AIWA AD-1600 Performance Specification
- Performance AIWA stereo cassette deck
- Dolby noise reduction system implementation
- Convenient desktop form-factor
- Acrylic dust cover with rear hinge
- Japanese build quality
- AIWA 1976 catalogue model
- Dark and silver finishes available
AIWA AD-1600 Features
- With the memory rewind system, the tape can be preprogrammed at any point
- 3-way band type selector switch LH, CrO2, FeCr
- Stereo cassette playback, pause and recording functions
- Equipped with a ferrite head and synchronous motor
- Autostop
- Optical tape run indicator
- Review and forward search button with control tone
- Oil-dampened cassette ejection system and other excellent extras
AIWA AD-1600 Description
The AIWA AD-1600 is a beautiful looking stereo cassette deck that sits about upper-tier in the 1976 AIWA hifi range. This is a quality deck and definitely something that is of interest to the vintage hifi collector. The AIWA-1600 is has full functionality for the period, including stereo playback, pause and recording capability.
I personally own an AIWA AD-1600 cassette deck. I picked up this cassette deck second-hand from an individual who was selling auction goods from his garage. The seller was a nice enough chap but was more interested in selling used business computers. The catalog photo of the AIWA AD-1600 is from 1976 catalog and is dark in colour. The catalog image shows a façade that black on the top panel and a black laminate exterior. The model that I own has a silver top and 1970s brown laminate covering.
The acrylic cover is a smoked tan colour with two metal hinges on the back. You can lift the acrylic cover up to access the cassette deck, mechanical operator buttons and the control knobs. The power switch is also located on this panel as well. At the center of the acrylic cover on the top is a silver badge that says, AIWA Creator Series. I know that this is a bit of marketing flash but it makes me smile to think that people were creating podcasts on these cassette decks back in the day. The adage of what's old is now new again continues to resonate in the hifi community.