Philips N4038

The Philips N4038 (also documented as N4308 in most sources, service manuals, and collector databases—likely a regional/suffix variant such as N4038/N4308 or a labeling inconsistency, as no distinct "N4038-only" model appears separate from the N4308 series) is a late 1960s to early 1970s consumer reel-to-reel tape recorder, produced approximately 1969–1975 (with some units dated into the mid-1970s). It belongs to Philips' N43xx solid-state series, a step up from the earlier EL35xx hybrids/tubes and an entry-level counterpart to the higher-fidelity N44xx stereo models (like N4408).

This was a compact, mains-powered, tabletop/portable mono recorder with a built-in speaker, targeted at home users for radio dubbing, voice/family recordings, dictation, and basic music capture. It used quarter-track (4-track) heads for double the recording time per reel (two directions) and could play stereo pre-recorded tapes in mono or summed stereo via an external amplifier.

Key Technical Specifications

• Recording/Playback System — 4-track (quarter-track) mono recording; playback mono or stereo tapes (via external amp for stereo separation); records on tracks 1-4 forward, 3-2 reverse (manual tape flip required); limited multiplay/overdub possible.

• Tape Speeds — Two speeds:1⅞ ips (4.75 cm/s)
  3¾ ips (9.5 cm/s) (No 7½ ips; emphasis on extended playtime rather than maximum fidelity.)
  

• Reel Size — Up to 7 inches (18 cm) maximum diameter (standard consumer reels, including long-play types).

• Frequency Response (approximate, within typical ±3 dB tolerances; varies by tape/condition):At 3¾ ips: 60 Hz – 14,000 Hz (some claims up to 14 kHz; realistic ~10–12 kHz upper limit).
  At 1⅞ ips: 80 Hz – 8,000 Hz. Suitable for voice, speech, and casual music; not DIN hi-fi grade.
  

• Wow & Flutter — Approximately 0.3–0.5% (DIN weighted) at 3¾ ips (acceptable for single-motor consumer class).

• Signal-to-Noise Ratio — Around 45 dB (solid for full-transistor design of the era).

• Heads — 2 heads: combined record/playback (permalloy) + erase head.

• Drive System — Single asynchronous motor; belt drive to capstan/flywheel (multiple belts: main drive, take-up spool, counter pulley, etc.—prone to gooey deterioration); idler tires/clutches (supply and take-up); mechanical brakes; fast wind/rewind (~1200 ft in 180 seconds).

• Electronics — Fully transistorized (~10 transistors, e.g., BC109/BC108/BC107 series, AC187/AD161 output pairs in push-pull); printed circuit board amplifier; no tubes.

• Amplification & Speakers — Built-in mono amplifier; internal elliptical loudspeaker (typically 6 × 4 inches or oval ~150 × 100 mm); output power ~4 W (sine wave; some variants ~2–4 W); basic tone control.

• Inputs —Microphone: ~0.2 mV / 2 kΩ.
  Radio/line/phono: ~150–200 mV / 1.5–20 kΩ (mixing possible).
  DIN-style connectors standard.
  

• Outputs —Line out: ~1 V.
  Internal speaker.
  External speaker: 4 W / 4–8 ohms.
  DIN-style for external amp (stereo playback).
  

• Features —Track/direction selector.
  Manual recording level control.
  Built-in mixer (parallel sources).
  Fast wind/rewind, pause.
  Optional slide synchronizer accessory.
  Portable/tabletop design with lid and carry handle.
  

• Power — AC mains (110/127/220/245 V switchable, multi-voltage); consumption ~40 W.

• Build & Dimensions — Tabletop case (often plastic/wood accents); approx. 419 × 298 × 147 mm (16.5 × 11.75 × 5.75 inches) or close (some list 420 × 140 × 300 mm); weight ~7.95–8 kg (17.5 lb).

• Manufacturing — Primarily Netherlands (Eindhoven) or Austria/Germany (Philips facilities); some regional variants (e.g., /50, /55, /59 suffixes for voltage/power differences).

Performance & Legacy Context

The N4038/N4308 was a reliable, affordable entry-to-mid consumer deck—quiet and durable thanks to full transistorization, with decent clarity at 3¾ ips for everyday home tasks. It sounded acceptable through its built-in speaker or external hi-fi (stereo tapes via line out added versatility). It was popular in the early 1970s as a step up from slower/portable models but lacked the stereo recording, higher speeds, or premium features of N44xx siblings.

Restorations are common and popular (many detailed YouTube series exist for N4308 full rebuilds). Typical issues include:

• Belts turning to sticky goo (all four main ones need replacement—kits widely available).

• Dried electrolytic capacitors.

• Transistor/output pair aging.

• Dirty heads, worn idlers/clutches (supply/take-up back-tension).

• Mechanical lube points and chassis grommets degrading.

Service/user manuals are readily available (HiFi Engine, Elektrotanya, Internet Archive—1969 SM covers N4308 4-track mono; includes schematics, alignment, belt specs). Head wear is a noted weak point in domestic Philips models.