This iconic cassette recorder manufactured in Austria by Philips in the early seventies represented state of the art at the time. Boasting ‘automatic’ in its model name, the N2225 had several innovative features. Automatic detection of the tape end switched off the mechanism to prevent wear. A built-in electret microphone popped out at the touch of the button with a coiled wire for close voice recording – avoiding the need to carry a separate mic or lean over for a clear recording.
Designed as an all-in-one desk-top device, the N225 had a concealed handle to allow easy portable recording. Weighing 2.5 kg, plus the 6 C cell batteries, it was lighter than a reel to reel tape recorder and less expensive. The meter shows battery power while on standby and playback or recording level as a percentage rather than the usual logarithmic dB scale.
It was in the early seventies that cassettes recorders became popular with teenagers as a way to record music from radio. I remember saving up and buying the smaller N2204 from Landau Radio in Sutton and listening to David Bowie’s Starman on holiday, must have been around 1972. Pre-recorded cassette tapes offered better quality but at a price, so home made recordings were popular. Similar to what happened with mp3 and Napster but that’s another story.
Philips cassette recorders were generally well built with service sheets and parts still available. The most common fault with this model as with many cassette players is the neoprene belt failure. It’s fairly easy to replace the belt in the N2225 — see below.
Danger: Remove mains lead and don’t operate cassette with mains power connected while case is open!
I found I had to undo the flywheel bearing mounting to thread the belt through – see gallery. There’s probably a Youtube video to guide you if necessary. An 80mm diameter belt seemed a good fit with a 1.2mm square profile. Note the use of a sheet of paper (Postit note was handy) to check clearing for bearing tension. Tighten until you can just pull the paper clear to avoid over tightening the bearing.
The lever button controls on my machine had worn with use so the iconography was difficult to see. So I found some photos of a new N2225 and recreated the graphics using a transparency sheet via a laser printer. I cut out the sheet to form inserts for the each button with the toner side facing down so it would not rub off as had happened from using the original controls.
How does it sound? The N2225 was designed as a desktop voice recorder for dictation or notes and works well for this purpose. Music fidelity is lofo rather than hifi and very similar in sound quality to transistor radios of the era.
10/09/2021 at 9:48 pm
Bought this exact model in 1975, replacing the N2205 which I got as my first tape recorder in 1974. Although this one was more feature rich, I felt the N2205 had a more classy design. I still have the N2225 in a cupboard somewhere. Both models developed serious speed fluctuation after a while, probably due to the neoprene belt failure mentioned here.
10/09/2021 at 10:46 pm
Worth finding your N2225, replacing the belt and try listening to it again. It’s surprising how it can evoke memories of a bygone era! Thank you for sharing your comment.
14/09/2022 at 9:45 am
I too have this machine which was bought for me by my father as a reward for passing my 11 plus exam. I distinctly remember going to buy it ~1974 from Hardman audio in Manchester and seeing this alongside the N2205. I would have been happy with either machine however my father went for the pricier N2225, I think it cost circa £56 vs ~£45 for the N2205. I remember being so excited about it at the time. Mine had plenty of use for recording music from the radio, top 40 hits on Sundays. It suffered some early failure of the erase/bias oscillator during the warranty period. Hardman audio (later became Laskys)struggled to fix it, we returned to the store every weekend for several weeks leaving empty handed, eventually they replaced it with another machine. The oscillator failed again some years later and I got it repaired by a local repair shop (he replaced the bias/erase transistor) and it was reliable since. Just tested it again today and it still plays (original capstan belt OK after 48 years!) but tape counter not moving so maybe the belt on that needs replacing. Sound is weak and distorted so I need to look into that, should be a simple fix.
The end-of-tape warning tone is an interesting and possibly unique feature of this machine, I like the way the tone comes on gradually, quite nice.
14/09/2022 at 3:42 pm
Nice story – must have been an inspiring present at the time especially in the midst of miners strikes, power cuts and the three day week. Battery powered it would still work! I remember getting a Thunderbirds style tape recorder as a present and being fascinated at how sounds could be changed by slowing and speeding up the reels. Hours of play.
Distorted sound maybe be due to tarnished earphone socket – try some headphones to check if it sounds better and clean the contacts. If not check for dried up electrolytic caps or a transistor failure like the erase oscillator – or if this fails check the loudspeaker cone moves freely as the voice coil can jamb causing weak tinny sound – well worth fixing. As you say the static tape counter is bound to be the belt.