HITACHI TRK-W1 (1982)
The Hitachi TRK-W1 is really two portable stereos in one. Slide them apart and you have a headphone cassette player in one hand and a 4-band stereo radio/cassette recorder in the other. Or use them together to dub your favorite songs. Or to double your uninterrupted cassette listening time with its Continuous Playback feature. Maximum power output totals 15Watts driving a two-way speaker system with 120mm and 30mm drive units. There are separate bass and treble tone controls and automatic loudness compensation. Metal, chromium dioxide and normal tape selection can be found on both decks and there is a battery condition indicator on the detachable deck. (Frequency response 40Hz to 16kHz - Metal tape). Supplied complete with micro-sized headphones for the removable portable unit. Dimensions: 565x210x165 mm | Weight: 7.5kg | Operation: Mains, 12V DC supply, when detached, removable deck operates from 3V internal battery or external supply. (Futuristic painting by Ryo Ohshita)
HITACHI CP-90/900 (1983)
This Hitachi Super Mini Component System was introduced in 1983. It was a modular concept that consisted of the CP-90S or CP-900S amplifier and the clip-on CP-90REX docking station for 4 removable components and the matching speakers. There were available two systems: the CP-90 and CP-900. The CP-90 had only 3 components in the docking station: tuner, cassette recorder and EQ with the empty space covered with a decorative element. The CP-900 had 4 components installed: cassette player, cassette recorder, tuner and EQ with the amplifier having different input configuration. The docking components are interchangeable which means one could have a system with 3 cassette players installed or change the position of the tuner and cassette player in the docking station. The detachable tuner/cassette components can be used as portable units with a headphone. The Dolby noise reduction system is housed inside the 5-band graphic equalizer unit. The amplifier section has a power rating of 12W/ch (THD 10%) delivered to a pair of easily detachable loudspeakers, each with a 9cm woofer and 2cm ceramic tweeter. To enhance bass response the amplifier has a switchable Super Bass Boost System. Additional components that could be used with the CP-90/900 were the HT-L55 turntable, A-300 AC adapter, CP-90BP battery pack for CP-900, HD-M3 headphones, UCM-300W microphones. Dimensions: 495x168x201 mm | Weight: 7.7 kg | Operation: AC/DC/ext. DC power supply. You can see this system featured in the dance sequence of the 1985 movie, White Nights.
National Panasonic RX-F80 (1982)
At home the National Panasonic RX-F80 is a sleek AM/FM stereo cassette radio with Metal tape play, twelve watts music power and Ambience Stereo effect for ... room-filling musical pleasure. Snap the central cassette radio (it has its own lightweight stereo headphones) and you can enjoy your favorite radio and taped music wherever you go. The central unit, by the way, tips the scales at less than half a kg. And needs no more space in your case than a paperback book. The built-in speakers are 10 cm full-range units, amplifier power is 2x3.5 W RMS (max), cassette recorder frequency range 60-11000 Hz with Chrome tape. Dimensions: 391x126x99 mm (147x88x41.5 mm removable unit) | Weight 2.1 kg (430g removable unit) | Operation: Mains, battery.
ONKYO ZAC-55 (1981)
The Onkyo ZAC-55 introduced in 1984 was a 5-piece modular portable component system. It consisted of the MR-55 tuner-cassette, MA-55 power amplifier, two M-01 loudspeakers and the additional TB-5 turbo booster (super bass module). In its desktop configuration the component system was powered by the power amplifier module. It was the MA-55 power amplifier that was connected to the mains supply while the MR-55 tuner-cassette module was powered from the MA-55 module. Since the main MR-55 tuner-cassette had no battery compartment, when this was used as a portable unit with headphones it had to be used with the optional SB-5 leather case with shoulder strap and integrated battery. For easy carrying, the optional BK-5 frame and carry handle structure had to be used. The BK-5 could acomodate the MR-55 main unit, MA-55 power amplifier and the two M-01 loudspeakers. With the exception of the loudspeakers, all components have a beautiful one-piece front-top aluminum panel. The amplifier section is using a 2x10W STK power module while the loudspeakers contain a 30W full range Onkyo speaker.
SHARP MR-990 (1982)
The Sharp Melody Searcher W MR-990 is a unique combination of a dual cassette-radio portable unit with detachable loudspeakers and a built in "Melody Computer". The amplifier section has a 7.5W/ch (EIAJ/DC) power rating delivered to a pair of detachable loudspeakers, each fitted with a 16cm bass-mid unit and a 5cm tweeter. The cassette section has one unit for playback and one with record-play capabilities. Both can handle with their logic-controlled mechanism, Normal (30-14000Hz), Chrome (30-16000Hz) and Metal (30-17000Hz) tapes. It is capable of high-speed tape copy, includes music search functions and a 5-band equalizer. The "Melody Computer" is a detachable unit with 16 note keys, 3 tone colors, 4 types of rhythm, 35 possible chords and a 340-note memory bank. Dimensions: 753x383x160 mm | Weight: 10.9kg | Operation: Mains, 15V ext., 10 batteries.
SONY CFS-C7 Chord Machine (1982)
The CFS-C7 Chord Machine was introduced by Sony in 1982. It was an all-in-one device which featured an analog drum machine (several rhythm setting: rock, swing, high, parade), chord generator (the numeric keys), cassette recorder and AM/FM radio. There is also provision for external microphone (F-V50TY) and even a guitar input. Its foldable construction makes-it easy to transport. The speaker section is detachable and is connected to the main unit via a spiral cable (1.5 m). These cables can be hidden behind a compartiment when transporting the unit. The AM/FM radio section can also receive TV channels while the cassette recorder features music search and auto-rec mute functions. The amplifier section delivers it's 2.5 W/ch (EAIJ/DC) power to a set of 2x12 cm speakers. For the chord machine there was also an external foot pedal (FS-C7) available for more control over your music. Dimensions: 576x170x126 mm | Weight: 5.2 kg.
TOSHIBA Walky VS (1982)
Portable headphone or mini system? With the Toshiba Walky VS you can have them both, and even more. The KT-VS1 is a small headphone stereo cassette player that allows you to listen to your favorite artists on the go with the matching lightweight foldable headphones. Want more? Just add the RP-AF1 AM-FM Stereo tuner pack. It simply slides into the cassette compartiment. With the new Toshiba Walky VS you can even upgrade to mini home system. Just add the SC-P1 2W(1W+1W) booster amplifier (108x29x83mm) and the SS-C2W zinc die-cast loudspeakers with 50mm full range speaker (68x88x58mm) for home entertainment.