Akai - Got Some ?

[cjackson]

I have been given an Akai Tape Deck and Tuner, I have NEVER had anything to do with Akai in any form what so ever, couldnt find much about them on the internet really either nor can I find manuals for the tape deck or tuner.

I looked on ebay for the tape deck and the model below it was going for some £40 which for a tape deck in my opinion is alot!!

So does anyone know anything about his manufacturer any body dealt with them, also I'll list what models I have if anyone has ever had the models what do you think of them ??

If it's decent stuff I may just put it on my second system

Tape Deck: Akai - HX-M659W

Tuner: AT-M659L

Thanks everyone

 

[professorhat]

Back when I was in my formative years, I remember my friend being very proud of his Akai tape player.

I haven't heard the name in ages - has brought back waves of nostalgia

 

[Anonymous]

Brings back memories of my dad avidly taping the Top20 (as it was in those days) off Radio 1 on a Sunday night. Don't know why though, he never listended to the tape until the following Sunday, wehn he'd wipe it and start over, and Mum was scared stiff of the thing.

 

[Sizzers]

I always looked at Akai as a serious step up from Aiwa.

 

[matthewpiano]

Akai made a lot of very good kit. Like JVC they have never really had the same image as Pioneer or Sansui, but that doesn't make the kit any less decent. I'm not familiar with the precise examples you have but I'm sure they will be at least quite good. The main thing is to try them. If you like them, then they're good for you and that is all that matters.

 

[Anonymous]

Can't be bothered to do a cut'n'paste, but more reading on the Akai brand, products and history of the company canbe found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akai

 

[Sizzers]

matthewpiano:Akai made a lot of very good kit. Like JVC they have never really had the same image as Pioneer or Sansui,

Agreed. Never knowingly listened to Akai kit, but going back some 35 years they had a pretty good reputation.

 

[Anonymous]

Used to work p/t in Comet to earn beer money whilst I was a (very youthful) student in the 80s. As well as flogging VCRs, film cameras and sodastream, we also sold midi-systems and occasionally separates. Akai and Pioneer were amongst the best brands carried at the time, and although I have no idea about the models you quote, I recollect (possibly with a touch of nostalgia) that Akai tape decks were pretty desirable.

 

[Diamond Joe]

I kind of found my way into Hi-Fi with Akai, I had an AM-U3 amp, HX-A3X cassette deck and an AT-S210L tuner, if memory serves. I'm pretty sure I've still got the cassette deck and tuner somewhere. I thought they were great at the time.

 

[ear]

I also grew up with akai gear. I dont recal this but my father had a Akai all in one system with tape deck and turntable when I was a baby, and then In one of his trips to South Africa (Rand Show exhibition) , He brought back amp, tuner (manual),tape deck, speakers (3 way fat floorstanders, with midrange regulations and a radial cover on the tweeter. All this still works fine! this was in late 78 or 79 I guess.My father passed away a few years ago and I will always keep all this gear.

 

[Andy Clough]

My first hi-fi stack system (turntable, amp, cassette deck) was Akai, bought from Comet in Harrogate. No idea what the model numbers were, but it saw me through my student days until I upgraded to Technics.

 

[bay24]

My first Experience of having my own hifi was a second hand akai seperates system of cd, amp and tape deck. I got them all for the prize sum of £50 from someone who was rather well off and just wanted some quick cash! Spun my first cd on it and made my first mix tape on it as well! I was the envy of my friends and a menace to the neighbours it could go very loud and was a beast compared to the mini systems popular at the time. Those were the days...... May have to get my mum to dig it out of her loft

 

[sometimesuk]

my dad used to have an Akai tape deck, he sold it, when he saw a wanted advert for one.

Some bloke had his stolen and he had lots of tapes made using DBX (?, definately not Dolby) noise reduction system and he couldnt find a new tape player with it. As it happens my dad had the exact same model he had. His was a double deck as well, silver with a big red button on it for record ,and a small greed button for something, either the noise reduction or to reset the counter.

It looked well made from what I remmember.

 

[cjackson]

Thanks for the replies everyone - Some great interesting stories there, I have hooked up the tuner and all seems well. I have not had chance to play with the ape deck a lot yet but I have noticed that one side doesnt play or rewinf or fast forward.

Thanks again.

 

[StevieC]

Tucked away in the loft I've still got an Akai tuner that dates from the mid 70's and that still works perfectly. Hidden in another dark corner I've got an Akai 4000DS reel to reel which unfortunately is past it's best now but was stunning at one time. Also had an Akai cassette deck from the late 70's which I thought was pretty good.

Somewhere in the world there is an Akai enthusiast with a huge personal collection of Akai products. A few years ago there was a web site showing various examples of the stuff the person had got but this doesn't seem to be in existence anymore. Sorry but can't remember any other details about it.

Steve

 

[SteveR750]

I recall Akai very well from the 70s and 80s and like Revox i recall them being best known fr their reel to reel tape decks

 

[Anonymous]

I have an Akai stereo integrated amplifier: model AC-A300W and an Akai cpmpact disc player: model CD-M315 and still play the old vinyl LP's through the amplifier via a Sony stereo turntable PS-4300.

I have come across a website which deals with the liquidation of Akai Holdings by Ernst & Young in September-October 2009, apparently Hong Kong's biggest ever insolvency.

At the same time, though, I came across two websites for submitting queries to Akai:

One is www.sansui-global.com/akai and the other is www.akaipro.com/content1024

Perhaps these sites can help users/owners get more information/help about "retro" Akai hi-fi components.

Malcolm Ferris

 

[MrReaper182]

I live in a two story apartment block and we share a big metal bin down stairs. I was taking the rubbish down to it this morning when what should I see to my surprise siting by the big metal bin but a Akai turntable. It was in great shape minus a few scratches on the lid so I took the Akai turntable back up to apartmet. I know nothing about the company Akai (finding that turntable was the first I had ever heard of them) so I fired up the internet and started looking for suff on Akai but there is really not a lot about them or the products they had made on the internet (but I did come across this post). I have took of the lid of the Akai turntable because like I said it had a few scratches on. I have also fired it up and it seems to be working and sounding nice. It is going to need a new cartridge but other than that great. find. Why someone just few it away is beyond me. I shall keep it as a back up to my Project carban turntable.

 

[plastic penguin]

I live in a two story apartment block and we share a big metal bin down stairs. I was taking the rubbish down to it this morning when what should I see to my surprise siting by the big metal bin but a Akai turntable. It was in great shape minus a few scratches on the lid so I took the Akai turntable back up to apartmet. I know nothing about the company Akai (finding that turntable was the first I had ever heard of them) so I fired up the internet and started looking for suff on Akai but there is really not a lot about them or the products they had made on the internet (but I did come across this post). I have took of the lid of the Akai turntable because like I said it had a few scratches on. I have also fired it up and it seems to be working and sounding nice. It is going to need a new cartridge but other than that great. find. Why someone just few it away is beyond me. I shall keep it as a back up to my Project carban turntable.

My cousin used to have an Akai receiver way back when (think he still may have it) and connected to a pair of Wharfedale Laser speakers (the latter influenced by yours truly) made a pretty good noise from memory. I'm a big fan of old retro amps, although many came up short in overall SQ, they looked great.