Pioneer CT-F500 Stereo Cassette Deck – Recapped & Serviced – 1-Year Warranty

• Condition: Excellent – Fully restored and tested
• Model: CT-F500
• FREE SUPPORT: Must be used before requesting return
• PROTECTION PLAN: 1-Year Warranty Included
• SKU: 15NFE0047

Pioneer CT-F500 Stereo Cassette Deck

ABOUT

The Pioneer CT-F500 is one of the beautifully crafted mid-70s cassette decks from Pioneer’s silver-face era—simple, reliable, and extremely musical.

This unit has undergone a complete professional refurbishment at HQaudios, including electronics restoration, transport rebuild, new belts, new lamps, and calibration.

It also comes with a brand-new handcrafted walnut wood case, giving it an elegant vintage presence that matches high-end Pioneer receivers.

This is a ready-to-use, fully serviced deck—ideal for collectors and tape enthusiasts who want a reliable machine with smooth mechanics and clean audio playback.

• Condition: Excellent – Fully restored and tested
• Model: CT-F500
• FREE SUPPORT: Must be used before requesting return
• PROTECTION PLAN: 1-Year Warranty Included
• SKU: 15NFE0047

Customer Service:

Once your item arrives, if you have questions about how your item functions or proper settings, please CONTACT US.

TRADE-IN PROGRAM

“If you have any vintage audios (receivers, speakers, cassette, reel to reel…) & want to upgrade with the serviced one, don’t hesitate to contact us for the best deal. You only need to pay for the difference between yours & mine….”

Note:

The actual color of the product may sometimes differ slightly from the photos due to lighting conditions, temperature, and the device used. Some angles in the photos may not fully reflect the product’s condition. Please read the description carefully and feel free to message us if you have any questions.

SPECS

• Type: 2-head, single compact cassette deck
• Track System: 4-track, 2-channel stereo
• Tape Speed: 4.75 cm/s
• Heads: 1 x record/playback, 1 x erase
• Motor: 1 x DC servo
• Tape Type: type I, FeCr, CrO2
• Noise Reduction: B
• Frequency Response: 30Hz to 16kHz (Cr02 tape)
• Signal to Noise Ratio: 64dB (dolby B)
• Wow and Flutter: 0.05%
• Total Harmonic Distortion: 1.5%
• Input: 65mV (line), 0.3mV (mic)
• Output: 0.7V (line)
• Semiconductors: 27 x transistors, 14 x diodes, 2 x IC
• Dimensions: 15.0″ × 5.5″ × 10.3″
• Weight: 11.0 lbs
• Year: 1978

KEY FEATURES

• Classic Pioneer silver-face design
• Smooth mechanical transport with Full Auto-Stop
• Dual analog VU meters with perfect backlighting
• Dolby Noise Reduction for clean playback
• Large input level knob for precise control
• High-quality metal front panel & durable switches
• Comes with a brand-new walnut wood case, handcrafted to match original Pioneer styling

REFURBISHED :

• Full Recap of Critical Circuits

All aging electrolytic capacitors in the following boards were replaced with new high-quality Japanese capacitors:

Power Supply Board – filtering, smoothing, ripple suppression

Audio Path Board – playback amplification, bias circuits

Dolby NR Board – signal processing path

Motor Control Circuit – speed and torque regulation

Transistor & Diode Inspection

Every transistor tested for leakage, gain irregularity, and noise

Noisy or unstable transistors replaced with modern equivalents

All diodes in the signal path checked for forward voltage accuracy

Power Supply Rebuild

Replaced aged capacitors for stable voltage rails

Cleaned, reflowed, and strengthened solder joints around regulators

Verified AC selector and fuse ratings to ensure safe operation

Input / Output Path Cleaning

RCA jacks polished & treated with DeoxIT Gold

DIN connectors cleaned and verified for conductivity

Grounding points re-secured to eliminate hum

2. MECHANICAL RESTORATION (TRANSPORT REBUILD)

The CT-F500 transport is fully disassembled and rebuilt.

Complete Mechanism Disassembly

Removed flywheel, capstan shafts, idler system, and clutch assembly

Old grease removed from all sliding linkages

Re-lubricated with high-grade synthetic oil and silicone grease

NEW Belt Set Installed

Capstan belt

Counter belt

Fast-wind belt

All replaced with fresh, correct-spec belts.

Idler Tire & Clutch System

Installed new idler tire with correct durometer

Cleaned idler arm, clutch felt, and torque drive surfaces

Restored proper rewind & fast-forward torque

Pinch Roller & Capstan Service

Pinch roller resurfaced and conditioned

Capstan shaft polished and demagnetized

Flywheel bearings cleaned and relubricated

Motor Service

Motor cleaned

Bearings lubricated

Speed stability verified under load

3. TAPE PATH & HEAD ASSEMBLY RESTORATION

Ensuring accurate, distortion-free playback:

Tape heads deep-cleaned and demagnetized

Head alignment checked (azimuth & vertical alignment)

Head bracket screws secured and inspected

Tape guides and rollers cleaned & polished

Pressure pads inspected and restored

4. CALIBRATION & PERFORMANCE TUNING

Performed using industry-standard test tapes, tools, and oscilloscope.

Speed Calibration

Adjusted using 3kHz test tape

Verified under load for drift and wow/flutter

Dolby NR Calibration

Dolby reference level aligned to factory spec

Tested with pink-noise Dolby calibration track

Record/Playback Level Alignment

Output level matched between channels

Bias fine-tuned for typical Type I tapes

Frequency response verified from 40Hz–16kHz

Transport Tension & Torque Testing

Forward torque checked

Rewind torque checked

Take-up reel tension adjusted

5. COSMETIC RESTORATION (FRONT PANEL / KNOBS / METERS)

Front Panel & Controls

Aluminum faceplate removed and polished

Switches & buttons cleaned internally and externally

All knobs ultrasonically cleaned

VU Meters

Meter housings polished

Clear lenses restored for brightness

Needle movement checked and recalibrated

Rear Panel

Rust spots removed

RCA ports polished

Voltage selector cleaned

6. LIGHTING SYSTEM – NEW LAMPS INSTALLED

The entire illumination system was restored:

New warm-white indicator lamps

VU meter backlights replaced

Function lamps replaced or rebuilt

Light housings cleaned for even diffusion

All lamps now glow evenly with correct brightness.

7. NEW WALNUT WOOD CASE (HANDMADE)

This CT-F500 includes a brand-new custom handcrafted wood case:

Walnut veneer over MDF

Matte lacquer finish

Precision cutouts for ventilation

Factory-correct dimensions

No scratches, dents, or flaws

8. FINAL QA & BURN-IN TEST

2-hour continuous run test – stable speed, smooth transport, no dropouts

Play/Rec/FF/REW/Pause all operate correctly

Left/Right channels balanced, no distortion

VU meters responsive & accurate

Dolby NR checked – clean operation

All RCA & DIN ports cleaned + tested

Speed calibration verified

Final cosmetic check – faceplate clean, new wood case perfect

Unit is fully functional and ready to use.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Pioneer CT-F500 Tape Deck (Fully Refurbished)

Brand-New Walnut Wood Case

Power cord

Ready-to–play condition

CONDITION

Mint cosmetic condition after restoration

All functions work perfectly: Play, Record, Rewind, FF, Dolby, meters, inputs

VU meters calibrated and responsive

Wood case: brand-new, flawless

Zero mechanical noise, smooth transport operation

PACKAGING & SHIPPING

We pack all vintage equipment professionally and safely:

Multi-layer packaging

Heavy-duty foam protection

Double-boxed shipping

Fully insured (USA only)

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Thank you for viewing our listing! Please kindly ensure you read all the provided information carefully!

We strive to describe all items honestly and accurately. However, as human beings, we may occasionally make mistakes. If you have any doubts or encounter conflicting information, please inquire before purchasing or making an offer.

We kindly request that all buyers give us the opportunity to address any issues.

Payment Policy:

All buyers are required to make immediate payment or contact us within 24 hours to arrange payment, with payment received within 3 days. Offers submitted under the Best Offer feature are considered binding agreements and require immediate payment upon acceptance. Failure to adhere to these terms may result in substitution or cancellation of the transaction.

Payments must be accompanied by a valid shipping address listed as Confirmed. Payments with invalid shipping addresses will be refunded and may incur a processing fee deducted from the refund amount.

Shipping Policy:

This is for local pickup or we will ship it very carefully so that it arrives in good shape like it is now. Our customers’ satisfaction means everything to us. Once you get this item, feel free to contact us if it has any problems! I will try to answer any questions that you may have in a timely fashion.

All shipments are processed within 03 business days of payment, whenever possible. In the event of stock issues causing a delay, customers will be promptly notified, and alternative shipment arrangements will be made. Customers are responsible for any charges incurred due to failed delivery attempts or re-delivery.

Return Policy:

Our Free Support service must be utilized before requesting any return, for any reason.

Items may be exchanged within 30 days if defective or not as described, with a full refund of the purchase price if an exchange is unavailable.

If due to seller error, we will issue a prepaid return label or arrange for reimbursement of return shipping expenses as per this policy, not exceeding the original shipping cost.

The address for returning shipment: 10851 Capital Ave, Garden Grove CA 92843

Returned items may require inspection before determining fault. The item must be received in its original, unaltered condition with all original packaging. Electronic items cannot be opened or tampered with; sealed items must remain sealed, and “Mint” items must remain in “Mint” condition.

No returns will be accepted without first contacting us for Free Support, troubleshooting, or evaluation.

Warranty policy:

The warranty covers technical parts for up to 12 months from the date of receipt, provided there is valid evidence and the item remains sealed, unaltered, and has not been disassembled or internally inspected/repaired. Please note that shipping costs for warranty service will be the seller’s responsibility if the item is found to be defective.

⚠ Important Notice:

To ensure a smooth warranty process, we kindly request that you record a video while unboxing your package upon delivery. Any claims related to product damage or warranty service must be supported by clear video and photographic evidence. Please submit all required documentation to the official HQaudios email for prompt assistance.

***Failure to provide sufficient information as per our guidelines may result in the rejection of your request.

If you have any issues or dissatisfaction with our services, products, or policies, please refrain from leaving negative feedback immediately. Instead, contact us right away so we can provide you with the best possible solution and have the opportunity to improve our service quality!

Thank you for being a valued customer & Thanks for looking!