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Quality Vintage Cassette Deck from Dual. German built 1979 - 1981See video: youtube.com/watch?v=QPkBKurd-6ANotes: 1. There is a slight lag when stopping cassette (tape clutch / brake system needs attention)? 2. Sound is recorded from headphone speakers so not a good representation of audio quality. Info from web:With the C 820, you step right into the metal tape age, ready to take advantage of that advanced formulation's greater dynamic range and resistance to high-frequency saturation.You're also assured of getting the most out of all regular tapes, thanks to the 820's six-way bias/equalization selector, which accommodates two ferric types, two chrome types plus ferrichrome, in addition to metal.The 820's record level meters are actually bright LED arrays. Since they have no inertia, they can react instantaneously. They're bright enough to read from across the room.And because they are equalized, you get a true reading of the actual record signal which includes the high-frequency boost going onto the tape.Another way the 820 helps avoid distorted recordings is with the switchable overload limiter. You'd probably want to switch it in whenever recording music of unknown dynamic range.Unlike ordinary limiters, Dual's doesn't compress dynamic range, but goes into action only when there's a sudden overload. Its action is also coordinated with the record-level settings - the higher they are, the more the amount of limiting that takes place.Important as such features are, the drive system is even more fundamental to cassette deck performance. The Dual drive system begins with a high-torque DC servo-motor with precision-ground flat belts and dynamically-balanced flywheel. An integral frequency generator provides instantaneous corrections of any deviation from accurate speed.Perfect tape-to-head alignment is assured by the four-point guidance system. And the electronic tape motion sensor constantly monitors the tape tension so that any deviation instantaneously stops the transport.For extra convenience in tape movement, the 820's memory stop functions in both directions. And, of course, all the basics are included: headphone output, microphone inputs and Dolby noise reduction system.All in all, a fine performer at a very reasonable price.SpecificationsType: 2-head, single compact cassette deckTrack System: 4-track, 2-channel stereoTape Speed: 4.75 cm/sHeads: 1 x record/playback, 1 x eraseMotor: high torque DC servoTape Type: type I, FeCr, CrO2, MetalNoise Reduction: BFrequency Response: 20Hz to 19kHz (Metal tape)Signal to Noise Ratio: 67dB (dolby B)Wow and Flutter: 0.04%Input: 80mV (line), 0.3mV (mic)Output: 0.58V (line)Dimensions: 440 x 150 x 360mmYear: 1979
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Dual emerged from the Black Forest region of Germany in 1907, when brothers Christian and Joseph Steidinger began manufacturing clockwork and gramophone components in St. Georgen. The company adopted its now-iconic name in 1927 after pioneering dual-mode power supplies that allowed gramophones to operate from either mains electricity or mechanical wind-up mechanisms. This innovation marked the beginning of Dual's transition from component supplier to full-fledged audio manufacturer, establishing a foundation of engineering precision that would define the brand for decades.
Dual built its reputation primarily as a turntable specialist, becoming Europe's largest turntable manufacturer by the post-war era with over 3,000 employees across multiple factories. Beyond vinyl playback, the company expanded into cassette players, CD players, and broader consumer electronics throughout the 1970s and 1980s, demonstrating versatility across analog and digital formats. The company's focus on mechanical excellence and stable drive systems earned it recognition as a dependable, quality-focused manufacturer throughout its European heyday.
Today, Dual occupies a fragmented market position following corporate restructuring in the 1990s and subsequent ownership changes. The original German turntable line continues production in St. Georgen under Alfred Fehrenbacher GmbH, maintaining traditional manufacturing standards and appealing to vintage enthusiasts and collectors. Separately, Namsung Electronics markets Dual-branded consumer electronics in the Americas at accessible price points. The brand's legacy rests primarily on its classic turntables, which remain highly sought after by collectors and audiophiles valuing precision engineering and heritage craftsmanship.
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