Pioneer CT-W550R Dual Cassette Deck – Dolby B/C, HX Pro, Japan

A twin-transport Pioneer cassette deck from 1991, made in Japan, with auto-reverse on both decks, Dolby B and C noise reduction, and Dolby HX Pro on the recording side. It has been serviced on our bench and is in very good condition.

What it is

The CT-W550R sits just below the CT-W650R in Pioneer’s 1991 range and shares its size and most of its feature list. It leaves out the 650R’s microphone inputs and automatic tape calibration and keeps everything you use day to day: two auto-reverse transports, Dolby B and C, and HX Pro.

Dolby C is the one that matters. It gives roughly twice the noise reduction of Dolby B, which is the difference between tape hiss you stop noticing and tape hiss you never hear. HX Pro is not noise reduction at all: it adjusts the recording bias continuously in response to the music itself, so the tape holds treble it would otherwise compress away. The improvement is recorded into the tape, so it plays back on any deck.

Copying is easy. Dubbing runs at normal or high speed with a synchronized start, and CD synchro recording starts a disc and the tape together when used with a matching Pioneer CD player. Music search skips forward or back up to 15 selections, peak-hold meters make recording levels easy to set, and there is a four-digit counter, timer recording and playback, and a headphone output on the front.

It connects to any amplifier or receiver through a pair of RCA cables, to a tape loop or a spare input. Our own Gold Series RCA Stereo Interconnect is a shielded, gold-plated pair made for the job.

The service it has had

Every cassette deck we sell goes through our bench before it is listed:

And, as each deck requires:

Condition

Very good, and free of significant marks.

A well-equipped twin deck from the years when Pioneer still built them properly: Dolby C, HX Pro and two transports, serviced and ready to work.

Available for pickup in Kanata, or shipped across Canada and internationally — we have sent equipment to fifteen countries in the past year, each piece packed in-house in 275 lb test double-wall boxes. Live shipping rates for your address are calculated at checkout. Backed by Radique Audio’s Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and our Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Available for audition by appointment in Kanata.

Pioneer CT-W550R Dual Cassette Deck Specifications

• Tape path, heads, capstan and pinch roller cleaned
• Controls and switches cleaned and deoxidized
• Every function tested: play, record, fast-forward, rewind, stop and eject, noise reduction and meters
• Post-service burn-in and sign-off
• Drive belts replaced
• Heads and tape path demagnetized
• Mechanism lubricated
• Tape speed and playback level adjusted
• Lamps replaced
• Type: double cassette deck, auto-reverse on both decks
• Service: serviced on our bench (see above)
• Track system: 4-track, 2-channel stereo
• Noise reduction: Dolby B and C
• Headroom extension: Dolby HX Pro
• Frequency response: 20 Hz–17 kHz (normal tape), up to 19 kHz (metal)
• Wow and flutter: 0.055%
• Total harmonic distortion: under 0.8%
• Dubbing: normal and high speed, synchronized start
• CD synchro recording
• Music search: up to 15 selections either way
• Peak-hold level meters
• Four-digit counter
• Timer recording and playback
• Headphone output
• Power consumption: 26 W
• Made in Japan, 1991
• Dimensions: (Width x Height x Depth) 16.5 x 4.8 x 10.6 inches (420 x 123 x 268 mm)
• Weight: approx. 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg)

⚠️ Important Information for International Buyers

This unit is configured for North American 110/120V power. Buyers outside North America will require a step-down transformer and appropriate plug adapter.

✅ Buy With Confidence — The Radique Promise

Backed by Radique Audio’s Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and our Perpetual Trade-Back Program. When you’re ready to move on, we’ll take it back. That’s the Radique difference.

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📞 Questions? Use the Ask a Question button above, or call us at 613-416-9995.