Philips N4500

The Philips N4500 (also known as Maestro 4500 or N4500/00 in variants) is a late 1960s to early 1970s consumer stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder, produced approximately 1969–1972 (manufactured primarily in Austria by Philips Österreich). It was a mid-to-high-end model in Philips' solid-state N45xx hi-fi series, offering true stereo recording and playback with built-in amplification and speakers. Positioned as a versatile home hi-fi deck, it emphasized good sound quality, three speeds, and features like sound-on-sound overdubbing, suitable for music recording, radio dubbing, and playback of pre-recorded tapes.

This was a 4-track (quarter-track) stereo machine with 3-head configuration (separate record, playback, and erase heads for off-tape monitoring), single-motor drive, and DIN hi-fi compliance in many aspects.

Key Technical Specifications

• Recording/Playback System — 4-track (quarter-track), 2-channel stereo/mono compatible; records and plays stereo on tracks 1-4 forward and 3-2 reverse (manual tape flip required for second pair); mono compatible; sound-on-sound/multiplay overdub facilities; no auto-reverse.

• Tape Speeds — Three speeds:1⅞ ips (4.75 cm/s)
  3¾ ips (9.5 cm/s)
  7½ ips (19 cm/s)
  

• Reel Size — Up to 7 inches (18 cm) maximum diameter.

• Frequency Response (approximate, within typical tolerances; varies by tape/condition):At 7½ ips (19 cm/s): 40 Hz – 18,000 Hz
  At 3¾ ips (9.5 cm/s): ~50–15,000 Hz (realistic upper limit)
  At 1⅞ ips (4.75 cm/s): ~60–8,000–10,000 Hz Respectable hi-fi performance at higher speeds for a consumer deck.
  

• Wow & Flutter (synchronous speed fluctuations):At 7½ ips: ~0.05%
  At 3¾ ips: ~0.07%
  At 1⅞ ips: ~0.2% Good stability from single-motor design.
  

• Signal-to-Noise Ratio — Approximately 50 dB (solid for the transistor era).

• Heads — 3 heads: separate record, playback, and erase (permalloy construction; enables off-tape monitoring/A-B comparison).

• Drive System — Single motor; belt drive to capstan/flywheel; idler tires/clutches; mechanical brakes; fast wind/rewind.

• Electronics — Fully transistorized; printed circuit board amplifier.

• Amplification & Speakers — Built-in stereo amplifiers; dual internal loudspeakers (often elliptical or integrated); output power adequate for monitoring (specific wattage not consistently documented but typical for series ~few watts per channel).

• Inputs —Microphone: 0.2 mV / 2 kΩ (stereo pair possible).
  Line/radio/tuner: 2 mV / 20 kΩ.
  Phono: 100 mV / 1 MΩ.
  DIN-style connectors standard.
  

• Outputs —Line out: 1 V / 50 kΩ (or similar).
  Headphones.
  External speakers.
  DIN-style.
  

• Features —Twin illuminated VU meters (needle type; active for record/playback).
  Separate tone controls (bass/treble in some descriptions).
  Input mixing.
  4-digit tape counter.
  Off-tape monitoring.
  Pause function.
  Portable/tabletop design with lid/handle; vertical/horizontal orientation possible.
  

• Power — AC mains (110/127/220/245 V switchable, multi-voltage); consumption 37 W.

• Build & Dimensions — Tabletop case (often silver/brown wood finish); approx. 490 × 180 × 350 mm (19.3 × 7.1 × 13.8 inches) or close variants (480 × 330 × 220 mm in some listings); weight ≈11 kg.

• Manufacturing — Primarily Austria (Philips Österreich).

Performance & Legacy Context

The N4500 was valued as a capable hi-fi stereo deck in its time—offering 3-head monitoring (real-time off-tape listening), three speeds including usable 7½ ips for music fidelity, and integrated stereo amp/speakers for convenience. It delivered clear, balanced sound with good dynamics and extension when serviced and used with quality tape, making it popular for home enthusiasts before cassettes fully dominated.

Common issues today: Belt/idler deterioration (goo/melting—multiple belts need replacement kits), dried electrolytic capacitors, transistor aging, dirty heads (3-head alignment important), worn idler tires/clutches, and mechanical adjustments. Restorations are common and effective—many examples perform well post-service. Service/user manuals widely available (HiFi Engine, Elektrotanya, Internet Archive—includes schematics and alignment).

Compared to siblings:

• N4506 — Later variant or related high-end model (often confused; some sources overlap features).

• N4450 — Auto-reverse flagship with 6 heads and 10.5" reels.

• N4422 — Similar era flagship but different refinements.

• N4408 — Earlier mid-range with similar speeds/heads but single-motor and mechanical controls.