• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Vintage akai speaker project finished

bronco

bronco

Active Member
I picked up a pair of Akai SW175 speakers a few months ago off of Craigslist. The Speaker cones looked OK, the cabs were pretty beat up and the lattice grills broken in places. I got them for next to nothing so home they came with me. I have never owned the dreaded "kabuki" speakers before so I didnt know what to expect. (I have since aquired some Sansui Sp3000s-not even in the same league as these Akais). These speakers must weigh close to 70lbs each. They surprised me at how they sounded, project very well and punchy, a tight bass response that will cause internal organ damage at high volumes! I decided to refinish the walnut cabinets, recover the lattice grills with speaker cloth, and put new pots in the crossovers. Well, they are finally done. Here they are:
 

Attachments

  • akai front.jpg
    akai front.jpg
    39.9 KB · Views: 548
  • akai grill.jpg
    akai grill.jpg
    73.4 KB · Views: 364
  • finished.jpg
    finished.jpg
    37.3 KB · Views: 430
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
After sanding down the old finish to bare wood (being careful not to sand all the way through the walnut veneer), I applied several coats of Danish Oil Finish in dark walnut color. I used 0000 steel wool to apply it, and then buffed the finish out with some gunstock polish called "Stock Glaze". I did have to refinish one of them a second time, I could see where I did not remove all traces of the previous finish and the Danish Oil finish did not penetrate properly. The nice thing about oil finishes is you can always go back and sand out a scuff or scratch and apply finish to only that particular area and it will blend perfectly.
Matt
 
Yeah Kabuki - like the guys that build the receivers and amps don't know how to make sound ???? I have had cheap Japanese speakers that weren't that good, but they were cheap. Their good stuff is GOOD :)
 
dude i dont care what any one says about kabuki! sansui speakers really drew me into the vintage audio world.

those are fuqing awesome speakers. i saw a pair on ebay recently. i just dissembled my akai sw-155 "cabinets beyound repair" and they were loud as hell. i dropped the woofers in a pair of jbl l88's i had sitting around. i still have the rest of the drivers and grills if anyone is interested. how many watts are those rated at? i swear the drivers on akai's look just like sansui. the cabinets are close to sansui and pioneer.

btw i've had 2 pairs of sp-3000"s and they suck. no bass. no woofer excursion. the sp-2000's are better. dont get me wrong i still love sansui.

my favorite akai sw-180a comparison pic next to a jbl l100

i'd say there keepers.
 

Attachments

  • akai 180a vsjbl.JPG
    akai 180a vsjbl.JPG
    184.7 KB · Views: 328
bronco said:
I picked up a pair of Akai SW175 speakers a few months ago off of Craigslist. The Speaker cones looked OK, the cabs were pretty beat up and the lattice grills broken in places. I got them for next to nothing so home they came with me. I have never owned the dreaded "kabuki" speakers before so I didnt know what to expect. (I have since aquired some Sansui Sp3000s-not even in the same league as these Akais). These speakers must weigh close to 70lbs each. They surprised me at how they sounded, project very well and punchy, a tight bass response that will cause internal organ damage at high volumes! I decided to refinish the walnut cabinets, recover the lattice grills with speaker cloth, and put new pots in the crossovers. Well, they are finally done. Here they are:
Click to expand...

Just got a pair of these myself. Very well build, rubber surrounds on the drivers. Takes a lot longer then 40 years to where them out I see. The pots are bad on mine as well. Sounds cuts in and out when I adjust them. I think that is why two of the mids don't work unless they are at very high volume. Seems odd. Where did you find pots for these or what size pots did you use? Did you have any problems with the drivers not working before you changed the pots? I also can't find anything as far as schematics are concerned on these speakers

These speakers do sound sweet though. Even in the three way mode they are in. Thanks.
 
I recently picked up a pair of Akai SW-155s, and had the same problem with the adjustable pots. I found how to fix mine - the pots will pull apart if you use two pairs of channel locks. Then applying deoxit is easy
 
bronco said:
I picked up a pair of Akai SW175 speakers a few months ago off of Craigslist. The Speaker cones looked OK, the cabs were pretty beat up and the lattice grills broken in places. I got them for next to nothing so home they came with me. I have never owned the dreaded "kabuki" speakers before so I didnt know what to expect. (I have since aquired some Sansui Sp3000s-not even in the same league as these Akais). These speakers must weigh close to 70lbs each. They surprised me at how they sounded, project very well and punchy, a tight bass response that will cause internal organ damage at high volumes! I decided to refinish the walnut cabinets, recover the lattice grills with speaker cloth, and put new pots in the crossovers. Well, they are finally done. Here they are:
Click to expand...

Wow nice job man,I'm just wondering I think I need to replace my subwoofer on both of mine,now i know there old so chances of getting the same subwoofer is probably slim, but could you give me any idea on what subwoofer I could buy that would be close to the akai sw-177 subwoofer

Many thanks
Paul.
 
So reviving a 14 year old thread!
Just picked up a pair of these that were going for a reasonable price: €75/$80.
Cabinets have been knocked about a bit, but all of the drivers work, and at testing, the pots also!!
Nice little project to get these 'as new' (or as close as). Not keepers, but there's enough margin for me to get these to a new home, covering the cost of materials.

They look so nice, I just couldn't help myself!
DSCF7848.JPG DSCF7849.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom