CD491

About the CD491

The Harman Kardon CD491 is a high-fidelity 3-head cassette deck designed for audiophiles, offering exceptional sound quality and advanced features. It supports Type I, CrO2, and Metal tapes with a tape speed of 4.75 cm/s. The deck features a Sendust record head and a ferrite playback head precisely aligned in one housing, enabling accurate recording and playback. Dolby B and C noise reduction systems are included, along with Dolby HX Professional for headroom extension. The CD491 has a frequency response of 20Hz to 24kHz (±3dB) with any tape formulation, extending to 26kHz with metal tape. It provides a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 75dB with Dolby C and a wow and flutter of 0.025%. The deck includes a unique meter weighting system for precise recording level calibration, a 16-segment peak level meter, bi-directional auto search, auto repeat, and auto space functions. It has a digital display that functions as both a time counter and tape counter. The CD491 is built with a dual-capstan, closed-loop transport system for stable tape handling. Dimensions are 443 x 123 x 345 mm, weighing 7.2 kg, and it was manufactured between 1983 and 1988 in Japan and the USA. The finish is available in black and champagne. It does not have auto-reverse or remote control. The deck is highly regarded for its detailed, transparent sound and excellent 3D soundstage, making it a classic audiophile cassette deck.