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The Sony DTC-1500ES was released in 1990.

It is rarely seen outside of Japan.

It was the first Sony consumer DAT recorder to have 4 motors and four heads.

It was also the most expensive consumer DAT recorder made by Sony.

4 Head, 4-DD Motor Mechanical Deck System
In addition to the standard two heads for recording and playback, this unit employs two additional heads for after-monitoring, forming a four-head system. This system allows after-monitoring of the recorded sound during recording in the same manner as with three-head cassette decks. In addition, the unit employs direct-drive motors for the drum, capstan, and reel drives, realizing silent and stable tape transport.

High Speed Search Function
Direct-drive reel motors and a software servo system enable you to locate tunes at high speeds up to 200-times the normal playback speed.

Independent Digital and Analog Power Sources
Since the design of the power source section is important for obtaining good sound quality, this unit incorporates two large-sized, large-capacity transformers for independently supplying power to the digital/mechanical deck sections and the analog section. This design eliminates from the source any interference introduced through the power supply.

Serial copy management system
This unit utilizes the serial copy management system that permits digital-to-digital recording tor one generation. You can record CD sound or other digital formats through a digital-to-digital connection.

Long play mode
This unit can operate in a long-play mode. Analog input signals can be recorded or playback for up to four consecutive hours when the DT-120 DAT cassette tape is used. The sampling frequency will be 32 kHz in the long play mode.

Visible cassette loading
You can view the tape operation through the lid of the cassette compartment. Due to a revolutionary new transport mechanism, cassette loading time has been significantly reduced.

Rich variety of subcode information
This unit can record subcode information such as Start IDs, program numbers, Skip IDs, and absolute time data, enabling you to quickly locate tunes and display the playback time in the same manner as when playing compact discs.

Post edit recording of sub codes
You can record or rewrite the following sub codes after the audio signal recording has been completed. Start ID: Signifies the beginning of a selection.
Program number: Gives a number to the selection.
Skip ID: Signifies the beginning of a portion to be skipped.
End ID: Signifies the end position of recording/ playback.
Since sub codes are written on the tape separately from audio signals, the audio signals are not affected.

Variable Line Level
The DTC-1500ES includes a pair of variable line level phono sockets which are controllable from the front panel and the remote control.