Akai AS980 Quad Akai

[David Sayloe]

I took in for trade an Akai AS-980 Quadraphonic Stereo and know absolutely nothing about quad receivers. I traded him a decent Pioneer SX580 which was in excellent shape but I didn't have much in it. The Pioneer had been totally rebuilt and I picked it up at the previous owners estate sale. I've also threw in a pair of Vintage Kenwood KL5090 speakers that were in good shape sonically with some chips and scratches in the cases. The Akai is enormous, 26" wide and weighs around 50 lbs. It is in perfect working shape but has a couple of small chips in the case veneer and a couple of lamps need replaced. My question is what would this thing be worth and how expensive and hard to find are quad recordings? I only had $35 in the Pioneer but it was a great size and this being so large I wonder how much of a headache it might be if/when something goes wrong. And did I make a mistake swapping for this monster. Thanks for any help or info.

 

[swechsler]

Here's a nice writeup on it. I'm not a quad guy either (it was already a dying fad when I first got into audio) but apparently this was one of the better quad receivers on the market.

Here's a very old thread from another forum

As far as value, all I can give you are a couple of eBay data points for other Akai quad models.

Here's an AS-960 still listed, current price is $99 and ridiculously high shipping charges, with 2 days to go.

Here's a non-working AS-1080 (presumably the next generation of the one you have), sold at $282.77, with even more ridiculously high shipping charges.

 

[David Sayloe]

Here's a nice writeup on it. I'm not a quad guy either (it was already a dying fad when I first got into audio) but apparently this was one of the better quad receivers on the market.

Here's a very old thread from another forum

As far as value, all I can give you are a couple of eBay data points for other Akai quad models.

Here's an AS-960 still listed, current price is $99 and ridiculously high shipping charges, with 2 days to go.

Here's a non-working AS-1080 (presumably the next generation of the one you have), sold at $282.77, with even more ridiculously high shipping charges.

Thanks. This is starting me to thinking maybe This is best to find rhis one a new home. Just don't think the potential problems and costs of buying new records or reels is worth it since I'd be starring from scratch. It a a beautiful receiver but maybe best left to someone who would already be into the quad formats and make good use of It.

 

[Markoneswift]

I had a 960 which cosmetically was pristine but operationally a POS. They don't seem to attract much attention or hold any value. The one I had, even after getting it 90% going, struggled to reach $80 NZ...

 

[David Sayloe]

I had a 960 which cosmetically was pristine but operationally a POS. They don't seem to attract much attention or hold any value. The one I had, even after getting it 90% going, struggled to reach $80 NZ...

I went ahead and posted it for sale. Sold in less than 6 hours for $400. Maybe I priced it too cheap? Had about a dozen calls after I sold it. I had $35 in it. And I still have a very nice Vintage Kenwood KL-5090 speakers that i got in the deal that didn't even need re-foaming. So it worked out, lol

 

[Markoneswift]

I went ahead and posted it for sale. Sold in less than 6 hours for $400. Maybe I priced it too cheap? Had about a dozen calls after I sold it. I had $35 in it. And I still have a very nice Vintage Kenwood KL-5090 speakers that i got in the deal that didn't even need re-foaming. So it worked out, lol

Nice deal, you did good there

 

[Clemens65]

necro thread ...
Just acquired and AS-980 at what looks like a reasonable price, $250. It all appears to be in good working order just needs some de-oxit and caps soon
Looking for opinions
The as-980 will play either 2 or 4 channels
should I just set it up as a 2 channel system or should I start buying 4 channel components for a true quad system? a 4 channel system would be something unique for me. It's as much for the novelty as anything
I currently have an M-45 and M-65 based systems
a Pioneer SX-737 based system
and an MCS system made and designed by NEC, what can I say, it was really cheap
a vintage harman khardon receiver hooked up to nothing, don't have the model number handy

Speaker wise I have 2-ar2's that should work with the akai receiver and getting 2 more would not be at all difficult