The Hitachi D-2200M was produced from 1982 to 1984 as a high-grade stereo cassette deck with a distinctive two-tone front panel and broad fluorescent display section. It was built in Japan and presented as a technically advanced domestic cassette recorder, with computer-assisted calibration, digital metering and a direct-drive transport system.
The Hitachi D-2200M uses a 3-head cassette system with a Hitasenrite close-gap record/playback head and separate erase head arrangement. This supports source and tape monitoring during recording, allowing the incoming signal and the recorded result to be compared from the front-panel monitor switch. The cassette door also carries the 3-head system marking, reinforcing the deck’s focus on more accurate recording control.
A major feature of the Hitachi D-2200M is Hitachi’s ATRS, or Automatic Tape Response System. This system uses test frequencies to assist calibration for the cassette being used, with front-panel indicators for battery, test, 1kHz and 14kHz. The deck also includes fixed and ATRS operating modes, plus a start control for the automatic calibration routine.
The transport is built around Hitachi’s Unitorque direct-drive motor system, with a separate DC motor also used in the mechanism. The Hitachi D-2200M supports normal, CrO2, FeCr and metal tape types, selected from the front panel. Dolby B and Dolby C noise reduction are included, along with an MPX filter for FM recording.
The upper display section combines a fluorescent digital tape counter, elapsed-time readout and fluorescent digital peak meter. The peak meter spans from low-level indication through to red peak segments, while a separate high-frequency peak level display is fitted at the far right of the display panel. These display systems give the Hitachi D-2200M a more technical appearance than many analogue-meter cassette decks of the same period.
The control layout of the Hitachi D-2200M includes large soft-touch transport keys, auto memory rewind, timer recording and playback switching, record mute, pause and separate microphone inputs. The front panel also provides headphone output, line/microphone input selection, source/tape monitoring and a large record level control with left and right balance indication.
Features
- 3-head stereo cassette deck
- Hitasenrite close-gap record/playback head
- ATRS automatic tape response system
- Computer memory function
- Unitorque direct-drive motor system
- Dolby B and Dolby C noise reduction
- MPX filter
- Support for normal, CrO2, FeCr and metal tapes
- Fluorescent digital tape counter
- Elapsed-time display
- Fluorescent digital peak meter
- High-frequency peak level display
- Source/tape monitor switching
- Auto memory rewind
- Timer recording and playback switching
- Record mute function
- Front-panel microphone inputs
- Front-panel headphone output
- Large record level control