Tandberg 3000-X User Manual

1970 Tandberg series 3000 X

Tandberg 3000 X

S & P Tape Recording, August 1971

By Denys Killick and Hugh Ford

TANDBERG 3000X

Our reviewers examine a high-quality
tape recorder, find points to stimulate
discussion, and pronounce it a first-class
product.

FOR THIS month's review we are examining equipment from the famous
Norwegian manufacturer, Tandberg. The recorder is model 3000 X,
basically a three-head stereophonic record/playback mechanism, using
separate record and playback heads and amplifiers to give full monitoring
facilities before and after record.

The equipment is mains-operated and is intended for use with an
auxiliary amplifier and loudspeakers. The sample examined is a four­track model but an identical half-track version is available.

Although we have referred to the machine as "basically three-head", in
fact it includes a fourth separate bias head which applies the bias current
necessary for the record process to the rear (shiny side) of the tape, on

the Crossfield principle. The more conventional tape recorder has its bias
signal fed to the record head, together with the recording signal; the effect of separating the two is claimed to
improve frequency response, particularly at slow speeds.

As usual, our first drill was to demagnetise the heads and we were delighted to find that both the head covers,
front and back, had been designed for easy removal, being held in place by spring clips.

We were not quite so pleased to find a pressure pad operating against a small fixed metal plate situated within
the sound channel immediately preceding the erase head. This somewhat unusual device is presumably
intended to smooth out irregularities in tape motion, but we feel that it could encourage the appearance of
"tape squeal", should there be any tendency for this phenomenon to arise.

Incorporated within the front head cover is a "tweeter control", a device which brings a recorded tape up to the
playback head during the fast wind process so enabling the listener to hear the high-pitched tweeting noises
produced as it runs rapidly past the head. This materially assists in the location of specific recorded sections
during fast winding and is a facility found on most professional equipment, although the professional machine
uses a somewhat more sophisticated means of achieving that end.

Azimuth alignment was found to be correct, but it was noted that excessive tape vibration occurs between the
pinch wheel and the micro switch when in the Run mode, particularly at the fastest speed of 7½ ips. Although
the machine is mechanically quiet the passage of the tape itself does produce rather more noise than we
would have liked.

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1970 Tandberg series 3000 X

Before checking frequency responses it was noted that although a 5-pin DIN In/Out socket is provided and the
input connections are duplicated with a pair of phono-type line-in sockets, there is no similar duplication for
line-out. In addition, when measuring the outputs of the two channels at the DIN receptacle (these are at fixed
level and cannot be user-adjusted) there was a difference of 2 dB between channels. This imbalance could
only be corrected through the use of the balance control at the amplifier, or, in the case of the SS11, by
means of the separate volume controls.

For playback-only measurements the standard calibration tapes were reproduced and reference to our test
chart will at once reveal a truly excellent set of figures. In every case our measurements indicate a
performance standard up to the very tight published specification, with only very minor, trifling departures that
are of no consequence.

It should be particularly noted that the deviation from flat between 63 and 18,000 Hz is never more than 1.5
dB at 7½ ips, whilst at 3¾ ips we have one of the best curves it is possible to obtain at that speed, with
maximum deviations of minus 2 dB at 63 Hz to plus 1 dB at 16,000 Hz throughout the full bandwidth of the
calibration tape.

NOTES: The Overall Response
figures relate to record and
playback using the spool of
Tandberg long-play low-noise
tape provided. Playback Only
relates to the reproduction of
standard DIN calibration tapes
to the following time constants:
at 7½ ips 3180 50, at 3¾ ips
3180 90, at1

ips 1590 120.

For Signal-to-Noise Ratio the
Tandberg tape was recorded at
7½ ips to a level to give 3%
distortion in the playback signal
and this was related to the
noise level produced from tape
erased in he machine; figures
are also quoted in the text for
3¾ and 1

ips but at these
speeds the reference is to 5%
distortion. The readings are
given as both "unweighted" and
"A" scale measurements.

Distortion as quoted in the Test Chart refers to a level deliberately imposed in order to standardise measurements as above,
but coincidentally in this machine that level is identical to both reference level and a zero reading on the internal meters at a
frequency of 1,000 Hz.

Wow and Flutter is given as both RMS and according to DIN 45 511. Test equipment used included: Bruel & Kjaer Signal
Generator, B & K Frequency Analyser Type 2107, B & K Level Recorder Type 2305 and Gaumont-Kalee Wow and Flutter
Meter.

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