quick advice: akai gx 265 D

[1420-1503]

I need quick advice as I've seen this Akai GX 265 D real2real recorder/player for sale, which had been kept stored for 20 years.

I briefly tried it; lights and leds are working, but the tape doesn't move when pushing play or fast forword.

Is it a good one? Can I still get new tapes for it?

I always wanted a good recorder. I'm not familier with real2real decks.

Thank you very much.

 

[dr*audio]

Yes, this is a good model, but you're probably going to pay $100 - $150 to get it fixed.

 

[1420-1503]

Ok thanks Dr. Audio!

 

[Vintage TX]

Be careful buying this model.
If the transport doesn't work at all, it has problems in the power-supply board.
Both reel-motors and capstan-motor is direct-drive and has several transistors and spark quenchers that usually goes out.

 

[Pioneer727]

When you tried it was there a tape threaded on it one of the tension arms has a off funtion if not lifted which stops the reels from moving. Vintage TX is are expert on Reel to Reel.

Nice Deck

Ron

 

[Vintage TX]

Good point Ron.
I assume he tested with a tape on.
Right tension-arm has a switch engaging the capstan-motor and transport buttons.
Lift it up carefully about 3 inches and test rewind + fforward.

PS / press the reverse button and see if the capstan-motor change direction.

Good Luck

 

[1420-1503]

Right the unit was being tested with a tape on. But I think I completely lost the deal.
It was in a flea market which is closed now.
The price was only 10 Euros. But the seller has got my number, which he asked for. He said he'd test it at home and give a call if he finds what caused the 'malfunction'.
The unit is his which he bought new, he even mentioned the store where he had gotten the unit, he said then 20 years ago he replaced it with a modern cassette unit and stored the Akai till now.

Then I came home and posted the message over here, realising what a great deal I've missed. I ran back and they were already gone!!

I don't think he'll ever call me though, for 10 euros.

 

[Vintage TX]

Maybe he will call you, don't give up.
Where do you live ?

 

[ProAc_Fan]

Okay Rule #1: ALWAYS buy anything you think may be worthwhile when the price is as low as 10 Euro's. Ask questions later.


Mike

 

[Wade Kuzen]

Can anyone tell me if the Akai gx-265d makes good tapes using Maxell UD-35 90 without noise reduction. My deck is getting serviced, and upon it's return I will have the option of using either Dolby B or a DBX 224 with it. Will it make acceptable sounding tapes without a lot of noticeable hiss without noise reduction? Please advise.....anyone who has had experience using this deck. Thanks.

 

[Blue Shadow]

It should make a nice tape w/o noise reduction. Dolby will lower the hiss, dbx will be amazing if the record and play are set up correctly.

 

[kermit z]

Yes, it does a really nice job recording. What's also nice, is this unit also records going in reverse. That is at the end of the tape on side one, change directions, and your able to record on side two. My SL 4010 only records in one direction.

 

[Wade Kuzen]

Main system. Aragon 4004 MK2, Aragon 24K with ISP, Aragon 47K phono, Meridian 507 CD player, Panamax line conditioner, VPI scout w/Benz H2, Rythmic F-15 HP Subwoofer, Magnepan MG 3.6, Kimber Select throughout. Room sonically treated. Akai GX-265D not in picture due to being serviced. The deck was given to me free with 10 Maxell UD-35 90 tapes. Deck sat for some years, thus needing attention. Upon getting it back I think I will give it a go with the dbx 224. Thanks for the opinions.

 

[Wade Kuzen]

Vintage system on other side of the room. Marantz 2325 totally restored, Technics SL-Q2 with Shure V15-VMR phono cartridge, Akai Gx-F31 cassette, Onkyo TA-2800 Cassette, Onkyo C7030 CD player, Technics SB 7000a speakers, Kimber cable.

 

[Wade Kuzen]

Today I received notice that my Akai GX-265D has been repaired and I just picked it up. Amazing.....only $170.00 for it. I expected 3x the cost for repair. The repair place specializes in TV/audio repair/vintage equipment. Maybe I just got lucky. It was totally taken apart and cleaned/lubricated. He said he never saw a deck of this age as clean as this. I did tell him that my friend barely ever used it. Heads are perfect and its calibrated for the Maxell ud-35 90 tape. The counter belt was replaced with a new one, the solenoids were cleaned/lubed, whole transport examined and tested, brakes perfect, motors all running smooth, cleaned heads and tape path, demagnetized head block, switches all checked. Pinch roller good. Cleaned/lubed wherever needed. There was no old grease to worry about he stated. He checked all caps and did not find any of the bad dreaded Hitachi transistors constantly mentioned. It could be just a matter of time, but I will deal with it when I have problems. He said the transistor legs did not have that black tarnished look on them and they checked out ok. No bad caps either. Meters look good. The only problem the deck had [why it went in for repair] was that it was not recording. He said he recorded a tape partially and the sound is excellent. The deck is quiet and runs very smoothly. I'm a happy person today. I haven't the time to play with it today, but probably by the weekend I will have it back in the system, experimenting with my recently purchased DBX 225 NR unit!

 

[kermit z]

That's not bad on price. I paid a lot to have my 265D rebuilt, but I had paid $10.00 for it 12 years ago, so I'm still in the green. My TEAC SL4010S was a low cost rework with the power supply recapped.

 

[Wade Kuzen]

Just set up my Akai GX-265D after repair and gave it a whirl with the DBX 224 noise reduction unit. Made a wooden case for it so I could put the Akai on top. Spent some time setting up the 224 with the Akai and the result was excellent using a bulk erased Maxell UD-3590 tape. Better than CD! There's a bit of a tight fit to the door going into the laundry room. I'll be careful and so will the wife! I absolutely have no remaining space in the man cave..lol

 

[Wade Kuzen]

Here's another scenario after using the 265d for a couple months. When setting the recording levels and making a recording, all is well. During playback tape sounds fine, but there are first of all lower readings coming from the VU meters during playback, PLUS the right channel meter is lower than left during playback. What gives? Any suggestions? I clean heads after every tape recorded. I used the demag previously as well. I did not notice this at first, until just recently. Tapes seem to sound good. Anyone, please advise and thank you.

 

[Wade Kuzen]

I will try a good cleaning of the entire tape path to start

 

[Wade Kuzen]

Well after cleaning the heads AGAIN and giving it a good demag, all is well. Meters are back to normal. I'll be damned...the demag did the trick. I demagged it once right before service, not giving it another thought. Upon getting it back I started to record tapes and noticed the meter situation after recording 6 Maxell ud tapes. I better go through them all with a good listen. I did a 7th tape today and that's where I noticed the problem.... right channel was weaker upon playback also. I'll have to bulk erase the other 6 tapes and start over. Meters acting normal again.
I was always one to just do a demag once in a while for the sake of doing it; never really noticing any results, and possibly never paying attention. I have read many threads on the importance of this task and many people do not believe in it as being necessary. I WAS one of them. No longer! They might say the deck does its own bias erasing upon using, or there are no parts that need demagnification, etc.; but I am now a true believer due to the fact of the IMMEDIATE improvement I have experienced with the recording I just did after the demag process. Unfortunately, I wasted a lot of precious time recording tapes I may have to do over. Fortunately, I have the available time to spend doing them over. All is well! It's great when I can solve a little problem on my own, as it doesn't happen often enough. LOL