AKAI GX-9 (1985) | For "Aggressive Recording"

26 February 2025

AKAI GX-9 (1985) | For "Aggressive Recording"

The GX-9 model is a cassette deck released by Akai in 1984. The GX-9 takes advantage of the three heads, setting the optimal head gap width for each, 4μ for the recording head and 1μ for the playback head, achieving even better sound quality characteristics. The tape running system uses a closed-loop double capstan system that sandwiches the tape between two sets of capstans and pinch rollers, achieving stable running and uniform head touch . The diameter of the capstan shaft was slightly changed, 2.3 mm on the take-up side and 2.5 mm on the supply side, suppressing the occurrence of modulation noise caused by overlapping rotation periods. The drive system had a three-motor configuration, with dedicated motors for the capstan, reel, and mechanism drive. The capstan drive was equipped with Akai's unique brushless, coreless, slotless FG servo DD motor, which boasts high rotation accuracy and high torque. The flywheel was a sufficiently thick one for increased moment of inertia while the reel drive was equipped with a high-torque DC motor. All amplifier stages were fully DC, the playback head and playback equalizer amplifier were directly coupled, the amplifier block and Dolby block were completely separated, and audio-only parts were introduced. The playback equalizer amplifier used a newly developed current inverted push-pull amplifier. This amplifier has a push-pull configuration in which the FET differential amplifier output is current-inverted and passed through a current mirror stage, and a SEPP buffer is provided at the output. This allows for a wide bandwidth, low distortion, high slew rate, and wide dynamic range. The recording amplifier system uses a push-pull constant current output circuit in the symmetrical drive stage, which allows for linear recording head drive over a wide bandwidth. The recording amplifier itself is a completely non-feedback amplifier. A major feature of the GX-9 is the "double tuning bias system." This is Akai's unique tuning system that combines two-stage bias adjustment and quick autotuning to create a sound that suits the recording source and your preferences . It is an improvement on the quick autotuning + AT (auto) tuning bias system that was installed in the GX-R99 . Quick autotuning is an autotuning function that adjusts the equalizer and recording sensitivity to flatten the frequency response, and its amazing speed, which allows tuning to be completed in just 2 seconds. The upper half of the center of the front panel was equipped with a display section with FL indication, which displayed various information. The level meter with FL bar meter was equipped with a two-mode, two-color display with a SPECTRUM display in addition to the PEAK display. The SPECTRUM display was unique to Akai, and it divided the mid

-low and high-frequency components of the input source and, together with the MOL display that displayed the mid-low MOL (MML) and high-frequency MOL (SOL) according to the type of tape used above and below the bar meter, it was a function that served as a guide for bias setting. The tape counter was a 4-digit electronic counter, and in addition to the usual 4-digit counter display, it was also possible to display the elapsed time of play in minutes and seconds (ELAPSED) and the remaining tape capacity (REMAIN). The remaining tape capacity display was equipped with an automatic tape size detection mechanism that automatically detected the tape size (C-90, C-60, C-46), and it was able to calculate and display the remaining tape capacity with high accuracy even when the tape was being played. For noise reduction, Dolby was installed, and in addition to type B, type C was also installed. As mentioned above, the GX-9 was a high-performance deck with solid technology, quantity, and multiple functions packed into a slim case. It was a unit that clearly expressed the Akai style, which has a traditionally excellent technology for tape decks. It was a model that was sandwiched between the higher-end and lower-end models and was a somewhat modest presence, but it was a powerful machine with clear sound that properly reproduced the band.

Technical specification:

Wow and Flutter: 0.025%WRMS (JIS) ±0.04%WPeak (EIAJ)

Frequency Response: 20-19,000Hz ±3dB Normal tape

20-20,000Hz ±3dB CrO2 tape

20-21,000Hz ±3dB Metal tape

Distortion (1kHz 0VU) 0.5% Metal Tape

Signal to noise ratio: 57dB (EIAJ)

Head: Super GX recording head x 1

Super GX playback head x 1 (combination head)

erase head x 1

Motor: FG servo DD motor (capstan) x 1

DC motor (reel) x 1