Harman Kardon CD401: A Restoration Challenge
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 เม.ย. 2024
- Set off with us on a thrilling yet challenging restoration journey with what can only be described as a 'hardware enigma', the Harman Kardon CD401. Gracing our workbench is a deck that initially seemed more like a jumbled prototype than a functional device. Nevertheless, the challenge is on!
What You'll See:
🔧 Architectural Mystery: Discover the perplexing design of the CD401, riddled with supplemental parts on original boards and puzzling wiring, which made disassembly quite an adventure.
🔐 Tape Transport Riddle: Scrutinize the deck's astounding tape transport with a belt and no fewer than TWO idlers for the reel motor. You've got to see this!
💢 Synchronized Chaos: Behold the convertible deck chassis, a combination of multiple bent metal pieces screwed together - a design aspect we're not very fond of.
📈 Strangest Graph: Look at the CD401's recording chart, quite possibly the most peculiar one we've ever encountered, throwing us off at every level.
This rigorous restoration voyage is indeed a poser for us, but after 8 hours of relentless work, it plays! However, it falls short of the mark with missing highs and a strange recording pattern. We anticipate another 8 hours before we unravel this mystery.
Whether you're a Harman Kardon enthusiast, a lover of vintage audio, or simply drawn in by the challenge of hardware puzzles, join us as we dissect and restore the CD401. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more riveting tales from our restoration adventures.
🔍 Tags: #HarmanKardonCD401 #AudioRestoration #VintageAudio #HardwarePuzzle #RestorationChallenge #TapeDeck #AudioEnthusiast
Наверное если разобрать можно из деталей 2-3х дек собрать. Куча подстроечников напоминает вегу 122ую 😁
That's a good looking deck on the outside.
One more thing, those vertical boards are in the service manual (on hifiengine) on page 30 as well as the schematics page 2. (pcb 4 and 5, playback ex/amp and hxpro boards)
Visually I quite like this deck. The head is dark like AKAI's glass heads.
Pretty much the same pain I endured in a KD-A series JVC, you can disassemble it once and assemble it back again with great care and each time it will show a different outcome.
Looks like you can have a lot of fun with all those pots. I'd trust your OSC over the T-100 software and input card.
Did you lube the front capstan bushing? I know you used to do it but 2.7 kHz is a good candidate for the jump. Sometimes I do live lubes for my enjoyment...never seen 300 Hz jump on front bearing alone but more than 100 Hz gained certainly yes.
Somebody on Reddit just posted a deck that had the same tape on the heads. I’ve never seen it before. Is it a special kind of protective tape?
Good luck on this, lol!
I just started a restore on one of these and it is a VERY modular and tetris style layout, lol.
It doesn't look like your unit is factory stock. Those sprague and orange drop ceramic caps all over the bottom/top of the main and pcb 2/3 boards is not from the factory and neither are the ones on the motor. Also, it does not look like your capstan motor is the factory sankyo motor. Happy to share pictures of my unit.
Look forward to the updates!
That may be the difference in the release year, dont you think so?
That's certainly possible, but curious why they would deviate from what's posted in the service manual, which specifies electrolytics. Also, the hx/400m (prior model) from online seems to be quite similar to CD401, and caps are the same. @@hifirulezzz
I think this model was only available 1 year, in 1982 and the prior model 1981 hx 400xm is very similar layout/caps. 1983 was the CD491, which looks like a much cleaner "productionized" (haha) dual capstan version of this with better dolby chips, etc.@@hifirulezzz
@@s3353 This deck came from the guy who just got it from original owner. However, after 45 years it is hard to say what and who did for this deck. Considering how poorly it is designed and how much efforts are needed to just overhaul the tape transport I doubt some technician was there before. But you never know.
Very true! Good luck and I hope you're able to get to the bottom of the issues.@@hifirulezzz
Sometimes it may just because it's not compared to other decks. In theory, this kind of response doesn't sound bad either
Серёга, как сам?
ну как видишь, 8 часов потратил на этот хлам и еще не доделал.
In the 80s it cost approximately $700
I bet someone in tapeheads swears by this deck..😂😂😂😂
You should hear how much I swear in the background :) Wanted to throw this deck from the cliff multiple times...
@@hifirulezzz worse than the Revox? 😄
Currently swearing at this deck, lol
@@hifirulezzz My worst was an AIWA AD-9600 MKII. So service friendly....
Wowww looks like a spaguetti mess? i am Happy i passed one a few months ago that nedeed huge maintenence that was the smartest thing ever, i thought my Akai gx-f66rc was a mess but this One is way worse way worse Good Lord.
You sound dull, are you alright?
Lol.. what a messy circuit... they should have revised the PCB.. that's a lot of afterthought.
Hi. I worked on one of these units. It was a pain in the butt. Worst design ever. It's a dogs breakfast.
Devo essere sincero,registratore progettato male,spero che non ti capitano piu dei CD401
hifirulezzz, You're amazing! Let's be friends and have fun together!