TD 20A-SE

About the TD 20A-SE

The TD 20A-SE is a special-edition variant of Tandberg's TD 20A open-reel tape deck, configured as a 2-track, 2-channel stereo/monaural recorder with three heads (erase, record, playback) and four motors in the transport. It accepts reels up to 10.5 inches and is a high-speed machine with two tape speeds of 7.5 and 15 ips (19 and 38 cm/s) depending on market/version. The transport uses a brushless synchronous capstan motor with belt drive and a heavy flywheel to minimize vibration and wow and flutter. The electronics are fully solid-state, and the SE version adds enhanced tape equalization and bias facilities, including separate, variable bias adjustment for left and right channels for optimal recording with different tape formulations. It features frequency-corrected peak-reading level meters, adjustable microphone inputs, and comprehensive line and headphone connections, targeting high-fidelity home and semi-professional recording use.