Cassette decks.

infinity85

infinity85

Active Member
Looking at buying an AKIA GXC-706D cassette deck. Cosmetically looks to be in pretty good shape. Mechanically it does work but given age it will need belts, and a overall cleaning at the least.

I know this brand is a love or hate but is it worth to restore for only a 50 dollar investment? I'm not going to be going crazy with it as I have more albums than anything. It's just more of a nostalgia piece to match my vintage stereo system.

Also looking at a Kenwood KX-830 as well for 100 bucks in similar condition. Which would be a better option?
 
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The piano key Akai decks like this are not very good, performance - wise and they all have a design problem with the auto stop. The tape counter belt also operates the auto stop, and the way they did it, the belt just grazes the top of the pulley instead of wrapping around it. When the belt gets just a little worn, the auto stop keeps stopping by itself. To replace that belt you have to take the mechanism completely apart.
If you want a nice Akai, you can get a GXF-31 cheap. Much better made, and better sound.
Kenwood only made 2 good cassette decks, the KX-1030 and KX-1060.
All the rest are junk.
The best deal on a nice cassette deck is Harman Kardon. Even their cheap decks are excellent.
 
Pretty similar specs on both. Haven’t met an Akai that’s easy as far as belts.
 
Ok. Good information thanks. I'll stick to the Kenwood then. Looks like the 830 was just below the 1030. They look practically identical. I would think it's nearly as good.
 
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Good deal. Think I'm going to go with the 830 and just plan on having belts, caps and any other parts replaced.
 
dr*audio said:
The piano key Akai decks like this are not very good, performance - wise and they all have a design problem with the auto stop. The tape counter belt also operates the auto stop, and the way they did it, the belt just grazes the top of the pulley instead of wrapping around it. When the belt gets just a little worn, the auto stop keeps stopping by itself. To replace that belt you have to take the mechanism completely apart.
If you want a nice Akai, you can get a GXF-31 cheap. Much better made, and better sound.
Kenwood only made 2 good cassette decks, the KX-1030 and KX-1060.
All the rest are junk.
The best deal on a nice cassette deck is Harman Kardon. Even their cheap decks are excellent.
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Agreed. The deck I still keep in my system is an HK, excellent machine. They are an great deal compared to most decks in $ price/performance currently. :thumbsup:
 
Buying a vintage used cassette deck is very risky. More then belt replacement may be necessary. Any of the idler wheels it has may need attention and that’s a whole bigger can of worms. When it comes to any used vintage audio equipment it’s “pays your monies and takes your chances “.
Don’t get me wrong. I buy used vintage audio all the time but it’s not always what I expected.
 
I agree. It's a risk and you never know how it was cared for as well as what could be bad no one will tell you. Perfect example I bought my KR-8050 which the guy originally wanted 1100.00 for. We went back and forth and finally settled at 300.00 bucks. Got it in the mail and almost freaked out when I saw the box it arrived in. Literally looked like Jim Carey from HPS delivered it to me. I was expecting the acrylic to be cracked or busted and the rest of the unit in pieces. Luckily it wasn't but the bass knob was missing and the tone control pots were bent to crap. Also the power flip switch had burned in so it was hot all the time. Got everything restored on it and lucked out and was able to track down a person parting out an 8050 I bought the tone control pots from. Was able to get in contact with the seller who sold the 8050 and get another 100 bucks knocked off. I thought I really screwed up when this all first started but, could not be happier and the nostalgia it brings is worth it.
 
Doug G. said:
Replacing belts on the vast majority of cassette decks is a genuine PITA,

Doug
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I'm kind of done with cassette decks unless something exceptional comes along. Too many aged, brittle plastic and nylon parts, gears, etc, motors that are difficult to replace, eccentric engineering solutions to cram so much into so little. Generally not worth the effort, it seems they all have at least one nearly fatal unobtainium weakness as well (Pioneer clutches, lookin' at you).
 
I love cassette decks, there's no denying it and I've got plenty to prove it, in fact I just got a very rare Sony today and it's really cool and heavy. Now a days I expect them all to need work, dr*audio mentioned the sources I like to use if I don't have the parts myself. I'd get a nice blue silicone mat from ebay, some Vessel JIS Screwdrivers and take a lot of photos when taking it apart. Research availabillity on the idlers and belts before you buy, I tore apart a cool Optonica only to find the little buried idler wheel was goo and most repairers were making the tire themselves, nobody is remaking them. It took about an hour and a 1/2 to take down and reassemble, I didn't feel like taking it further at the time.

I really like late 70's JVC Decks, I've said it before, most of the time I can pull one off the shelf and it still works fine. They sold millions of them and lots come up for sale, most have larger VU meters and they look great.
 
titanstats said:
I'm kind of done with cassette decks unless something exceptional comes along.
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my kenwood deck needed multiple switch cleaning to get it working. probably not exceptional but silver face, very cheap and good enough for my college tapes.
 
My Nakamichi, Revox & Tandberg decks have been about the best investment I have ever made, & not just as far as audio, either. Hard to not love a hobby that costs less than nothing in the long run and provides amazing sound to enjoy, to boot. I have a couple thousand cassettes, so they are actually playing more of the time than my LPs. And no, (except for a few) prerecorded tapes don’t compete with an LP, in SQ, even in the best casette deck, but home recorded ones are indistinguishable. Prerecorded are for fun and for albums where critical listening isn’t a big deal. Unfortunately, my 65 year old ears bring them closer together each year.
 
Got the call today. Needs a new transport system, belts, head cleaning and I'm going to go ahead and have new LED vu meter lights put on it as well. 300.00 bucks in total but she will be as good as new again.
 
Think my speed control is going bad on it as a couple of times I've had to adjust the speed as it would either drag some or go a little too fast. I checked Mouser but, could not find a replacement motor for any cassette unit. I know Kenwood doesn't make parts for this but, any other place that might have some NOS or is there a suitable replacement motor that would work? MHI-5R2CHA is the number I got off the motor. Looking at eBay I found one it looks like a Mitsubishi and is identical to mine from what I can see with the built in speed control.
 
infinity85 said:
Think my speed control is going bad on it as a couple of times I've had to adjust the speed as it would either drag some or go a little too fast. I checked Mouser but, could not find a replacement motor for any cassette unit. I know Kenwood doesn't make parts for this but, any other place that might have some NOS or is there a suitable replacement motor that would work? MHI-5R2CHA is the number I got off the motor. Looking at eBay I found one it looks like a Mitsubishi and is identical to mine from what I can see with the built in speed control.
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This is what you need: https://www.tapeheads.net/threads/u...t-cassette-capstan-motor-available-now.32263/
 
Well have it in the shop getting some more work done on it. Bought new motor and have the guy putting all new caps. Not cheap as it will be 200 bucks for everything. However, other than pots and the case everything will be brand new again like it was in 1977. Hopefully I'll get another 40 plus years out of it.
 
Back up and going.
 

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