Harman Kardon TD212 Cassette Deck – Serviced, Dolby B & C, Japan

$225.00

A Japanese-built Harman Kardon cassette deck from the late 1980s, serviced on our bench and in very good condition.

✔️ Very good condition — free of significant marks
✔️ Serviced on our bench: tape path and heads cleaned, every function tested
✔️ Dolby B and C, metal-tape capable — made in Japan
✔️ Covered by Radique Warranty
✔️ Includes Perpetual Trade-Back Program eligibility
✔️ Expertly packed for safe shipping

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Maxell UR 120 Blank Cassette – Normal Bias, Sealed

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Description

A Japanese-built Harman Kardon cassette deck from the late 1980s, serviced on our bench and in very good condition.

What it is

The TD212 comes from Harman Kardon’s Ultrawideband Linear Phase line, built around a two-head Uniplane transport with electronic transport controls. Dolby B and C noise reduction keep tape hiss down on older and newer recordings alike, and it records and plays normal, chrome and metal tape, with the bias and equalization selected by three buttons on the front.

Recording is properly controlled. Alongside the input level and balance controls sits a Bias Fine Trim, which lets you tune the deck to the tape you are using, from a touch of high-frequency cut to a touch of boost. Six-segment LED peak meters for each channel show your levels, there is an MPX filter for taping from FM radio, and a tape counter with reset marks your place. On the back, RCA inputs and outputs connect it to any amplifier or receiver. It was designed by Harman Kardon of Woodbury, New York, and built in Japan.

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. The black faceplate, cassette door and meter window present well, as the photographs show.

Dolby B and C, metal-tape capable, and Japanese build quality, ready for your tapes.

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.

Harman Kardon TD212 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: two-head stereo cassette deck (record/playback and erase)
  • Service: serviced on our bench (see above)
  • Noise reduction: Dolby B and C
  • Tape types: normal, chrome and metal
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: 70 dB (Dolby C)
  • Wow and flutter: 0.05% WRMS
  • Meters: six-segment LED peak meters, left and right
  • Controls: input level, balance, bias fine trim (Hi Cut to Hi Boost)
  • Features: MPX filter, tape counter with reset
  • Connections: RCA line in and out
  • Power: 120 V, 60 Hz, 18 W
  • Designed by Harman Kardon, Woodbury, New York; made in Japan
  • Dimensions: (Width x Height x Depth) 17.4 x 4.8 x 9.1 inches (443 x 122 x 230 mm)
  • Weight: approx. 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg)

🎚️ Gold Series RCA Interconnects

Our own Gold Series RCA Stereo Interconnect is a shielded, gold-plated stereo pair, in stock and ready to go. It is the cable that connects this to the rest of your system, and it is a straightforward upgrade on the free leads that come in the box with most equipment. 👉

⚠️ 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.

📦 Watch how we protect your gear — our unboxing video.

📺 Curious about our business? Check out our YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes videos and more!

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

Additional information
Weight10.6 lbs
Dimensions13.1 × 21.4 × 8.8 in
Cassette Wells
Noise Reduction
About brand
Harman Kardon at Radique
We service Harman Kardon, too. Bring us your own Harman Kardon receivers, amplifiers, cassette decks and CD players for repair, servicing or restoration (solid-state gear; we don't take in tube equipment), with a 90-day warranty on the work. See our Audio Service page

Harman Kardon began in New York in 1953, founded by Sidney Harman, who was born in Montreal, and Bernard Kardon. Harman Kardon calls its 1954 Festival D1000 the first hi-fi receiver. We carry Harman Kardon stereo receivers, AV receivers, integrated amplifiers, cassette decks and CD players. We've had more than 130 Harman Kardon listings so far. Every used Harman Kardon here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Every AV receiver we list is tested input by input on our bench: each HDMI input and output, the analog, optical and coaxial inputs, the subwoofer outputs and the wireless features where it has them. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.

The Harman Kardon story, 1953 to today

Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon left the David Bogen Company, where Kardon was chief engineer, and founded Harman Kardon in New York in 1953. Harman was born in Montreal in 1918 and grew up in New York. Kardon retired in the 1950s.

Receivers first. Harman Kardon calls the Festival D1000 of 1954 the first hi-fi receiver and the Festival TA230 of 1958 the first stereo receiver. The Citation II tube power amplifier of 1959, designed by Stu Hegeman, sold as a kit or ready-built.

Cassette and the 1970s. Harman Kardon says its CAD-5 of 1970 was the first hi-fi cassette recorder with Dolby noise reduction. Its "Twin Powered" receivers of the 1970s, such as the 430 and 730, gave each channel its own power supply.

Owners. Sidney Harman sold the company to Beatrice Foods in the late 1970s, when he became US Deputy Secretary of Commerce. He formed Harman International in 1980 and bought Harman Kardon back in 1985. Samsung bought HARMAN in 2017, and Harman Kardon remains one of its brands.

Which Harman Kardon is which?

Tube era (1950s and 1960s): Festival receivers, and Citation kits and factory-built units such as the Citation I preamplifier and II amplifier.

1970s receivers: the 330 series, the Twin Powered 630, 930, 430 and 730, and the HK670.

1980s receivers: the "i" models such as the hk690i, advertised for its high current capability, and the 330i.

Citation separates: solid-state Citation amplifiers and preamplifiers from 1970 to the 1990s, including the Citation XX of the early 1980s.

Cassette decks: from the CAD-4 and CAD-5 to the 1980s decks numbered CD91 to CD491. Those "CD" models are cassette decks, not CD players; Harman Kardon CD players carry "HD" names.

AV receivers (late 1990s on) and later stereo: the AVR line, such as the AVR 3600, and stereo models such as the HK 3700 and HK 990.

Buying used Harman Kardon: what to check

Dial and meter lamps. Owners report dead or flickering lamps on 1970s receivers such as the 930, 430 and 330C; many are replaced with LEDs.

Capacitors. Expect a 1970s receiver that hasn't been recapped to need it.

Output stage. Owners report blown output transistors on the 730 and 430, often caused by a failed part nearby. Both channels should play cleanly at a realistic level.

Switches. Owners say the 1980s "i" receivers are prone to dirty switches that make channels cut out. Try every input and the balance control.

AV receivers. HDMI is usually the first thing to fail on a modern AV receiver. We test every HDMI input and output before listing.

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.