A 3-head cassette deck from Aiwa with HX Pro and Dolby B/C, built for serious taping.

Overview

The Aiwa AD-F660U—also listed in some sources as the Aiwa AD-F660—is a 3-head stereo cassette deck that emerged during the peak of high-fidelity analog tape engineering. Though exact production years are not documented, its technological profile and market context place it in a period when cassette decks were expected to deliver near-linear performance for critical listening and home mastering. Priced at 68,000 yen at launch, the AD-F660U was positioned as a premium offering, targeting enthusiasts who valued precise tape alignment, clean signal paths, and advanced noise reduction. The 3-head configuration enables discrete record, playback, and erase functions, allowing users to monitor recordings in real time—a necessity for accurate dubbing and tape calibration. This design avoids the compromise of 2-head systems, where playback during recording relies on the record head itself, potentially masking azimuth or level errors. HiFi-Stereo (February 1986, p.123) noted its inclusion of Dolby HX Pro and dual capstans, features aligned with high-end performance.

Noise reduction is handled through Dolby B and C, with the addition of HX Pro (Headroom Extension Professional), that optimizes high-frequency headroom during recording by dynamically adjusting bias. Unlike Dolby systems, HX Pro requires no decoding on playback and works transparently with all tape types. According to available documentation, the inclusion of Dolby HX professional circuitry was intended to deliver "audibly better high frequency reproduction," particularly when recording complex, transient-rich material on metal or high-bias tapes.

Collectibility & Value

The AD-F660U appears in the collector space as a functional, high-spec machine rather than a rare trophy. Units are typically sold "AS-IS," reflecting the age and mechanical complexity of cassette transports, but buyer feedback suggests satisfaction among those who value performance over cosmetics. One eBay review described the deck as "amazing... well worth the price paid and a welcome addition to my collection," indicating that it continues to impress in real-world use. Enthusiasts in online forums have grouped the F660 with the Aiwa AD-F770 and AD-F990, claiming the trio represents a high point in the brand’s tape engineering—so much so that one user asserted, "Have Aiwa -F660, F-770, F-990 the best... Dragon killer all day of the..."—a bold statement placing them in direct competition with the legendary Nakamichi Dragon. While such claims are subjective, they reflect genuine respect for the F660 series within the cassette enthusiast community.

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