Pioneer RT 701

The Pioneer RT‑701 is a 7‑inch, 2‑speed, 3‑motor, 3‑head, 4‑track stereo deck from the late‑1970s “silver face” era, designed as a high‑quality home machine with near‑pro transport performance.

Transport and tape format

• Track system: 4‑track, 2‑channel stereo, standard quarter‑inch format.

• Heads: 1 record, 1 playback, 1 erase (3‑head design allows off‑tape monitoring during record).

• Motors: 3 total – 2 reel motors (6‑pole inner‑rotor induction type) and 1 capstan motor using FG‑servo AC direct drive for highly stable speed.

• Reel size: up to 7‑inch reels; no 10.5‑inch capability.

• Tape speeds: 9.5 and 19 cm/s (3¾ and 7½ ips).

• Fast wind: under 100 seconds for a full 7‑inch reel with ~370 m tape.​

• No auto‑reverse; it is a one‑direction deck (unlike the RT‑707).

Audio performance

• Frequency response:
  About 30 Hz–24 kHz at 3¾ ips (±3 dB).
  About 20 Hz–28 kHz at 7½ ips (±3 dB).

• Wow and flutter: 0.05% (WRMS) at 7½ ips, ~0.08% at 3¾ ips, reflecting the direct‑drive capstan’s stability.

• Signal‑to‑noise ratio: ≥ 58 dB (without noise reduction).

• THD: < 1% at 7½ ips at rated level.

• Crosstalk / channel separation: typically > 50 dB.

• Erase depth: > 70 dB, with a 125 kHz bias/erase frequency.

Electronics and connections

• Equalization: NAB for both speeds.

• Line input: nominal 50 mV, up to ~25 V max, 100 kΩ impedance (RCA).

• Mic input: ~0.25 mV nominal, up to ~100 mV, 27 kΩ impedance, 6 mm jack.

• Line output: about 0.45 V at 50 kΩ.

• Headphone output: around 70 mV into 8 Ω, 6 mm jack.​

• Semiconductors: roughly 55 transistors, 3 ICs, 35 diodes.

• Power: typically AC 120 V / 60 Hz, ~115 W consumption; export versions provide 110–120/220–240 V ranges.

Physical and production details

• Dimensions: approx. 480 × 230 × 356 mm (W × H × D).

• Weight: around 19.5 kg (≈ 43 lb).

• Production years: roughly 1976–1981, made in Japan; original price around USD $500+ or ~1,480 DM, positioning it as a mid‑to‑upper‑range audiophile deck below the big 10.5‑inch machines.

Practical character (audiophile view)

In practice, the RT‑701’s direct‑drive capstan, separate reel motors, and 3‑head layout make it a very stable, low‑maintenance 7‑inch machine with performance on par with many semi‑pro decks, but with a compact footprint and domestic ergonomics. For someone running primarily pre‑recorded 7‑inch tapes or home‑made reels at 7½ ips, it is a strong “sweet spot” deck—simpler than the auto‑reverse RT‑707 but sharing much of its transport DNA and sonic capability.