Aiwa HD-X7000TC

Of the ultra-rare-ultra-invisibilia kind, the HD-X7000TC is a full-broadcast DAT recorder.

Aiwa made a nice reputation for itself with its excellent "Strasser" consumer portable DAT recorders so it was natural to go (try) for a machine specifically made for the pros. So much so that hhb in the UK rebadged the HD Aiwas under its own name : PDR 1000 and PDR 1000TC.

Where Sony relied on its PCM-7000 industry standard broadcast series for TC sync, Aiwa added to the HD-X5000 a separate portable Time Code unit which transformed the regular HD-X5000 into an HD-X7000TC.

Usual features of any TC sync unit are present like internal/external TC source, frame rate (24 / 25 / 29,97 drop frame or not / 30 fps), PAL/SeCam/NTSC TC record (free run, rec run or 24H clock), UB source and Load TC.
Communication goes through 75 Ohm BNC terminals for standard IEC 461 SMPTE/EBU Word Sync.

The HD-X5000 has the same feature as all professional recorders : 4DD motor, 12W built-in monitor loudspeaker, XLR balanced terminals, AES/EBU and S/PDif digital interfaces, MIC preamps with ATTenuator switches, 48V phantom power, limiter, record time clock, ID management and... no SCMS :)

The flap protecting the tape compartement hides the three main switches : analog/digital input selector, 48 / 44,1 / 32Khz sampling frequency and S/PDif or AES digital input, plus clock setting and eject buttons.

Power supply comes through a multi-voltage transformer giving 12V DC through a specific 4-pin XLR terminal but the HD-X recorders can be powered by a 6V DC MHB-220A battery or direct 12V DC through a specific adaptor.


Despite the proximity, the HD-X7000TC isn't a relooked TCD-D10 but a full-fledged Aiwa in-house development : specific motor, specific a/d and d/a sections, specific case and functions. The HD-X7000TC can be seen as a "cousin" of Sony's TCD-D10.

If Sony purchased 52% of Aiwa in the 1960s, Aiwa remained fully independent (like Victor vs. Matsushita) but exchanges and technology sharing happened constantly.
Even executives mobility : when Heitaro Nakajima retired from Sony after having put Sony at the top with PCM developments like CD, he took the CEO position at... Aiwa :)

Sony's well-remembered CDP-555ESD CD player had an Aiwa cousin under the XD-007 moniker : different drive, different chassis and circuits but the nearness of the Sony original is so obvious it barks at the viewer :)

Exchanges between Sony and Aiwa involved manufacturing plants and standards agreements. So the HD-X units probably got made in a Sony factory... or the TCD-D10 in an Aiwa factory.

The two units are nevertheless quite similar in functions, design and terminals : display sizes, buttons, features and general menu organization.

However, but for the DOU-17A drum head assembly, parts such as motors or PCBs are NOT compatible between the units.
Batteries aren't compatible either - you're either Sony (with Aiwa) or you're not !