The Akai GX-600DB is a highly regarded, durable 3-motor, 3-head consumer reel-to-reel deck (1/4" tape) introduced in the 1975. It features famous glass-crystal ferrite (GX) heads, which are known for excellent high-frequency response. It supports 10.5" reels, 3-3/4 and 7-1/2 IPS speeds, providing reliable, high-quality through pure analog audio processing circuity.
The GX-600 series is an audiophile-class reel to reel features Akai's GX special glass heads. As per Akai advertisements at the time, you could run an
Akai GX series deck 24/7 for 17.5 years before they wore out. That’s
150,000 hours, as compared to a more typical 3000-4000 hour life span of
steel audio heads of the 70-80's.
This listing features an actual video demo the superior of this Akai model in direct recording from digital source then play back to compare. Please pay attention when I switch between the source (down position) to the tape (up position) to compare the quality of the music recorded on reel tape.
Service Notes
We acquitted this unit from original owner and bring to our shop
for full service and re-calibration to factory specifications as
recommended in service manual. Our technicians painstakingly check every
capacitors for sign of leaking or degrading. We also used spectrum
analyzer to measure noise floor of the unit - to ensure no noisy and/or
pin corrosion transistors on both pre-amplifier and recording board. All
suspected faulty or degraded electronics components were searched and
replaced as needed.
After playback calibration
and bias setup, we apply signal generator to measure and calibrate the
record level as factory specs. All tape play and record from line-in and
microphone are also bench tested for sound and reproduction quality.
All switches, pods, tires, tension wheels, reel brakes and tape
transport mechanism are thoroughly checked, serviced and replaced when
necessary.
Play heads and metal parts on the tape track are
demagnetized and cleaned. The deck also tested for tape tracking, speed
(wow and flutter) record balance and reading from both microphone and line-in.
Finally, we produced a demo
video to showcase the quality of this unit as it records and replays one
minute of digital music directly from CD to reel tape. You can hear the
demo for yourself—or, better yet, plug in a pair of headphones to
experience the unit’s superior music reproduction quality.
Vintage Sound Preservation Notes
One of the best-kept secrets in the world of high-end vintage audiophile is discovering the remarkable and one-of-a-kind sound quality that each piece of equipment can produce. Vintage electronics stand apart from the mass-produced items you'll find on store shelves today. Every vintage component brings its own distinctive sonic character and tonal qualities to the table. Even units from the same year and model sound noticeably different from one another. This reality means we need to approach every device we service as a precious, irreplaceable artifact worthy of respect and care in today's modern world.
: At our private shop, our technicians are not only skilled
in electronics but also dedicated vintage audiophiles who also take on
the role as Sommeliers. We are committed to preserving the distinct
sound qualities of the vintage equipment we service, steering clear of
unnecessary component replacements or upgrades. In the other words, we
ensure that vintage Bordeaux wine never replaced or watered-down with
contemporary California wine.
“Sweet, Softness, and Mellow Tones”
Reservation: When modern transistors replace the aged ones in these
classic machines, the sound can sometimes come across as "too clean" or
“overly sterile” for those who love the character of traditional
components. To honor this vintage essence, we focus on carefully
preserving or replacing the Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) and/or
MOSFETs that are integral to the signal path, ensuring that we maintain
those beloved audio signal response curves - that define vintage sound.
"Vintage
Warmth" Reservation: Degraded capacitors naturally roll off high
frequencies and create signal smearing. This artifact is often
misidentified as "analog warmth." New caps bring back sharp treble and
fast transients, which can sound surprisingly harsh or bright. We never
simply replace capacitors with the same maker’s value in critical audio
paths. Instead, we meticulously measure the remaining value of each
working capacitor on the board and replace them with exact matches in
pairs for stereo channels—or in sets of four for quadraphonic machines.
Technical Notes
The listing is for tape deck unit and a copy of owner manual only. NO reel, No tape, No hub, No remote, No RCA cables, No splicing tape, No sensing tape, No adapter and NO any other accessories included.
The unit is in very good cosmetic condition - Almost no blemishes on the metal face plate - but shown signs of previous usage such as hairline scratches, small dings, sticker residue, peel-off laminates, hand written on the back, worn-out corners and edges especially at the wooden sides and the bottom. See photos for details.
Due to the fact that most of the reel tapes out there
were more than half century old (50 years +) and might be magnetically degraded.
Please consider owning the tapes in good physical condition and
set the right expectations when playing vintage pre-recorded music reels.
Remember to clean the audio heads of the machine often as well.
If you happen to have sticky old reel tapes (especially two-tone tape),
you would consider pre-bake the tape or recondition it before play on
this machine. The reel motors on FF or RW mode will slow-down or even
stop in operation with sticky / degraded reel tapes.
If
you have never owned a reel to reel deck before, please notify the
seller before buying. We will make sure to ship owner manual and send
instruction video link before your first operation of this specific
model.
Operating on U.S AC power of 120V/60Hz only.
No International voltage.
Buyer with zero/no feedback please contact before buying. We reserve the right to cancel the sale to anyone.
No return if due to buyer mishandling or damage because of lack of
proper operational knowledge - and above all we are watching out for the
part swappers if anti-tamper stickers on the unit removed or broke off.
Serial number is recorded.
Shipping Notes
If you happen to be a local to Los Angeles Metro, you are more than
welcome to contact us by eBay message to stop by and audition the item
prior to buying. No shipping charge and a great 10% discount will be
given for local buyers only.
Will
ship the 50 lbs unit with fully insured carrier, packed in dual walled
heavy duty carton (up to 60lbs totally) with double 1" thick styrofoam insulation and all
corner
reinforced.
Buyer direct signature is required by both eBay and Carriers due to Buyer protection policy. No meet in person - No delivery.
Flat rate $40 expedite shipping to anywhere in the U.S to residential address only. No P.O Box.
Shipping carriers will be selected by Seller to ensure the best logistically and timely delivery to Buyers.
Specifications
Track system: 4-track, 2-channel, stereo/monaural system
Heads: 1 x GX playback, 1 x GX record, 1 x erase
Motor: 2 x reel, 1 x capstan
Reel size: up to 10.5 inch reel
Tape speeds: 3 3⁄4 7 1⁄2 ips
Wow and flutter: 0.07% (7 1⁄2 ips)
Frequency response: 30Hz to 23kHz (7 1⁄2 ips)
Signal to Noise Ratio: 56dB
Total harmonic distortion: 0.7%
Crosstalk: 40dB
Input: 70mV (line), 3mV (DIN), 0.3mV (mic)
Output: 0.775V (line), 0.3V (DIN)
Semiconductors: 25 x transistors, 16 x diodes
Dimensions: 443mm (17.5") x 475mm (19") x 228mm (9")
Weight: 22kg (49lbs)
Year: 1975