The highly regarded TECHNICS RS-M45 Single Cassette Recorder (Manufacturer's image)
HISTORY:
Yet another domestic cassette tape recorder/player from Technics BUT this one has some unique features ...
Direct drive capstan which means no more rubber belts to change AND exceptional Wow & Flutter figures (Piano's sound like piano's and not all warbly)
"Professional like" cassette door mechanism. The majority of domestic cassette machines "spit" the cassette tape out at the user "finished with that tape, here ya go!" but not this mechanism.
But not the M45, she caresses your tapes!
Push the eject button and the metal door slowly moves out towards the user horizontally and then gently tilts the door for removal (or insertion) of the cassette. "Oh that was a joy to play but I've finished now, I will just gently glide the tape back to you now" It's classy!
Nice positive feedback when the soft touch buttons are operated, a very definite "clunk" inside as the solenoids operate. Nice "olde world" touch.
Let's get on with the description ...
Oh, if you had in mind to "make a quick buck" with this M45 (currently market prices are WAY above my asking price) then go elsewhere! You will need to do just a little bit of work to have this M45 in A1 condition once again and achieve normal market pricing.
TECHNICS - Single Cassette Tape Recorder/Player
Made in Japan
Circa 1980 ~ 1983
Model: RS-M45
Multiple switchable AC input voltage
Currently set to 240V (Australia or NZ) and the lead is a proper 2 pin Australian double insulated type (no Earth)
Single cassette well
Not Auto Reverse
Manual selection of type I, FeCr, CrO2, Metal tape for recording
Manual tape travel counter
Two colour VFD
Dolby B noise reduction capable
Line output level control on the front panel
Microphone inputs (2x 6.25mm mono jack sockets) on the front panel or RCA phono for line level input at the rear
Headphone output
Concentric control of the channel levels when recording
Remote control socket at the rear (8 pin DIN circular) ***
*** This M45 was one time under the control of the Marantz RC430 Remote Control component, the remote control signalling system was called Easy Bus. The remote facilities are all via a wired cable but the Remote Control system extended this to IR handsfree control.
TESTING:
ISSUE #1:
The most obvious issue is that someone has stolen the door! Not a big issue at all but it spoils the cosmetics a little. If the new owner has a spare M45 door lying around (don't we all?), this is an easy fix.
In no way does this lack of the door affect operation of the machine (it would be nice to keep dust out though)
First, let's play some classical piano music (much more demanding on tape transports than "Pop Rock" music) and then some good old Meatloaf because he was hanging around with nothing to do!
No issues at all, good balanced levels on both channels and the sound is bright and clean. This could possibly be improved further with a head demagnetising WHICH I HAVEN'T UNDERTAKEN. Why? I sold all my wands some time back, rather stupidly not realising I might need them again! A good (and quick) head demagnetising may result in even more improvement of the high end response.
Fast Forward and Rewind both functioning fine, not super fast but good enough.
End of tape release works, automatically turning off the transport whenever a tape ending is sensed.
Tape counter (which IS belt driven) is working fine, as is the reset of the counter.
VFD level display (horizontal bar graph) is working fine, no faulty segments noticed and the brightness is acceptable.
ISSUE #2:
In a nutshell, this issue revolves around dried grease, airborne contaminants combined with sitting idle for at least 10 years!
I noticed that when playing around with the Playback I had a "scratchy - intermittent" output when the Output Level knob is rotated. I found a sweet spot at around 8 and then the output was stable. While I do not wish to undertake servicing these days, I did take a look inside to judge the ease of access to this pot for cleaning. Not easy! The pot is PCB mounted so the opening for your pot cleaning squirts is facing towards the board. I could not see an easy way to get some spray in there so I left it alone.
Actually it would make a lot of sense to clean the tracks of all the pots (none appear to be sealed) with a good squirt of electronic cleaner. I did notice that one of the level control pots was also a bit "touchy" when I was making my recording tests, this just confirms that old Japanese pots like these need a good cleanup after 40+ years!
Recording ... although I seriously doubt anyone would use a cassette tape for recording, I thought "let's try it out anyway"
The beauty in the old cassette tape technology is that it allows the user to playback their old recordings, often demo's or special live gig recordings off the desk. I have had heaps of those tapes from our audio post production days, listening to the well known Australian bands BEFORE they made it to the big time and they were just doing the pub circuit in the 1970's & 80's.
Recording is very easy to setup and get going ... select your tape type, adjust the levels on each channel and push the soft touch button RECORD. I input source audio via the microphone inputs at the front panel and recorded to tape. I then played back those recordings, no issues heard at all. That was enough for me and I did not make a recording at line level from the rear panel inputs.
Personal gripe ... although the Record Level concentric knob is handy, it is a pain! While changing the level on the outer knob, this would inevitably change the other channel level due to friction occuring between the two knobs ... just a bit fiddly.
MORE SERIOUS ISSUE! This is related to Issue 2 above, slip and slide (grease) and a good cleanup is required. The mechanism goes bonkers sometimes ... bonkers?
Bonkers means that while it plays and recorded my test tapes fine, suddenly when I start up the mechanism (playback or record) the speed of tape travel was way out of whack! The capstan still engages and the heads rise to meet the tape but the tape is flying past so fast that all you can hear is the song being played far faster than it should be. I cycled STOP & PLAY a few times and suddenly it is back to normal again. This issue does NOT occur midway while running normally, it is only at the time the mechanism is pressed into action (PLAY). These beltless mechanisms are a beautiful piece of engineering but with that front door missing I wouldn't mind betting that dirt has made it's way inside the mechanism AND the linkage grease has to be suspect as well (it dries up over time and creates a point of excessive friction).
So the mechanism works, MOST OF THE TIME, but is definitely in need of a cleanup/lube job!
COSMETIC CONDITION:
First, an overall idea of the construction standard at this point in the history of Technics products ...
The bottom of the case is basically thermoplastic, yes it is reinforced and strong but plastic none-the-less. The front panel is good solid Aluminium with screen printed labelling, although Technics always went a bit light on the depth of print. The knobs are the hybrid type i.e outer skin is real Aluminium with an inner plastic insert. The push buttons are plastic with a metallic Silver coating. The U shaped top cover is real metal (Steel) and powder coated a light Brown colour.
Overall, the unit is very sturdy (I have seen much worse from Technics) and most notably is the weight! This unit is heavy at 6Kg, considering the main case framework is plastic.
I carefully inspected both the topside PCB and underside (solder) side and I can see absolutely no evidence of someone else having worked on this equipment.
USED
CLEAN (Inside & Out)
NO physical damage to the casing at all
NO damage to the front panel
ALL labelling is clear and easy to read
Knobs & buttons are all in very good shape
If I was to make a small comment, on the exterior top surface of the steel case I can see a couple of faint marks and what look to be a few little dots UNDERNEATH the powder coating - perhaps the beginnings of oxidisation? There are no such marks INSIDE the top section.
