Denon DR-F8
Denon DR-F7
Denon DR-F6
(1981)

Part of the very rare cassette recorders - mainly interesting because it embodies a changing perspective : still lavish and slanted like we don't slant things anymore, and allowing a peek at the immediate future - e l e c t r o n i c a !

So the DR-F8 includes an early version of what almost everybody was doing at the time : analyze the specific tape inside and adjust everything accordingly - bias, frequency response etc. Only... there's only one preset :) Denon's own DR-M4 would carry this to near-infinity levels but, after all, how many really good tapes were available then ?
The three models are fully identical but for the F6 which does away with the FTS computer and the F8 which sports PLL Quartz-Locking. The latter, however, only makes a difference of .02% in speed accuracy when compared with the F7... Specs are more than respectable : 73dB (S/N ratio, C Dolby, 3% THD) and 0,025% wow&flutter. 7,5kg of educated high-end audio :)

All three are very rare (although not as rare as the contemporary DR-L2), very good looking and very well built. More seriously featured and contemporary would be the tall, dark and shiny Nakamichi 1000ZXL or the slim, matte and futuristic Sony TC-FX-1010.

FEATURES
All-DC signal path
PLL Quartz-Locked Flat-Twin DD Motor (F8)
Flat-Twin DD Motor (F7/F6)
Rotor = Flywheel
Non-Slip Reel Drive
Tape Tension Servo Sensor Type II
Flat Tuning System Microcomputer (F8/F7)
Double-Gap Ferrite Erase Head
M&X Configuration Heads
Feather-Touch Controls
Dolby B & C
MPX Filter
RC-57 Wired Remote Control