Notes on cassette deck tape head

Long use of cassette tapes contaminates the tape head causing poor sound quality or complete sound dropout. Therefore, we recommend cleaning the tape head once a month or so with the separately available Sony Cassette Cleaning Set. If the sound does not improve after using a cleaning cassette, please consult your nearest Sony dealer.

In case of old or inferior cassette tapes, the tape head gets contaminated much more quickly. Depending on the tape, one or two playbacks may cause poor sound.

Cassette care

Do not touch the tape surface of a cassette, as any dirt or dust will contaminate the heads.

Keep cassettes away from equipment with built-in magnets such as speakers and amplifiers, as erasure or distortion on the recorded tape could occur.

Do not expose cassettes to direct sunlight, extremely cold temperatures or moisture.

Slack in the tape may cause the tape to be

EN

caught in the machine. Before you insert the

 

tape, use a pencil or similar object to turn the

 

reel and take up any slack.

Slack

Distorted cassettes and loose labels can cause problems when inserting or ejecting tapes. Remove or replace loose labels.

Cassettes longer than 90 minutes

The use of cassettes longer than 90 minutes is not recommended except for long continuous play. The tapes used for these cassettes are very thin and tend to be stretched easily. Frequent playing and stopping of these tapes may cause them to be pulled into the cassette deck mechanism.

Maintenance

Fuse replacement

When replacing the fuse, be sure to use one that matches the amperage described on the fuse. If the fuse blows, check the power connection and replace the fuse. If the fuse blows again after replacement, there may be an internal malfunction. In such a case, consult your nearest Sony dealer.

Fuse (10 A)

Warning

Never use a fuse with an amperage rating exceeding the one supplied with the unit as this could damage the unit.

Cleaning the connectors

The unit may not function properly if the connectors between the unit and the front panel are not clean. To prevent this, open the front panel by pressing (OPEN), then detach it and clean the connectors with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Do not apply too much force. Otherwise, the connectors may be damaged.

Main unit

Back of the front panel

Notes

For safety, before cleaning the connectors, turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition switch.

Never touch the connectors directory with your fingers or any metal device.

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