CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

RayN999 · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:49 pm Post subject:

I have a companion Sansui AX-7 mixer/preamp (don't have any photos handy to post) that I got recently in a vintage audio - PC trade. Just required a little controls cleaning & fired up like new.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but the vintage Sansui stuff was made a lot better than I thought.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject:

I had one of those, one of the first things I got at the recycler. Sold for $10 on eBay...after I spent an hour working on it. Piss me off! Smile

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:16 am Post subject:

VERY proud of this score! Local CL ad, wanted $450, got it for $375. This is one of the only Akai models that does 15 IPS and is 2/4 track. Minty condition!!!!

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

NIce!!!

Nashou

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 2:33 am Post subject:

Yeah, it's one of 2 or 3 models that Akai made that was 3 3/4, 7 1/2 and 15 IPS. 2 and 4 track, very similar to the Technics 1500. The Akai is about 6-7 years older, and I think Technics sold buckets more than Akai did of this one, but I've always wanted one of these. The glass Akai heads never wear out, so I can run the heck out of this with no concerns. Then I'll eBay it, should get $800 for it I'd think. Oh, and I got the manual and wired remote with it too.

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

i saw that ad. i nearly jumped on it as that price was a steal. i went back the next day and the ad was gone.

i know how good that machine is. i have one. Smile

just a beautiful machine. mine however needs complete belts.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Curt one of my old employees just came in now and told me a guy gave him an Akai reel to reel, we looked at pics and he said it looks like this one.

A 280 but he's not sure if its the GX mold, whats it worth? I offered him 50 bucks

Athanasios

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:17 pm Post subject:

Can't see the pix, you mean this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AKAI-GX-280D-REEL-REEL-w-glass-xtal-ferrite-heads-/150751813134?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2319821e0e#ht_500wt_1202

It is one of the older entry level machines, but the key is the glass heads. If it has those, then the electronics should do 16Khz at least. Some of the older units use a custom Akai chip, an LD3141 in the preamp section. They die all the time, go noisy, and cause havoc. Fortunately someone online has found a few dozen NOS ones, and is selling them cheap:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SANYO-AKAI-LD3141-/320733806283?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aad397ecb#ht_949wt_905

I bought 4 of them last year and the machine ended up working fine. I've got 2 spares 'just in case' I get another one in.

$50 is fair, the one on eBay won't sell for more than $100, and will probably go for around $50.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Not that one it looks more like the pic i have up it might be a 297

Nashou

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:22 pm Post subject:

post your pix again..

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Well the one above in my last post is the GX280 he said it could be that one or this one...

the GX297

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:57 pm Post subject:

I don't know the 297, and still can't view your pix, go figure.

I found a 297 4 channel deck pix online, and my comment would be the same as for the 280. THe 4 channels are worth a bit more to those quad fanatics.

Just did a quick check of the GX-400 that I bought. Frequency response flat to over 20K at 7 1/2 and 15 IPS, to about 12K at 3 3/4, but I'll bet I can bring that to 15Khz. Couple of noisy controls, one spring is loose or missing on one tension lever. Probably an hour's worth of work, then off to dub tapes!

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I found my pics and info here

http://slbender.exactpages.com/akai4ch.html

Nashou

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject:

I see you've changed your identity again with a porn 'stache and 80s glasses? Smile

A nice machine, as I said, a bit early, pre-mid 70s as the article says, the later 70s decks were a bit slicker mechanically, but still a solid machine. In good working shape I'd say it would sell for $150 on eBay, maybe more. Unsure now if I want to keep mine or sell it.

I've also got three Technics 1500 series here. I really should go through them to see what kind of shape they are in...

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

the technics 1520 is the model worth big bucks as it has IEC for the tape project tapes.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 5:52 pm Post subject:

Good to know, of course that one is missing parts. I can sacrifice a plain 1500 for them though. Biggest thing is a back cover (!) and one spindle...

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

the 1500/RS1506 have to have external IEC via a head output connection. the 1700 series are not 2-track convertible and thus are not tape project viable.

not that NAB equalization or 1/4 track are bad - it's just that tape project compatibility puts you into the well-heeled market of people will to spend $300 for an album and correspondingly high numbers for machines...

HK-Steve · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:16 pm Post subject:

I have a nice pair sitting on the shelf.

Cheers

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Hey Curt - Don't Ebay that RTR until you PM me first! I have 44, 10-1/2" half track 15ips professionally recorded master tapes that I can't use because I am having trouble trying to find a capstan belt for my Otari since it dry rotted. Hate to buy a whole RTR just for a friggen belt, but I might have to.

Thanks,
Bob

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:16 pm Post subject:

Not to lose a sale of a deck here, but let me know the model of the Otari. Do you know the size/length? I've got a big crossreference book here that hasn't failed me yet, and a local supplier that can get literally any belt...