WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO AKAI

[@LennyFlorentine]

For more of my content subscribe to KZbin.com/@ThatGuyWithTheBeard

[@mdavid1955]

I worked for a small electronic repair shop as a technician in the 70~80's. We were an Akai warranty provider. They made some great tape decks, including an 8-track recorder with the GX heads.

[@stepheneson4107]

This is a great video, thanks very much. As a teenager in high school and college, for roughly 7 years I owned an AKAI 250D tape deck at the heart of my expanding audio system. This relatively obscure model, which performed flawlessly throughout my ownership, was sandwiched in between the end of the X Series and the new GX Series; it was their first model with servo-controlled motors. My hobby served as a springboard into a ten-year career selling consumer audio & video. Towards the end of that career I was saddened to see the commodification of the industry into cheap mass-market rack systems and quasi-disposable components. Most of those great brands are long gone now.....

[@LennyFlorentine]

Thank you for sharing your story!

[@ianmusic19]

In 1975 I bought 4 pieces that was being sold as a set at a local audio store. The GX 215 D RtR with glass heads, the AM2000 Amp, the turntable and the AM/FM Radio. The last two were sold in the 1980s but I still have the RtR and the Amp. Not one problem with these in 48 years. Excellent pieces of engineering.

[@ivaraaroy]

Great history lesson. Knew nothing about AKAI before. Please keep making these.

[@LennyFlorentine]

More to come!

[@RUfromthe40s]

Akai since the 60´s were the best in tape recording and their equipment was really good, even in early 80´s they release a series that was ahead of all other brands and everything works today not like nakamichi that can work forb 5 to 6 years but with heavy use in 3 years they start to fail, my early 70´s tape recorders all work with perfect sound today the nakamichi ones are working but had to fix them all ,well engeniered but the made from the cheapest materials around

[@kinwahvincentcheng5967]

You did not tell us what went wrong to akai in Japan n why it was sold to hk crooks 19:23

[@nzoomed]

Really? It was better than Sony in so many ways.

[@stephensams709]

I bought an Akai GX-635D while stationed in Japan in 1981 for $550.00. You could buy products there for about half of what you would pay in the US at that time. I still have it to this day, but it has the usual and well known transistor problem, so I found a guy that rebuilds reel to reel decks and he's going to go through mine at some point. I have the black version and really love this deck : )

[@ferminromero2602]

I found a motor for our Akai 1710 at a small shop on Okinawa while on TDY there. My dad was overjoyed when I brought it home.

[@patricknicolucci5073]

The AKAI GX series were the best made reel to reel tape decks. Glass heads changed the industry

[@jb.2986]

So true. We have a GX266d with the glass heads and a McIntosh customized look using a Black fascia and blue meters which our family loves. Retro yet great sounding and auto reverse art in motion.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Yeah I wish all reels had them!

[@jb.2986]

@@LennyFlorentine true! That was an outstanding summary on AKAI history. Very informative. Thanks for doing that. I also loved their VCR in the 80’s. Underrated IMHO.

[@stephenstevens6573]

Agreed! I have my GX 635d to this day...heads still work like new,!

[@snafu6548]

At the time of the GX-77, Revox was still the leader in the 7" market.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*THAT WAS ABOUOT 100X* more interesting than I thought it would be...!!!

[@robertlee4172]

That plot twist was something I'd never imagined. These old brand names still have cache in the market. Starter, Polaroid, Kodak, former famous brands that poured millions into advertising, still captures people's attention.

[@GregSinners]

It is implied that the person at the 1:29 mark is Saburo after the war. However, that is an American soldier, not Japanese.. There are many indicators such as the rank "Technical Corporal", his marksman medal and two American ribbons, one of which is for participation in the Pacific Theater of WW II. Soldiers with special skills were awarded the "T" for whatever specialized skill they had. Since this soldier appears to be Japanese, but is in an American uniform, I would suspect his specialized skill may have been fluency in Japanese which would explain his participation in the Pacific campaign, or perhaps electronics. Or, perhaps there is some other explanation. Whatever, the story is informative.

[@StealthParrot]

Absolutely love these historical videos of iconic hi-fi companies. Keep em coming. Thanks.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Glad you like them! Thank you Stealth!

[@Aswaguespack]

I wore out my 1972 Akai Reel to Reel Deck. It was played hours a day almost everyday. I was a music performance major in Grad School and I had accompaniment tapes for every piece of literature I studied seriously. Wish I would have had a remote then but the transport was mechanical and I was forever switching between play-rewind-play-rewind etc etc during long hours of practice. That Akai Recorder was just as much my instrument as my major instrument was (trumpet) and put in long hours without fail. It never got tired. Worked flawlessly. When I purchased a higher end two speed Cassette Deck with a remote control the Akai was sold. I bet it is still playing while that expensive cassette deck isn’t! I don’t remember the model number but it was a fantastic device and piece of Audio History (at least for me). Great Video and extremely interesting presentation. How about one on Garrard Turntables? Anyone else interested ?

[@gli7utubeo]

Thanks for these history lessons of Akai, Sansui, and Bose. I appreciate the work and research. Great stuff.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Thank you!

[@gli7utubeo]

I also really love all those photos you have in these videos. They are amazing and thanks for all the work in finding them.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Thanks, we try to curate the best we can on a time crunch

[@Visionism]

It should be noted that Akai are not only a name associated with consumer audio but are deeply embedded in the professional audio market, particularly with their MPC line of performance samplers. I'm not sure who owns the Akai Professional brand at this point but they continue as a highly respected name among musicians.

[@duncan-rmi]

it was harmon for a while. mate of mine consulted for them on some of the samplers, but that was ages ago. I often wondered how they went from half-decent tape decks to this brand new sampling technology suddenly in the 80s...

[@zambination11]

From Google search: °Numark, including Akai (and Alesis) is now owned by a company named InMusic, headquartered in Rhode Island in the U.S. Akai Professional continues in business today, marketing a wide variety of music products including synths, drum machines, DJ equipment, studio gear, and its EWI line of breath controllers.°

[@bbrexuk]

they also make professional broadcast components. Not available to consumer market. Many of these kind of HIFI brands like Sony, Philips etc made a variety of very high end quality devices for broadcast, radio and TV, film production. The prices reflected the professional specialisation of those products. In some cases custom built for the customer.

[@jamescarter3196]

Oh, you mean like all the pro gear they discussed and showed in this video, like around the 7:40 mark where he specifically talks about "pro machines" they made? Is that how you figured it out? Because of course you didn't just look at the title of the video and immediately 'weigh in' with the obvious like you're solving a mystery? It should be noted that Ford also makes pro vehicles and not just Mustangs, and GUM makes pro toothbrushes and not just the ones at the grocery store.

[@mink99a]

The new series of fake mpc has nothing to do with the classics. They are basically a windows based cash register with a cheap sound card and a fake logo….

[@LennyFlorentine]

Do you own, owned or wanted to own an Akai? Which one and why?

[@bonno666]

I have the 1981 rack system pro-2022, but they are totally separate components. Even the power amp is separate from the pre-amp and the volume is motorized. Because it had a remote connector. The remote RC6r was optional and very rare in europe.

[@TajitsuTakeuchi]

I have pre Amp Akai PR a04

[@PaulPassarelli]

Nope. I was a Teac guy.

[@bilhep]

In Vietnam are used a model 150. Many years after I was out of the service I acquired an 1800 SD I currently on a model M 10 I don't use it much, but when I got it, I used it to transfer all of my tape born recordings to hard drive. I don't know why, because the sound is atrocious!

[@ncfamily4]

I bought the Akai 747-DBX in 1985, and still use it today, it is in mint condition

[@hhvictor2462]

I bought an Akai hifi VCR back in the late 80s. Did everything I wanted the machine to do in glorious stereo and video and enjoyed it for a long time.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Currently still use one

[@js70371]

@@LennyFlorentinecan you guys tell me what one is worth on the retail market currently? Are they collectible?

[@mikebcivility6445]

Very informative video - thank you for all your efforts to put these together! I remember seeing an Akai 747 as a nerdy teenager in the early 80s. The big reels were playing The Police’s 1981 song “Spirits in the Material World,” as I watched that r2r and listened, I wanted that machine more than anything.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing that story!

[@jemsmay2167]

Thanks for the story, interesting stuff. I have an Akai cassette deck from late ‘70s. Nothing fancy but has 2 cool VU meters, high speed rewind, metal tape selector (a big deal at the time) and a mic-in port that allowed voice intros to tunes when recording. Performed well but got pushed out by CDs in the ‘90s. Made many a great party mix tape on that deck.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@nicevmax]

This was great, really enjoyed this, keep up the great work. I had an Akai top load cassette deck in the early 70's, dont remember the model, would have been about 73-74, it worked well and recorded great.

[@surlyogre1476]

In '74 I bought an Akai GXC-46D cassette deck, It was a top-load design. Perhaps yours was as well? Later ('77 or '78) I purchased a GXC 285D front-load cassette deck. Along with the -46D I had an Akai RtR deck, but I don't remember the model number, sorry. All three decks had an auto-reverse feature, as I recall.

[@theclearsounds3911]

I know you're talking reel to reel, but I bought a GX-F80 cassette deck at Crazy Eddie for a crazy discount in 1980, and loved it! In a sad twist of irony, the motor stopped working, and I'm waiting for the right time to replace it and fix the deck again. (remember, how Akai manufactured mostly motors in the early days?)

[@arrya5372]

Proud owner of the Akai X-360. Although it is limited to 7" reels, the deck can record at 15ips! Combine this feature with the crossfield head and you get TREMENDOUS recordings. I do A/B demonstrations of tape and vinyl to friends and family and jaws drop and eyebrows rise in surprise. Really enjoyed this video. Thank you for the time and effort you put into it. HIFI United.

[@rhkavli]

I used to have one, until the main transformer went bust. I've never seen a transformer with that many taps. It was impossible to find a replacement. So I got a Studer B67 mkII with a 4-track playback head as a replacement. But I was very much attached to that X-360, as I inherited it from my late beloved uncle.

[@bigdan2828ify]

Please do a video like this on Aiwa..... lol. My brother, 13 years older, had a serious separate system when we were growing up, I had a neat lil Aiwa all in one in my bedroom and thought I had something special in those days that the audio bug bit me

[@gaborpakay5670]

I live in Hungary, and love the Akai brand! I own the next Akai equipment: GX 260 D tape deck ( 3 motors, 6 heads ), GX 4000 D ( 1 motor 3 heads), 4000 DS ( 1 motor 3 heads one micron gap head ) GX 65 D cassette deck. Every machine work properly, the belts are factory originals! I enjoy the open reel decks, and the Akai machines are the best among these equipment .

[@ijerryhale]

I got a job as an apprentice factory service technician for Akai in Torrance, CA (Japanese companies operating in the US did this sort of thing long ago) starting in the mid seventies when I was about 21. Once a year around Christmas the company used to sell B-stock and returns to employees for next to nothing and I still have an old AA1200 sitting in my garage. John Carpenter was the National Service Manager and all of the John Carpenter/Bob Crane stuff was going on at the time which in retrospect was pretty eerie. My bosses name was Mr. Kurita. Mr. Kurita was brilliant and he probably as much as anyone really pointed me towards where I would end up. Mr. Kurita asked me one day "do you want to be a technician for the rest of your life?". I subsequently spent a lot of years in community college and university, got an electrical engineering degree, and became a software engineer.

[@scottjohnson921]

I loved Akai. I used to drool over their ads in Stereo Review. My brother owned the GX-9 cassette deck.

[@dougodyssey50]

They made the greatest portable stereo I've ever seen. I don't remember the model number, but it was CD/cassette/radio with remote from about 1994. Can't even find a photo of it on Google.

[@bcheung2008]

Thank you very much for the AKAI and Singer story. Really sad to see such historical brands were ruined by corruption.

[@WoodGuy]

In high school I had an AKAI reel to reel, that was in the late 60's. In the early 80's I got a high end VHS player from AKAI. In the late 80's I got one of AKAI's high end turntables, I still have it, it's a direct drive model AP-Q41. in the 90's I wanted another reel to reel and ended up with not one, but two TEAC reel to reels from a small shop in Montclair, Calif. from a guy who said he was the one who designed the reel to reels for TEAC. Really nice guy, wore glasses with lenses so thick it was like he was looking through bullet proof glass. He mentioned his eyes were fading fast and didn't know how much longer he was going to be able to work on the equipment. The reel to reels I purchased from him he said he had completely gone through them and were like new. I believe him, because the two I have still work great. I have a lot of factory reel to reel pre-recorded music I collected when I had my AKAI reel to reel. It was said, back when I had my AKAI reel to reel that the tapes would only last about 25 years before they'd come apart. They were wrong, the factory tapes I have still play as new over 50 years later.

[@NoristheCat]

Thank you for this awesome video explaining the History of Akai! I bought the Akai GX-650D in 1979 for $1471.25 CAD in Toronto Canada. I still have the original bill of sale and the box! I was 22 years old at the time and still remember how I saved for months to buy this unit on lay-away. Now over 45 years later, I last listened to one of my reel to reel tapes two weeks ago..Priceless!

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

The AKAI GX Series are things of art as much as they are reel to reel tape decks. I don't have any AKAI reel to reel decks in my collection because they are HUGE 10 inch reel monsters. If I had to pick my favorite AKAI shown here it has to be the AKAI GX-747. The AKAI GX-747 smoked my boots. The AKAI Glass ferrite tape heads were quite the improvement. I have 4 AKAI GX F-31's cassette decks that Just Audio refurbished for me. They all run like tanks for the most part but can be fussy every so often. I don't have room for another monster receiver but that AKAI receiver did get my going a bit. AKAI's monster receiver looked a LOT like a Yamaha with its clean look and simple lines. AKAI products look like precision instruments. Love em! Loved this!

[@dorian3260]

I grew up listening to my father’s Ampex reel to reel. I thought it was the best sound possible until a friend loaned me the Akai recorder he’d brought back from overseas in the service. The Akai was so superior in every way, it wasn’t even close.

[@ibdam1]

I love these audio history lesson videos. I have the GX 650D and the GX 220D.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Thank you! Very nice

[@barrettwbenton]

Wow, yet another wild ride! The connection with Sansui makes this even more eerie. And, those last r-t-r decks from them - the only thing cooker than the 707-747 models was Tandberg's TD20A SE, which I used extensively for live location recording up into the mid-aughts. Looking forward to more of this, you're truly on a roll here!

[@LennyFlorentine]

I have some good ones in the works!

[@paulpeters6148]

The year is 2023 and i still own a Akai GX 210D automatic reverse completely refurbished with 2020 components! I live in The Netherlands and up to this day it stil does his magic!

[@flyingsodwai1382]

I had an Akai "walkman" in the 80's. No problems with it.

[@Boorock70]

Love this HiFi history videos... Big names, vanished without a trace. So sad but pls do keep them coming 👍

[@TorontoJon]

7:42 I own Akai reel-to-reel decks, amplifiers, tuners, and cassette decks, and I really love their sound quality as well as their cool design aesthetics. In terms of Akai reel-to-reel decks, I own several including: - Two Akai GX-77 decks with their lids as well as steel Akai reels - Akai GX-270D - Akai GX-4000D - Akai GX-4000DS - Akai GX-625 - Akai GX-636 complete with its huge plastic lid that covers 10.5 inch reels being played I bought them all over 25 years ago on eBay from $75 to $250 each (not including shipping), but a number of the decks need some TLC (belts, basic tune-up, etc.), but one of my Akai GX-77 decks works perfectly and is my go-to deck in regular use. :)

[@jmoss99]

I own 2 AKAI DR16 digital records and 1 of their 4 channel tape decks from the 1970s. The DR16 is really great sounding. I sold my Studer A80 2" 24 track after I used the DR16 and did a A:B comparison with Dave Shogren of the Doobie Brothers. I was at a meeting in Berkeley CA where members of AKAI were buying the rights to manufacture a PCM digital recorder that was designed by an independent engineer. The DR series recorders have really great sounding A/D converters. I still use the DR16 and bought a second one last year as a backup.

[@mrgcav]

I have asked myself the same question. In the late 1970's through the mid 1990's I was an Audio Technician. I repaired Roberts and Akai R/R decks. Parts were always hard to come by. The Glassheads were excellent.

[@Wahian1]

In 1973 I bought an Akai 4000 DS 4 track stereo deck for £75 in London. Also featured sound on sound recording. I still have it along with a collection of pre-recorded 7" tapes; West Side Story is one of them. Still have an Akai VCR that hasn't been used in years.

[@TheRealAndreasBartel]

In Germany Akai was seen as the inventor of VHS for some time, because they shipped their first JVC clone VS-9300EG by plane, the JVC HR-3330EG was on sale later

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Fantastic history lesson of an iconic oem. Thank you for sharing this with us all.

[@michaellindquist31]

I had the 650D. I think I paid around $600 for it. I loved that unit. I used to record off FM radio in NY. I used it with the Sansui AU5500 and the TU5500 through a pair of Altec Lansing Valencia Voice of the Theater speakers. That was a LONG time ago.

[@MichaelHermann-mj3rw]

I have a couple of GX-625s and 'lil gx-4000D. I even have that RC-70 but cant get it to work (had some battery corrosion that destroyed the contacts, so who knows). The 625s don't have reverse playback, but that just allows me to enjoy the ritual of stringing tape twice. Every open reel collector know it's as much the mechanical aspect as the sound that makes this hobby special.

[@dennisheadley4408]

As I recall, in the seventies and eighties Akai tape decks were highly regarded. Not far behind the likes of Nakamichi and Tanberg. Never owned an Akai product. My last tape deck, which I still own is a Pioneer CT F1250.

[@RUfromthe40s]

i can assure you that no nakamichi comes near it playing or recording ,no to mention that the pioneer is still working with regular maintenace today as my nakamichi´s that i own 5 taking two dragons that i sold cheap because they were really bad, 3 years working perfect at the most, the others only send them once to be repaired also did the maintenace , in 76 pioneer in magazines would put the first 3 head nakamichi in most of the page making fun of the brand and explaining how better pioneer decks were with a litle photo in the corner of the model under the CT-F1000 ,the one with a extra window for the dynamic bias

[@dougodyssey50]

It depends on the model. Most of their Dolby S players with logic controls were excellent.

[@dy6682]

This video reminds of my involvement with the hi fi industry in the 70’s and 80’s. I miss those days and all those wonderful audio shows here in Toronto. Thanks for the journey back !

[@kerrylittle3900]

When I got into audio I eventually saved up enough to add an Akai 4000DB reel to reel and an Akai cassette recorder. I think it was a 710 model but not sure. Was awesome. I was 19 years old. I'm now 70 and have two Pioneer RT-909. You have so many videos and have watched some already. Have you ever done a video on the Pioneer RT-909. Love mine and listen to them all the time. Thanks for the awesome videos.

[@joerosen5464]

The RT-909 is a FAR better sounding machine than anything Akai made. Not to mention much better ergonomically & better looking than any Akai save maybe the GX-77 & 747. Fry-An-Ear suffered from unacceptable QC with their tape decks, both cassette & Open-Reel. Stuff was just rushed down the production line, with little or no attention paid to final inspection. Never a problem cosmetically IME, but often electronic ones. I have an RT-909 that sounded fantastic on playback, but had a defective recording circuit; the bias oscillator was too weak, either it had a faulty component in it or more likely it wasn't adjusted at all properly when it came off the line. Now the damn thing doesn't work at all! The capstan belt decomposed & left a huge melted mess all over the transport & bottom cover, courtesy of their use of poor materials for the belt "rubber". And then when that was all cleaned up & a new belt installed, the transport logic is now acting up. There must be 20 different IC's dedicated to this purpose!! Hope you're having much better luck with yours!🫤

[@joerosen5464]

I also have two 4000DS Mk.II's; your machine sans Dolby. These were permalloy head machines, & sound far sweeter & truer to the source than the later & more expensive Ferrite "GX" head machines that came later. Fairly bullet-proof machines, but you got what you paid for. Channels tend to cut in & out due to the lousy track selection ("1-4, Stereo, 2-3") switch on the front of the head nest cover. Also wow & flutter levels are high, & get worse after a year or two of use (300-500hrs.), after which the combined record/playback wow & flutter becomes plainly audible & plainly unacceptable. I learned my lesson about never buying any Single-Motor machines & their lever-actuated mechanisms from my 4000; always save up for a 3 motor machine or GO HOME!😱

[@kerrylittle3900]

@@joerosen5464 Mine were completely refurbished by a professional. Hence the expensive price tag for each one $1500.00. They both sound awesome for machines that are probably 44 years old. They are nice to look at too. LOL.

[@davidbailey6350]

I enjoy these videos. Thank you…

[@LennyFlorentine]

Glad to hear it!

[@ConglomerationCat]

My father's AKAI X-150D reel to reel deck and his AKAI GXC-325D was passed on to me many years ago. They still run beautifully to this day.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Plenty of stories in them I'm sure!

[@ConglomerationCat]

@@LennyFlorentine Absolutely!

[@tjmbv8680]

I really love these history videos

[@LennyFlorentine]

Awesome! Glad you are enjoying!

[@Ian-wh8ut]

gotta say these historical videos are cool a f!looks like you put a ton of effort into this one.others will probably start doing this sort of thing please keep em coming.

[@thomasperina2990]

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL & EDUCATIONAL VIDEO. GOD BLESS & MY BEST TO YOUR FAMILIES. TMP FROM N.J.

[@madcrabber1113]

Really enjoy these audio history lessons. A suggestion to do JVC,Aiwa, Sparkomatic, Soundesign and Teac at some point.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Great suggestion!

[@f.k.3762]

How about Luxman and Revox? Great idea

[@truemuck]

I’d love to see one about Mitsubishi/Diatone

[@ahawk1968]

Audiovox maybe, also the different brands through RadioShack... Optimus, Realistic, ect ..

[@EC-ki5wv]

Aiwaaa

[@MicahScottPnD]

Awesome stuff, love what you guys are up to!!

[@LennyFlorentine]

More to come! Thanks!

[@hydorah]

You really should have mentioned Akai's digital samplers and MPCs. Electronic music was hugely shaped by users of Akai's devices in the '80s and '90s. Possibly as pivotal a technology line as the Technics SL1200. As an oddity, Akai also had a go at making synths, AX60, AX73 and AX80, I own the latter and it looks absolutely mental

[@robroufla]

Akai pro is mentionned at 17:40

[@hydorah]

@@robroufla Video mentions Akai Professional in the context of a 1999 restructure. The Akai S612 was launched in 1985 it was also branded as simply 'Akai', so what are you observing on here?

[@robroufla]

@@hydorah it says it was created in 1984, that's all.

[@robroufla]

I mean I thumbed up your comment, I agree with you

[@hydorah]

​ @robroufla Oh I see, Yeah I was a bit confused by the observation. Yes you are correct the 'Akai Professional' brand was launched in 1984 - as mentioned in the vid but the video talks about a split in 1999 before mentioning this, and no Landmark devices are mentioned. Seems Akai didn't start branding gear as Akai Professional until 1986, as even then, not consistently. The AX63 was branded 'simply Akai' and launched in 1986 - Although it said 'Akia Professional' on the ads, etc.

[@vanceblosser2155]

I bought a used Roberts version of the Akai X355D deck in the early 1970s. Three motor drive, with a moving crossfield head that would move into position when recording. Due to the heavy usage before this deck was a bit tempermental but still gave excellent performance. I sold it to a friend as my hi fi system expanded. Some years later I came across another Akai X355D on Ebay. It came from the estate of a military man and came with all the bells and whistles - remote control, microphones, lots of tapes. The only thing it didn't have was the 15 inch spool adapters. I already owned a much newer Teac deck and was very surprised to find that the Akai bested it in every way, especially frequency response and noise. This Akai had almost NO wear compared to my first one. I still have this Akai but need to replace capacitors and such for safety. The Teac died, it just lost all torque on the drive motor, so it's headed for recycling.

[@g8rdt]

Got AKAI 4000DB (6:12 in video - to listen to some tapes i recorded at School [im 66 now] amazing that the magnetic depth and output of tapes recorded 45 years ago are still above the level of some 1/8th inch tapes i have)... also Grundig TK9 (all solenoid control) and a Sony 7" reel stereo - not sure model as too deeply buried in my Junk.... next comment will be the school recording i made before graduation to High school... Kevin.....

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Very interesting! Love these episodes. Hope you'll do Technics, eventually. 🙏 I don't have any Akai gear unfortunately.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Thank you! Great suggestion!

[@ferminromero2602]

My Dad and I loved Akai equipment and had several products. Our favorite was the 1710 reel-reel tape recorder. My eyes popped the first time I heard Loretta Lynn on stereo headphones at 7-1/2 ips. Real hi-fi back then! Thanks so much for posting this video!

[@lazycalm41]

Great video! I still own my 4000DS Mk1 from 1973, still working well to this day!

[@PtolemyJones]

Really appreciate your professional editing. More channels could learn from how smooth your corrections flow.

[@mikesage9544]

Thank you for the research and the subsequent video. I had always wondered. Now I know. I was 14-15 when I worked in a HiFi dealership in 1980 ish. The UK was not a big market back then for Akai. However, with the newly adopted business plan, the mark exploded in retail oulets with the Pro Series. Visually attractive and sonically and mechanically competant, the brand was an instant hit with me. Now, 40 years later, I too hanker after a 747 to add to my collection. Being extreemly curious to hear its sonics compared to my Studers and Naks. What a time for 'Brown Goods' in the UK. Bw Mike.

[@edwardphilipmarianafzger9800]

Hi Funny I owned the AKAI GX-635D from 1981 until I bought a DAT Recorder from Sony than it became owned by my late father and later for years used at my sisters house still working and sold to a collector in 2022 !

[@easyamp123]

Wow! I'm so glad I found your channel. You have so much interesting info about anything audio, I love it! Thank you for the work

[@LennyFlorentine]

Welcome!

[@maxi-me]

Great video! I never really realized that they went away. I picked up one that resembled the 4000 (with aqua blue logo) in mid 90. It was 4 track and we used it to cut and press an EP release. What a great recorder; bass guitar line-in was like butter!

[@ThisIsMyRealName]

I owned an AKAI projection TV manufactured in 2007 (PT50DL14). Great TV was my first "big screen" TV until I finally bought a plasma tv when the LCD tvs hit the market and made them cheaper. The TV was relegated to a secondary TV then. Still, it lasted almost 15 years before the projection lights started failing.

[@ericsmith8373]

I have had a GX-77 since i bought it new in 1982. Outside of regular maintenance (belts, etc.), it has never needed major work.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Great machine!

[@GaryKrum]

I bought and still own the AM2650 + Tuner you showed!! Still cranking and still having fun with it!

[@dogcowrph]

Now do a video about Aiwa. They made great products in the late eighties and nineties. I had several Walkman recorders that I used (and abused) to take college lectures, concerts, radio… I bought about one every year because I was very hard on them. They were great products.

[@vs6300]

I still have my Aiwa walkman.

[@riogrande5761]

As it happens, my dad brought back an Akai reel to reel tape deck when he returned from Korat Thailand in 1968 I do not know what the model is but it has a gray canvas exterior and speakers on each side with metal flaps that opened up. When he passed away, my sisters had no interest in it so I brought it home - it's still in it's original cardboard box. I've been meaning to get it out and play with it. It's literally been decades since I've operated it. Probably not since the 1980's. Yeah, it is heavy - a beast.

[@hermanhorton5944]

Wow!!!🤩✅👍. I have to thank you for the info on Akai I had a reciever in the early 80 s and I’m wanting to know if you have any Akai for sale

[@LennyFlorentine]

You are welcome! We don't have any right now but that changes weekly.

[@sanderhamerslag7050]

Loved the Akai GX cassette decks ,bought my first GX-32 cassette deck in '89 ,have had two amps by Akai in the late 80's and early 90's and used my father's late 70's record player.Went full Sony in the mid 90's (apart for my record player) but their cassette deck never sounded as good as my GX 32 .Recently after acquiring some more high end audio Sony components (QS & ES) I acquired a serviced Akai GX-35R autoreverse cassette deck and an Akai AP-M7(clarity series) linear tracking record player that thing despite it's size sounds clear and crisp like a cd and with the warmth and depth of record player best record player I ever heard. Same for the cassette deck which I regularly used for playing and recording cassette tapes untill about a year ago when I swapped it for a Sony 3 head tape professional cassette deck.Still own the GX-35R though .

[@gregorymitchell4588]

I bought a 747 dbx in the later 80's complete with dust cover and wired remote. Still have it and it runs without any problems, wonderful machine!

[@rogerpage9682]

very interesting video i have an AKAI 4000DB purchased here in the UK in 1975

[@bblimediamostlyspeakers]

My uncle had an AKAI cassette deck. It was struck by lightning. Later he gave it to me, but I never heard it work.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Time to get that fixed

[@e28forever30]

There are glass fuses under the cover.

[@mckennydixon2725]

i have a 630 D from 1974, 10 inch reels. i made so many extended version than you can count. i did dj work through 1979. i pre taped many gigs so i didnt have to work soooo hard. i would be on the dance floor and people would ask, ''whos playing the music ? i would just smile as the Akai worked for me.

[@mitchfleming274]

I used to have a Akai 1030 receiver with Altec Lansing speakers it was pretty awesome

[@steveurbach3093]

I still have my GX-400D-SS (Quad) AND IT HAS A WIRED REMOTE (RC-17). Inside it has AKAI Outer Rotor Motors for the reels For a short time I had an earlier (auto reverse) Stereo 10" (don't remember the model), Gave My sister one of the models with 8-track, (gimme a break, that was in the 60's). Our (US Navy) ET Shop pooled our money and bought a 4000 for when we were out on station when my Bell RT-360 wore out the second and third set of heads. Side note: See that 3" Dumont 'Ocillograph' (O-Scope) on the shelf at 2:30 . My father was the Engineer and It was what I learned on

[@Zomby1Woof]

I have a Sansui 7070 that I bought after I graduated college in 1976. I still have it although it is boxed away. It's in mint condition too.

[@telocho]

7:59 The f is for Dutch guilder and 199 guilders is about 100 dollars in 1983. The commercial is Dutch and that is why it says “also available in Belgium” as they were watching Dutch TV a lot.

[@marktubeie07]

I still have a 1730D-SS and a 4000-DS. Still working, bought new and maintained - love them !!

[@ilestojanov6140]

I own four akai compact cassette decks,two model-gxc 715d and two model-gxc 75d.these things are over engineered highest quality monsters built to last forever.the gxc 75d is an auto reverse top loading deck and this thing sounds and records incredible,when you listen a recording made on it,you'll think that a cd is played,shocking!and they look amasing as well,i love them!

[@rupenagravat]

I still have an Akai 1720W reel-to-reel (pictured at 6.33 in the video) that my dad bought just after I was born. Over fifty years later, and I can still listen to all the Bollywood songs he recorded from vinyls. It came with a prerecorded demo reel, which I also still have. I'm gonna go and listen to a few tracks now!! Thank you @JustAudio

[@RoaroftheTiger]

The Most Famous AKAI Tape Recorder was the "M-10". As it was the type used in Coppola's "Apocolypse Now" - The "VALKYRIE ATTACK" on the "VC VILLAGE", by the "Air Cav".

[@LennyFlorentine]

Nice! I enjoy HiFi in movies!

[@TajitsuTakeuchi]

Me too

[@Ian-wh8ut]

far out!

[@dougodyssey50]

I remember that scene. It must have had a powerful amp, to be heard over the propellers.

[@Satchmoeddie]

I used Akai 1000 pros and 747s as mix down decks to do final stereo mixes from Akai & Teac 4 tracks. We even mixed down from an Otari 8 track to an Akai from time to time. We did some SOS work on a Revox before we got the Akai products and our Revox SOS work went onto vinyl pressings rather well too. By the mid 1980s we had a Studer dealership too. We sold loads of Fidelapacs & carts, all kinds of decks, desks, amps, monitors etc. etc. The company started out as an RCA dealer back in 1954.

[@felixargyle3297]

Great video!, I was wondering what happened to akai for a while now, I own that Exact black Model X-1800SD Reel to Reel myself with it's original 15 ips adapter and it's sounds amazing! 💝

[@rjy8960]

I bought an Akai HXA-3D cassette deck in 1984 (I think) and was my first "proper" audio component. I still have it to this day and sits in my rack and works perfectly as I've always looked after it. I bought it at the time because I was blown away by the dbx noise reduction system and as a student I couldn't afford the Technics one that I really wanted. It's served me very well. I did manage to get the reel-to-reel of my dreams which was the legendary B77 high speed. Again, I still have it and sounds wonderful.

[@MikeHammer1]

I'm the second owner of an Akai GX-266II. I had to replace a lot of bad transistors, a common problem with these decks and I am planning to recap it soon with Nichicons. I also purchased a wireless remote built by a guy who sells on eBay. The sound quality on this deck is amazing.

[@tcrutch65]

I loved to look at Akai equipment. Back in the day I had an AKAI AP-207 turntable, Pioneer SX-780 receiver, Pioneer HPM 60 speakers, and an Onkyo TA-2056 cassette deck. The only one I have left is the cassette deck

[@JimmyRJump]

I owned a turntable and a NICAM Stereo VCR from Akai. Can't remember what models. My bro-in-law has owned several mid-range stereo amps (30 to 40 Watt per channel) and cassette decks from Akai. I still have a Lenco (B55) and Technics (SL1200MKII) turntable since the mid-eighties, along with the Akai. The Lenco and Technics are still in use on two different amps. I haven't used the Akai in almost 25 years.

[@OHYEAAHH203]

This is an amazing video! I came across it when searching about the Akai GX-635D because I have a chance to pick one up at an estate sale on the 9th! (fingers crossed) I have my dads Akai D-210 turntable from when he passed, so I sort of have a soft spot for the brand. So much that my wife upgraded that turntable with the newer released BT-500 as a gift. If I can pick up the reel to reel then I most likely will continue to add to the collection. Thank you for the informative video behind the name!

[@LennyFlorentine]

Oh Yeah! Thanks for watching

[@nihongobenkyoshimasu3190]

Great video, great content related to the histoy of the recording technology, Akai dominency, Singer acquisition, and collapse. I just wish you talk a little bit more about the revolutionary crossfield feature. Maybe this could be the subject of another video.

[@uingaeoc3905]

My only Reel to Reel Tape Machine was an AKAI D4000DB acquired 40 years ago - lost it in a house break-in with rest of my hi-fi some years later. I used it for Off Air recordings of BBC Radio 3.

[@pegefounder]

I had 1975 to 1995 the AKAI cc player 38 with glass xtal ferrite heads. Main point for the purchase decision was the lifelong warranty on the heads.

[@Scott-DJ]

In the 80s I had both their space-age looking receiver and awesome GX-R66 tape deck--complete with all tool b+ dbx plus music tape search too. They were as much known for their regular tape decks as they were for their reel to reels.

[@moreaufamily437]

I have an X-150D that was gifted to me by a gentleman who served in Vietnam and bought the tape deck while he was deployed overseas. I even have the original advertising from a PX in Hong Kong where it was bought. He used the deck to make tapes for his family back home and for music to listen to. It was cosmetically perfect but after sitting in the closet for 40 years many parts had perished. So I had it fully restored and I know it seems like a waste of money to some, but it had history and I knew it and wanted it to be a survivor. Today it plays and works perfectly although I have a number of Pioneer R2R decks that I gravitate towards (707 and 909). I’ve always longer for a 747 Akai, it’s getting harder to find good example because there’s too many equipment flippers.

[@colanitower]

I owned an Akai GX-270D for 30 years. Back in my student years housemates had turntables but I invested in reel-to-reel to build a music collection of 'best tracks' from hundreds of LPs. The tapes were carefully filled with tracks for 3-hour uninterrupted playback using the Akai's automatic reverse. I have gone fully digital now, playing Flac files on a laptop+DAC. The tape deck and tapes are gone but the tapes still live on as playlists, keeping the musical atmosphere created by the good old Akai GX-270 alive.

[@frglee]

Still have my Akai amp and cassette tape deck that I bought exactly 40 years ago. Had to get an electrical shop to sort out leaky capacitators in the amp a few years back, but it still works as well as ever with matching Pioneer speakers, and the electrician said the stuff is as good as anything you'll find today.

[@tabularasa0606]

I have an Akai cassette player, which I bought in 1991. It only gave out last year when the rubber bands used for driving the wheels gave out. It worked fine for 30 years, now that's quality. And I used it a lot, it has thousands of hours of playtime.

[@shivaprasad6311]

Wonderful informative video👌🏾👍🏽 similarly we would like to hear about AIWA

[@GoldSeals]

A few years back,I bought a couple of their VHS recorders with the special heads.The picture was outstanding.

[@LennyFlorentine]

Awesome!