Compact Cassette - JVC KD-1636 Mark II [D] Recertify
General
The JVC KD-1636 Mark II is a portable stereo cassette deck from 1978. Here are some key specifications:
- Type: 2-head, single compact cassette deck
- Track System: 4-track, 2-channel stereo
- Tape Speed: 4.8 cm/s
- Heads: 1 x record/playback, 1 x erase
- Motor: Electronic governor DC
- Tape Type: Type I, CrO2
- Noise Reduction: ANRS
- Frequency Response: 30Hz to 16kHz (CrO2 tape)
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 62dB (ANRS)
- Wow and Flutter: 0.08% (very low)
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.5%
- Input: 80mV (line), 0.14mV (mic)
- Output: 0.5V (line)
- Dimensions: 372 x 101 x 246mm
- Weight: 4.7kg
The KD-1636 Mark II was designed for mobility, running on six ordinary D-size batteries for up to 12 hours. Despite its lightweight build, it offered accurate musical recording. Notably, its wow and flutter capability was impressively low at 0.08% wrms1
Like other cassette units in the ‘System’ or collection, this machine came to us from the Auction Site. It was listed as Good condition. When we got it into the ‘Lab’ it wouldn’t play correctly, except on battery and had unlistenable levels of wow and flutter. Taking it apart, we saw that it had been dropped at least once, and had a broken case.We went back to the auction site and got a second unit, which was listed as ‘Parts’ and indeed it was, the second unit looked like it had been water logged… But we were able to pull off the pinch rollerand a few other parts, and get the first unit running. Glued the case togetherand put everything back together, with new belts and our re-worked pinch roller, and we ended up fully functional, and the wow and flutter was back to factory specification. We didn’t tune anything, didn’t replace any electronica and we think the unit is ‘as factory’ alignment and tuning wise.
The remainder of this ‘re-certification’ is mostly verification of factory specification
This deck is not permanent wired into the main system, but is a remote and it is unit [D].
Pictures
User / Service Manual
The manuals below outline operations and also service
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M300 Jig in Machine / Cut-out Cassette
The cut-out tape shows good alignment of the tape path, but, the M300 Jig does not fit this machine correctly. The tape path shown on the magnetic print shows that this machine has an accurate tape path. This is the first deck I have encountered which does not work with my M-300 Jig. It may work with a different one.
Magnetic Print
The magnetic print is all the more important in this case because the M300 jig does not fit. You can see the tracks clearly in the detail below.
Wow and Flutter / Speed
To measure wow and flutter we used the T-100 Software system and Behringer UCA-222 interface. You can see the reviews of those systems in the ‘Test’ secction of this website. Below is the screen capture
Record / Repro Frequency Response
We used the T-100 and Behringer again to get a Record / Reproduce frequency response curve. Looking at this curve, we decided not to reset or tune any electronics on this machine but rather leave it as factory set.
JVC - D - KD-1636 Mark II Stereo Cassette Portable Operational Video
Here is a video of the machine in operation
Conclusion
- This deck, The JVC KD-1536 MARK II over 50 years ago, is still a capable example of a generation 2 deck. No dolby, but has Super ANRS and 3 way tape select. Has stereo and mono recording, mic inputs and built in mono monitor / playback speaker.
- This deck is not a current system deck, and is included as a referance to generation 2 cassette system.
- This page is done engineering notes style.
- Standard tapes and processes used can be found under test section of this website.
- Please take a look at our other cassette recertifications, along with other systems on this website
- Please visit CarlValle.Com for additional resources and website of interest.
Revision
This is Rev:
1 – Original 2024 07 15
2 – Added pics and set backgrounds 2024 07 15 [ good ]
Menus
And as always there is:
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wrote post – looks good