The Philips EL 3520 is a tube tape recorder manufactured between 1957 and 1958, showcasing a unique design with a two-colored beige finish and a wooden case covered in imitation leather. It features a compact size with dimensions of 363 x 290 x 165 mm and weighs approximately 10 kg. This model operates on a power consumption of 45 watts and incorporates a built-in loudspeaker with an output power of 4 watts. The device is equipped with a built-in mixer allowing connections for microphone, phono, and radio inputs, with a total of three inputs. The microphone sensitivity is rated at 3 mV, while the record player input is 200 mV, and the radio input is 5 mV with a 50 kOhm impedance.
The EL 3520 supports a maximum coil diameter of 13 cm and is driven by a single asynchronous motor with two heads allowing two tracks. It operates at a tape speed of 9.5 cm/s, with features including built-in tone control for playback, a magic tape level control, and a tape counter with a zero adjuster. The overall frequency response is from 60 Hz to 11,000 Hz. This model is versatile enough to also serve as a record player preamplifier, making it a functional addition to any audio setup.
