Pioneer CT-S 550 S specifications

Category : Dolby-S

Brand : Pioneer

General

Connections

Tech nical data

Special equipment

Number of inputs: 2
- RCA
- Pioneer system jack 3.5mm
Number of outputs: 3
- RCA
- Headphones 6.3mm (not adjustable)
- CD Synchro 2.5mm

RCA

Pioneer System jack 3.5mm

Sound heads: 3, Aufn./ Playback: Hart-Permalloy
Motors: 3, of which 2 for the drive, 1 servo (cassette compartment, etc.)
Synchronisation fluctuations: 0.05% (WRMS ), 0.14% DIN. 0.11% DIN (measurement in stereo 8/96, p.23)
Band types: all commercially available
Frequency response:
- Normal: 20 - 19000 Hz
- Chrome: 20 - 19000 Hz
- Metal: 20 - 25000 Hz
Signal-to-noise ratio: 59 dB
- with Dolby B > 10 dB at 5 kHz,
- with Dolby C > 19 dB at 5 kHz
- with Dolby S > 22 dB at 5 kHz
Height dynamics:
- Chrome - with Dolby C: 74.5 dB, with Dolby S: 78.5 dB,
- Metal - with Dolby C: 78.5 dB, with Dolby S: 83 dB (all specifications see Stereo 8/96, p.23)
Auto-Reverse: No
Title search: Yes
Dolby: B, C, S, HX Pro
MPX Filter : yes
Fader: No
Pitch Control: No
CD Synchro Recording: Yes

Chrome - with Dolby C: 74.5 dB, with Dolby S: 78.5 dB,
Metal - with Dolby C: 78.5 dB, with Dolby S: 83 dB (all Information see Stereo 8/96, p.23)

Super Auto BLE XD - improved calibration computer with 4 measuring points - Pioneer 's best.
F.L.E.X.: Height increase for older, dull bands via button
Dolby B / C Noise reduction
Dolby S Noise reduction
Dolby HX Pro
Timer pre-set (recording, playback)
4-digit electr. Counter, linear/ real-time,
Display can be switched off
"Meter Range" - expandable display, which is very helpful for recording
Title search - up to 15 titles can be set
Motorized cassette compartment, for which the 3rd motor was installed in contrast to the CT-S540 S.
Remote control equipment: via Pioneer SR system (controllable with system remote controls and connection cable)
CD Synchro - easy synchronization with Pioneer CD players of the 90s.

With the recording monitoring function via headphones (backband control), the recording in Dolby S is played back with the related Dolby B. The device here has 2 Dolby S chips less than the Pioneer CT-S 640 S .
Largely identical in construction to the Pioneer CT-S 640 S , but it has 2 more Dolby S chips and cost DM 150 more. With this it also shares the instruction manual from 1996.
Pioneer used an ALPS drive on the CT-S 550 S and 640 S/ 630 S, which was also used on some models from other manufacturers.

Other models of the same series:
- Pioneer CT-S 250
- Pioneer CT-S 450 S
- Pioneer CT-S 640 S (still built 2 years at the same time, almost identical, same BDA),
- Pioneer CT-S 740 S (still built until 1998)

Pioneer CT-S 250
Pioneer CT-S 450 S
Pioneer CT-S 640 S (still built 2 years at the same time, almost identical, same BDA),
Pioneer CT-S 740 S (still built until 1998)

Stereo 8/96, very good, 2 stars. "... Discoloration-free sound with considerable dynamics - maybe a bit too rough. The simple drive with the servo flap parries surprisingly quickly, precisely and gently." (p.24)
Audio 4/97, good, 70 points, 3 ears; (that was an outstanding rating)
Stereoplay 11/96: good, top class II, price-performance ratio "good to very good". Stereoplay had twice changed its rating for all devices. In 1997 the device had 16 points, in 1998 the CT-S550 had 32 points. Stereoplays Vote: "Well-equipped Dolby S recorder with a sophisticated calibration computer and natural, neutral playback"

Pioneer CT-S 550 S