This Page is Defunct. Todd no longer does this work

My main customers are folkdance teachers (I teach Hungarian and Transylvanian dances and originally designed the variable speed CD/tape player for my own needs). The international folk dance and Scottish Country dance groups love the boomboxes. Square and round dance groups like the MiniDiscs.

What I do is remove the system clock and put in an extra circuit board that provides a variable frequency clock (plus or minus 15%). There is also a crystal controlled oscillator on the board that provides a precise frequency when the unit is in record mode (these units are fixed speed record, variable speed playback). Theoretically it's all very simple, but the engineering details like noise, stability, linearity, etc, can be a real pain. In fact, I redesigned the board using ECL (emitter coupled logic) to reduce switching noise.

The only difference from the original machine is a small dial plate and knob on the top surface of the unit about 2 inches in from the front right corner. The MDSS35 is about the same size and shape as the original MDS101. I can't do the MDS101 since that machine has a really weird (2 clock) control system or the really tiny ones like the MZ-R3 (no room). I have done the MDS501 and the MDS302. If anyone is interested, I can upgrade their machine (MDS501, MDS302, or MDSS35) for $200 plus shipping both ways. I can also provide MDS302s for $200 more than I paid for them (they are on clearance in a lot of stores) plus $10 shipping.

	Panasonic RXDS15	Panasonic RXDT690	Panasonic RXDT75	Sony MDSS35
Type of unit	Boombox	Boombox	Boombox	MiniDisc recorder
CD memory, repeat, and music search	X	X	X	X
Number of tapes	1	2*	2*
Bi-directional tape and auto reverse		X	X
Tape music search		X	X
Tape counter		X	X
Dolby NR			X
Max watts/channel	5 rms	25 peak	15 rms
Speakers	4"	5" woofer 3" midrange .6" tweeter	3" woofer .6" tweeter
Detachable speakers		X
Earphone jack	X	X	X	X
Line in			X	X
Line out			CD only	X
Optical digital I/O				input only
Microphone input		X	X
Remote control **		X	X	X
Backlit display		X	X	X
Digital tuner and clock		X	X
Weight (w/o batts)	8 lb 3 oz	19 lb 13 oz	17 lb 6 oz	5 lb 4 oz
Dimensions (W x H x D inches)	19.25 x 6.75 x 10	25.25 x 10.5 x 9.25	26.75 x 7.5 x 11.25	11 x 3.25 x 11.25
Price (thru 9/30/96)	$225	$525	$600	$850
Shipping (48 States)	$10	$20	$20	$10

* on these dual tape units deck 1 (playback) is variable speed, deck 2 (record/playback) is not.
** speed is not remote controlled.

Notes:

• The dual tape units do not allow concurrent operation of both tapes except when dubbing. You cannot, for example, rewind one tape while playing another. However, you can rewind tapes while playing CDs. The RXDT690 and RXDT75 have separate motors for the record and playback decks, and only the playback deck is variable speed. This allows the user to make faster or slower copies of tapes.

• The microphone inputs on the RXDT690 and RXDT75 do not have a separate volume control. Although good for recording it would be difficult to use for calling a square dance or contra unless you use a microphone with a separate preamp and volume control (wireless microphones work fine since they have thier own volume controls).

• Most CD and tape players could be modified for variable speed operation, provided that there is enough space inside for the speed control circuit board and a large enough area on the outside for the knobs and dial plate. However, only Panasonic includes tape counters on their high-end boomboxes.

• The RXDT690 and RXDT75 provide sufficient volume for rooms as large as 1/2 gymnasium (a universal constant understood by all dance teachers). For larger spaces the earphone jack can be connected to amplified speakers or a PA system having a low impedance input (I use a pair of Acoustics Research AR-570s for large rooms). If you are not sure if your current amplifier can work from a low impeadance source, try connecting it to the earphone jack of a transistor radio or tape recorder (which are low impeadance).

• The Sony MDSS35 is a MiniDisc recorder/player with extensive editing capabilities. MiniDiscs are available in 60 and 74 minute capacities with up to 255 entries in the TOC (table of contents). This unit is fixed speed record and variable speed playback. Optical digital I/O can be used for recording but is not guaranteed to work for playback. This is because optical digital I/O requires a precise sampling rate, and the sampling rate changes when you vary the speed (it may work if the speed control is set exactly to zero, but this depends on the tolerance of the other equipment being used).

Warranty

All units include a 90 day warranty covering parts and labor effective from the shipping date. After the warranty period expires repairs will be performed at a cost of $50 per hour plus parts. Any trained audio repair person should be able to repair the unit. If necessary they can send a self addressed stamped envelope to the address below and I will provide technical details on the speed control modifications free of charge.

Ordering information

To order your variable speed CD/Tape player send the form below to:

Todd Wagner
27891 Black Mountain Rd
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

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    Name:                                           Model:      ________

    Address:                                        Price:      ________

                                                    Tax (Calif
                                                    res only):  ________

                                                    Shipping:   ________

    Phone:                                          Total:      ________

                                                    Make check payable 
						    to Todd Wagner


                                                                  6/1/96

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