanism complete
HSK 1 339 350 106 record/playback head
LK 1 339 355 950 erasing head
3 339 560 107 lamp
4 339 405 109 set of contacts
5 339 405 108 set of contacts
6 339 566 111 lamp socket
8 339 720 108 head support
9 339 910 118 flat spring
10 339 720 107 plate
11 339 900 117 tension spring
13 339 725 107 pinch roller lever
14 339 755 110 pinch roller
15 339 905 113 pressure spring
16 339 905 114 pressure spring
18 339 725 108 pin
19 339 910 117 pressure spring
20 339 725 109 stopper
22 339 740 114 reel
23 339 725 106 spring ring
24 339 905 115 pressure spring
25 339 740 113 driver
27 339 910 116 torsion spring
29 339 915 118 spring
30 339 334 138(a)PCB for IC TL 170 C

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©2002 Alfred Arnold, alfred@ccac.rwth-aachen.de