Sony TC-9700

• The TC‑9700 is an open‑reel tape deck introduced around 1971. audio-database.com

• It uses ¼″ tape on open reels. 

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

• The deck was marketed as a fairly advanced machine for its time: it has a direct‑drive system with AC‑servo motor for the capstan, aiming to reduce wow & flutter and stabilize tape speed. 

• It supports a tape‑type selector for high‑bias / low‑noise (SLH) tape versus general/standard tape. 

• It offers mic/aux mixing, meaning you can combine microphone and line inputs during recording. 

• Other convenience/feature‑marks: built‑in “auto‑shutoff” when tape ends, and a built‑in reel‑lock mechanism to secure reels. 

So the TC‑9700 belongs to a class of higher‑grade consumer / semi‑pro reel decks — more ambitious than basic “toy‑class” recorders, but not as massive or complex as full studio multitrack machines.

• Recording Bias Frequency160 kHz

• Tape Format / Heads4‑track tape format; uses a “combination head for erase + record” resulting in a six‑head configuration, though with externally visible four heads — this design allowed playback of “three‑head prerecorded records.”

• External Dimensions (approx.) 446 × 460 × 225 mm

• Direct‑drive capstan via AC‑servo motor for stable tape speed. 

• Auto‑positioning pinch roller: the pinch roller moves automatically to the optimal position depending on tape direction — useful in a bidirectional / auto‑reverse context. 

• Tape‑type selector for SLH vs standard — to optimize bias/EQ depending on tape used. 

• Mic/Aux mixing — allows external input alongside mic input during recording. 

• Auto shut‑off when tape ends + built‑in reel‑lock for secure reels.