Purchasing Akai Tape Deck - Need Help! :)

[whatisqueso]

Newbie into this whole space I'm searching around for my first tape deck mainly to listen and consume music on my sonos system. I'm debating between a few models and have difficulty choosing with the limited information on the net. I'm debating between these 3 models:

Akai GX-M10
Akai GX-M50
Akai GX-F35

I don't mind spending extra for sound quality, but not looking to spend more than $250 on this purchase. I know the M50 has the 3 heads, but from what I've read, that has more value if you plan on recording (which I don't think I will). The F-35 seems to be a great option but I noticed the hertz range is less than the M50 (30hz - 19hz vs 25hz - 21hz). Any insight or suggestions would be much appreciated, Thank you!! Other suggestions outside of these models above with the way I plan to use the tape deck would be great too

 

[genesmasher]

Why limit yourself to these specific early 80's Akai models? Consider Nak BX-150, Luxman K-111, H/K TD4400 or TD192, etc - all under or close to $200. If you want an Akai in this price range, GX-F51 or GX-7 sound pretty good.

 

[whatisqueso]

I was looking at the Akai models above due to the aesthetics -.- thanks for the recs! Very difficult to find a Nak BX-150 in that price range from my search atm

 

[oldvinyldude]

As you stated recording is not planned, then the MX10 will do just fine. I like solenoid controls-so would choose the F35, but that's just me. The stated frequency response differences are not significant-very little content in the >19khz area on tapes, and few can hear sound in this frequency. I am 62-I top out at a few khz below that.

 

[1tumbleweed]

If you're not going to be recording, what exactly will you be playing on any of these decks? Prerecorded cassettes? Cassettes you or someone else recorded?

Regardless, I'd stick with solenoid decks - lever-actions are just OLD. Unless aesthetics are what's most important.

 

[whatisqueso]

As you stated recording is not planned, then the MX10 will do just fine. I like solenoid controls-so would choose the F35, but that's just me. The stated frequency response differences are not significant-very little content in the >19khz area on tapes, and few can hear sound in this frequency. I am 62-I top out at a few khz below that.

awesome, thank you!

 

[whatisqueso]

If you're not going to be recording, what exactly will you be playing on any of these decks? Prerecorded cassettes? Cassettes you or someone else recorded?

Regardless, I'd stick with solenoid decks - lever-actions are just OLD. Unless aesthetics are what's most important.

cassettes someone else recorded, or releases from bands and cassettes I'll pick up at stores

 

[1tumbleweed]

As oldvinyldude said, it's very unlkely you'll hear much of anything beyond 15K (if you're lucky) on cassettes you buy. Most commercially prerecorded tapes top out at about 10-12K or so.

Home recorded tapes, done on good blanks, on a very good deck, may get you to 15K or so.

As always, just my opinion, YMMV.

I'll also throw out the suggestion that you look beyond Akai to brands like Technics, Sony, Denon or even Onkyo.

 

[Rey1]

Denon and Onkyo decks run under the radar and they made some good ones. In my experience, Onkyo belts tend to go bad quicker than other brands. JVC made some fantastic, well built decks and they run way under the radar.

 

[Bone Yard]

1/2 the fun is recording music on tapes and don't worry about a three head machine, back in the 80's nobody had one and we didn't care. AKAI's might be priced at a premium, they tend to be more rare, I'm pretty sure I don't have a single-one except a boombox or two. My goto brand is JVC, the early 80's models seem to be bullet-proof and since they made millions of them, they tend to be priced right and whenever I do head to head with a new to me machine, the JVC always seems to win.