Sony TC-FX45 User Manual

‘Dolby’ and the double-D symbol are the trade marks of

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Noise reduction

system manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories

Licensing Corporation.

US Model

Canadian Model

AEP Model

UK Model

E Model

SPECIFICATIONS

Recording system
Fast-forward and rewind time

Bias frequency 105
Signal-to-noise ratio (NAB, at peak level)

TYPE IV (Sony METALLIC)

III

(Sony

TYPE

TYPE II (Sony UCX)

I

(Sony BHF or HFX)

TYPE

Total harmonic distortion

SAFETY-RELATED COMPONENT WARNING!!

COMPONENTS IDENTIFIED BY SHADING AND MARK

A

ON THE SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS, EXPLODED
VIEWS AND IN THE PARTS LIST ARE CRITICAL TO
SAFE OPERATION. REPLACE THESE COMPONENTS
WITH SONY PARTS WHOSE PART NUMBERS APPEAR
AS SHOWN IN THIS MANUAL OR IN SUPPLEMENTS
PUBLISHED BY SONY.

4-track 2-channel

Approx. 100 sec. (with C-60 cassette)

kHz

FeCr)

1.0% (with Sony METALLIC and FeCr
cassettes)

stereo

OFF B-TYPE ON C-TYPE ON

56 dB 65 dB

59 dB

56 dB

54 dB

66 dB

63 dB 69 dB

61 dB 67 dB

71 dB

72 dB

Frequency response DOLBY NR OFF

ATTENTION AU COMPOSANT AYANT RAPPORT

LES COMPOSANTS IDENTIFIES PAR UNE TRAME ET

UNE MARQUE
MATIQUES,
PIECES
FONCTIONNEMENT. NE REMPLACER CES COMPO­SANTS QUE PAR DES PIECES
MEROS
LES SUPPLEMENTS

l With TYPE IV cassette (Sony METALLIC)

20 18,000 Hz
30

-

16,000 Hz (±3 dB), (DIN)

30

-

13,000 Hz (±3 dB, 0 VU recording)

l With TYPE

20

-

30

-

l With TYPE II cassette (Sony UCX)

20 17,000 Hz
30

-

l With TYPE I cassette (Sony BHF or HFX)

20

-

LES VUES

S0NT

CRITIQUES POUR LA

SONT

DONNES

III
16,000 Hz
16,000 Hz

15,000 Hz (±3 dB), (DIN)

16,000 Hz

cassette (Sony FeCr)

(±3

dB), (DIN)

Continued

A

LA

A

SUR LES

PUBLIES

on page

2-

SECURITE!

ECLATEES

DANS CE MANUEL OU OANS

DIAGRAMMES

ET LA

SONY

PAR SONY.

SCHE-

LISTE

DES

SECURITE

DONT LES

DE

NU-

[MICROFILM

STEREO CASSETTE DECK

SONY:

Wow and Flutter: 0.05% WRMS

Inputs:

outputs: Line outputs (phono jacks)

±0.14% (DIN)
Microphone inputs (phone

Sensitivity 0.25 mV

For a low-impedance microphone

Line inputs (phono jacks)

Sensitivity 77.5

Input impedance 47 k ohms

Output level 0.44 V

impedance 47 k ohms
Load impedance over 10 k ohms

Headphone output

Output level -28dB at a load impedance

of 8 ohms

(NAB)

mV (-20 dB)

(-70

dB)

(-5 dB)

jacks)

at load

General

Power Requirements:

Power Consumption:

Dimensions: Approx. 430 x 105 x 275 mm (w/h/d)

Weight: US, Canadian, AEP, UK model:

AEP model: 220 V ac,

(240 V ac adjustable by authorized
Sony personnel)

UK model: 240 V ac, 50 Hz

(220 V ac adjustable by authorized

Sony personnel)
US, Canadian model: 120 V ac, 60 Hz
E

model:

110,120,220

justable,

50/60

14 watts

(17 x

including projecting parts and controls

Approx. 4.4 kg

E

model: Approx. 4.5 kg (9 Ibs

4¼, x 107/s

50/60

or 240 V ac ad-

Hz

(9lbs 12oz)

Hz

inches)

15oz)

FEATURES

Dolby NR C-type noise reduction system

In addition to the conventional B-type Dolby NR system, this
cassette deck employs the newly-developed C-type Dolby
system which reduces tape noise twice as effectively as the B-type
system. The C-type system also incorporates an anti-saturation
network to improve the high-frequency dynamic range by 4 dB at 10

kHz.

Full-logic “feather-touch” operation
At the slightest touch, the “feather-touch” function buttons enable
you to switch directly from one mode to another without going
through the stop mode.

Blank skip function
Blank spaces of at least 10 seconds long can be skipped in the

forward mode so that only the recorded portions of the tape are
played back.

Music scan function
The first 10 seconds or so of all the selections on a tape can be
played back in sequence. Thus the particular selection can be
located easily.

Repeat play

Playback of one side of the cassette can be repeated five times. At
the end of the tape, the cassette deck will automatically go into the
rewind mode, and playback will be repeated from the beginning of
the tape.

fast-

(OdB=0.775V

1

Tape Transport Mechanism Type 1 TCM-130VlO

AMS (Automatic Music Sensor)

The AMS locates the beginning of the selection being played, or the
following selection, by searching either forward, or in reverse, for

NR

the blank space between selections, and then plays back the selec­tion automatically.

Automatic tape select system

The tape type is automatically detected and the recorder is ad­justed

to its optimum bias current for recording and the optimum
equalization for both recording and playback by simply Inserting
the cassette

Auto play
The auto play function makes automatic replay possible promptly
after the tape is rewound to the beginning.

Remote control operation

Using the optional RM-50, RM-51 or RM-80 remote control unit,
various operations-recording, playback, AMS, record muting
operation, etc.-can be remotely controlled. When the RM-65 syn­chro remote control unit is used to connect this cassette deck with
a turntable equipped with a synchro remote control jack, the opera­tion of the cassette deck and the turntable will be synchronized.

Timer-activated recording or playback
A timer switch is provided to turn the deck on and off at times

preset on an optional timer.

in

the cassette holder.

1

0 POWER switch

This turns the power on or off. The peak level meters illuminate
when the unit is turned on.

@

REC LEVEL (recording level) controls
These controls adjust the recording level. The upper slide bar is for
the left channel and the lower for the right channel.

@TIMER

You can set the unit to record or play back at a predetermined time

by connecting any commercially available timer. To record, set this
timer switch to REC. To play back, set it to PLAY.

0 6

Press this button to open the cassette holder

switch

(eject) button

@Tape COUNTER and RESET button
The tape counter provides a numerical reference point while record­ing which can be used to index a recorded cassette. To reset to
zero. press the RESET button.

@TAPE SELECT switch and tape type indicators
Generally set this switch to AUTO (n). The automatic tape select
system will then operate. When using a TYPE
a TYPE IV (METAL) cassette which has no METAL tape detector
slots, depress this switch to set it to the TYPE

When Inserting a cassette, one of the tape type indicators will light
up depending on the type of tape and the position of the TAPE
SELECT switch.

@PEAK

LEVEL METERS

These meters show the peak input level of each channel during
recording, and recorded levels in the playback mode. They follow
the transient peaks of high-level inputs that are too brief to be
followed by conventional VU meters so that the optimum recording
level can be accurately set.

0

Function buttons

It is possible to
dicator lamps on the buttons light to show the operating mode (ex­cept the

)

(forward) button : Press this button to play the tape back. To

record, press this button while holding the

tl

(rewind) button : Press this button to rewind the tape. This

button is also used for

AMS button

function.

H

(fast-forward) button

rapidly. This button

w (stop) button

stop automatically when it is completely wound in either direc­tion.

l (record) button

start recording. Also press this button before adjusting the
recording level.

0

(record muting) button: Press this button to eliminate un-

wanted material and to insert a blank space during recording.

II (pause) button

playback, press this button. This button
more
muting mode.

44, H

precisely

:

Press

switch

directly from one mode to another. The in-

and n buttons).

“AMS”

this

button and

:

:

IS also used for “AMS”.

To stop the tape, press this button. The tape will

:

Press this button together with the) button to

:

To pause for a moment during recording or

the start of recording and to release the record

and “Auto play”.

the’+4

Press this button to advance the tape

Ill

(Fe-Cr) cassette or

Ill

(IV) position

0

button down.

or H button for AMS

IS also used to control

(n).

0

HEADPHONES jack
Headphones may be inserted either to monitor the input signals to
be recorded or to listen to a recording in the playback mode.

@REPEAT switch
Depress this switch
cassette five times. Press it again (n OFF) to cancel repeat play.

@MUSIC SCAN/BLANK SKIP switches
The ON/OFF switch on the left actuates and switches off the music

scan and blank skip functions and the switch on the right selects

either the music scan function or the blank skip function.

Depress the left switch
SCAN) to scan the first 10 seconds of all the selections.

Depress the left switch
BLANK SKIP) to skip blank spaces representing more than 10
seconds, during playback.

@DOLBY NR switches

The left switch turns the Dolby
and off and the right switch selects either the B-type or C-type
Dolby NR system.
To record with the Dolby NR process, depress the ON/OFF switch
to the ON position and choose between B-TYPE

(=).

To record without the Dolby NR process, press the ON/OFF switch
again to release.
When playing back, set these switches to the same position used
in recording.

For details about the Dolby NR system.

* “Dolby” and the double-D symbol are trade marks of the Dolby Labora­tories Licensing Corporation. Noise reduction system manufactured under
license from Dolby Laboratones Licensing Corporation.

@I

MIC jacks

Any low-impedance microphone equipped with a phone plug may

be used. If your microphone is equipped with a mini plug, you will

need a plug adaptor.

(P

ON) to repeat the playing of one side of the

ON) and the right switch (P MUSIC

(-

(a

ON) and release the right switch

NR*

(Noise Reduction) system on

(n)

and C-TYPE

(n

TROUBLE CHECKS

The following trouble checks will help you correct the most com­mon problems encountered with a tape deck. Should any problem
persist after you have made these checks, consult your nearest
Sony service facility.
Before proceeding with these trouble checks, first check these
basic points

l

The power cord must be firmly connected.

l

0 Heads, capstan and pinch roller should be clean.

l The amplifier controls and switches should be set correctly.

The function buttons do not activate right after the POWER switch
is turned on.

0 Logic-controlled function buttons operate approximately 2

seconds after the POWER switch is turned on.
The

l

The cassette holder is not fully closed.

The 0 button does not activate.

0 No cassette in the holder.

l

The tab has been removed from the cassette.

The automatic shut-off mechanism activates before the end of the
tape.

l

The tape is slack.

l

This situation may also be caused by a deformed cassette shell.

Tape transport noise seems excessively loud in rewind or fast-

forward mode.

l

This situation depends upon the cassette used and is not a prob-

lem.

:

Amplifier connections must be firmly made.

0

button and the ) button do not

activate.

Recording or playback cannot be made or there is a decrease in
sound level.

l Contamination or magnetic build-up on the record/playback

head.

l

improper connection.

0 Improper setting of the amplifier controls.

The AMS

does not

operate.

l The blank space between the selections is less than four

seconds long.

0 Severe noise or hum exists in the blank spaces.

l

A recorded selection is less than 20 seconds long.

The MUSIC SCAN and BLANK SKIP functions do not operate.

@The

ON/OFF switch on the left of the MUSIC SCAN/BLANK

switches is released (OFF).

Excessive wow or flutter or drop out

l

Contamination of the capstan or pinch roller.

incomplete erasure

l

Contamination of the erase head.

increase of noise or erasure of high frequencies

0 Magnetic build-up on the head.

Unbalanced tone in higher frequencies

0

improper setting of the DOLBY NR switches. When playing back,

set the switches to the same position used in recording.

0

Improper setting of the TAPE SELECT switch. Depress the TAPE
SELECT switch when using a TYPE Ill (Fe-Cr) cassette or a TYPE IV
(METAL) cassette which has no METAL tape detector slots.

SKIP

Oscillation occurs when trying to record from microphones.

l The microphone is too near the loudspeakers. Move the

microphone away from the loudspeakers or reduce the amplifier

volume.

Hum noise

l

The tape deck is stacked on or under the amplifier. Separate the

units.

TC-FX45

3-1. MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENTS

SECTION 3

ADJUSTMENTS

PRECAUTION

1.

Clean the following parts with a

alcohol-moistened swab:

record/playback head
erase head
capstan

2. Demagnetize the record/playback head with a
head demagnetizer.

denatured-

pinch roller
rubber belts
idlers

Do not use a magnetized screwdriver for the

3.
adjustments.

After the adjustments, apply suitable locking

4.

compound to the parts adjusted.

The adjustments should be performed with the

5.
rated power supply voltage unless otherwise
noted.

lead Height Adjustment

1. Prepare an adjustment cassette as shown below.

C-

1

tape cassette

Cur out hatched

portions.

2. In playback mode and viewing from the front,
adjust the head heights to eliminate tape curl
and tape twist at portions of the arrow.

erase head

>;

record/playback

3-513-237-01 (t=O.l)
3-513-237-11

Shim, head height adjustment

(t=0.2)

Torque Measurement

Torque

Forward

Back Tension
Fast Forward

Torque meter

CQlO2C

and Rewind

Pinch Roller Pressure Measurement

-

Playback Mode

@ Slowly return he pinch roller

and read the spring scale just when

the pinch roller starts rotating.
(The

capstan

pinch

roller

-

should

Meter reading

28-

’

(0.38 - 0.83 oz-inch)

(0.03

60gm-cm

2.5 -

6g-cm

-

0.07 oz-inch)

1

80 - 165 g-cm

(1.1 -

2.2 oz-inch)

\

0

tension gauge

Soft Eject Adjustment

Specification

Set the tape (C-90) and adjust
the adjustment screw so that
the EJECT TIME is within the

specification.

fast

@

adjustment screw

slow

-14-