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The Sony PCM-R300 is a low cost DAT recorder offering unbalanced RCA analog inputs and outputs, and unbalanced coaxial and optical digital input and output, user setup menu system, adjustable ID6 mode (SCMS).


Original suggested retail price was 945.00 US Dollars (or 735 GBP)

• SBM Recording Function, signal to noise ratio equivalent to 20-bit system
• Start ID, End ID, Skip ID front panel control
• Setup menu control
• Error rate display
• Coaxial and optical digital interface
• A/D and D/A monitoring
• Long Play mode - record and playback

High resolution converters deliver superb sound quality
The audio performance of any digital tape recorder is almost entirely dependent on the quality of the A/D and D/A conversion at its inputs and outputs. It is in these converters that the signal is most likely to be degraded. Sony has fitted the PCM-R300 with 20-bit delta-sigma A/D and 1-bit pulse D/A converter technology to ensure stable, highly linear performance with excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

SBM provides 20-bit signal quality from 16 bits
The DAT format uses 16-bit format recording. The signal from the analogue to digital converters is processed by the unique Sony SBM (Super Bit Mapping) circuitry that uses advanced noise shaping techniques to achieve a dynamic range of a 20-bit signal with only 16 bits. This advantage is preserved digitally, so a DAT recording made on an SBM-equipped machine produces a clearer sound on a subsequent CD master.

All three sampling rates supported, including long play
In normal playback mode the PCM-R300 supports sampling rates of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz, selectable from the front panel. The 32 kHz long-play format allows up to four hours recording to be made on a standard two-hour DAT cassette. The signal is sampled using 12-bit, non-linear quantisation.

Advanced error correction
The double-encoded Reed-Solomon error correction circuitry is able to correct or conceal many of the errors caused by damaged tapes or poorly recorded material from other machines. The PCM-R300 features an error-rate display that makes it easy to see when head cleaning is due or if a poor quality tape is being used.

ID control
All the controls necessary to record Start ID, Stop ID and Skip ID are available on the panel. They are duplicated on the standard, infra-red RM-D757 Remote Control Unit.

Reliable mechanism
The front loading mechanism of the PCM-R300 uses a 2 head dual motor design with an advanced servo control system for high reliability and precise tape handling.

Menu system
The PCM-R300 uses a menu system with a large multicolour display to facilitate set up of the following features:

• Copy protect bit and current tape status
• Automatic record mute
• Automatic start ID writing
• DAT duplication – ID copy
• CD-DAT duplication – ID copy
• Display options
• Auto Track Numbering,
• with first track number selection (1-99)
• Digital interface signal format check
• Hours meter – shows total play / record time for maintenance purposes
• The display shows tape time, recording time, tape remaining time and also provides comprehensive input level metering.