Compact Cassette - Akai GXC-40D [E] Recertify
General
The Akai GXC-40D is a stereo cassette deck produced in the early 1970s. Here are its specifications:
- Type: 2-head, single compact cassette deck
- Track System: 4-track, 2-channel stereo
- Tape Speed: 4.76 cm/s
- Heads: 1 x record/playback, 1 x erase
- Motor: 1 x hysteresis synchronous
- Tape Type: Type I, CrO2
- Frequency Response: 30Hz to 18kHz (with CrO2 tape)
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 45dB
- Dimensions: 412 x 122 x 222mm
- Weight: 5.1kg
The Akai GXC-40D was known for its solid performance and reliability.
The Akai GXC-40 D is unit [E] in the system. It is not wired in to the main system, but can be used as a remote or portable player. The performance is adequate for casual playback, but really not intended for critical evaluation, and not for recording or editing. There is no Dolby, and there is not auto stop. These two deficiencies really hinder it’s use.
When I got this machine, some years ago, on the Auction Site, It came in the originall box with the original tag and warrenty card. It had been purchased for a review article in a British HiFi magazine. It was then stored to be returned, but apparently never sent back. The machine was absolutely pristine. To this day, i have had it apart a few times, looked at the belt, but never adjusted anything or replaced any parts. I call it my factory standard. It does have a little noise probably from aged capacitors in the power supply, but I am not going to mess with it. This Re-certification is really only a run through check. My notes are included in this article.
Pictures
User / Service Manual
The user manual below is not exactly the correct one, but very similar. The service manual is the correct model number
M300 Jig in machine
The M300 jig is a little hard to see in the pictures because i took the picture through the door. I didn’t want to disassemble the machine far enough to get the door off. It is pretty clear that it was a good adjustment.
Magnetic Print
This is a magnetic print of the tape tracks. Stereo 24 Hz Side A. Zoom in to get a better view. I did notice the track is really close to the edge, but as I have stated in this review earlier, i prefer not to make any adjustments on this ‘factory sample’ deck. The trace is within the acceptable limits. Click on the image to get a closer view.
Wow and Flutter and Speed
This is a standard wow and flutter tape, which has a residual figure of approximately 0.02 made on the JVC [A] deck described in another page on this website. As you can see the w&f is a rather high 0.12% or so. It is actually audible, but is pretty close to the original specifications for this machine. The speed is very close to actual 3000 Hz test tape, and probably was swinging through a wider range . Still this is acceptable performance for this vintage single flywheel, ac synchronous motor belt drive machine.
Record / Playback Frequency Response
I used the T-100 System to record a plot. As you can see the record / reproduce frequency response at -20db is not too bad falling at 14 kHz pretty much in agreement with the published specification.
Playback Level Standard
Measured playback to system standard Level Tapes as follws – No adjustment made to deck
- 200 nwb Level Tape +4db = 1.4 Vrms
- 250 nmb Level Tape +7db = 1.7 Vrms
Eng Notes
Conclusions
- This deck, The Akai GXC-40D, Introduced in 1972, so over 50 years ago, is still a capable example of a generation 1 deck. No dolby, no tape type selector, and no auto stop.
- This deck is not a current system deck, and is included as a referance to generation 1 cassette system.
- This page is done engineering notes style.
- Standard tapes and processes used can be found under test section of this website.
- Please take a look at our other cassette recertifications, along with other systems on this website
- Please visit CarlValle.Com for additional resources and website of interest.
Revision
This is Revision:
01 – Original Article – 2024 07 13
And as Always:
And as always
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