It's hard to re-adjust the tape playback/record head once you knock it out of alignment. I used a pre-recorded, store purchased, original album tape as a reference, and the tape head seemed to be in a perfect track alignment. But everytime I played a tape that was blank, then recorded music on it, it was way off. Played both tapes in a different machine, and both of them sounded fine. Put the original tape back into the machine that I was adjusting the heads, it sounded fine, played the custom recorded tape, any tape that was store-bought blank was way off. Maybe original, album released tapes have wider tracking with Dolby System/ HX-PRO ( Headroom Extension- PROfessional Type) / Dolby B-C-S. I finally got the head re-aligned, but for future reference, never mess with the azimuth alignment screw ( the screw with a spring and on the left side of the head, if the head is facing upwards). It is not easy
It is something that requieres experience and understanding .Without understanding aligning may be often to not all band harmonics but choosen higher harmonics and it is misleading someone who do not suspect it. Someone who knows phase problems easy sense by ear it's distortions, For others it may sound even interesting and unusualy widerange. Thje same mistake may be done with use of dedicated for azimuth alignment 10 kHz tape and oscyloscope it may be perfect for 10 kHz but out of azimuth for 5 kHz and opposite do right for 20 kHz
It is interesting that AKAI chose to postion their tape guide *seperate* from the record/replay head. It is the same with many of their 'modern' decks.
It really sucks because you literally can't use a pro gauge like the ABEX801 or WHS300 to adjust to a proper head height and tilt. The only way (as per Service Manual) to set the height is to use a special AKAI narrow track test tape 🙄
Never mess with the alignment of the tape head azimuth alignment screw. It's hard to re-adjust the tape playback/record head once you knock it out of alignment. I used a pre-recorded, store purchased, original album tape as a reference, and the tape head seemed to be in a perfect track alignment. But everytime I played a tape that was blank, then recorded music on it, it was way off. Played both tapes in a different machine, and both of them sounded fine. Put the original tape back into the machine that I was adjusting the heads, it sounded fine, played the custom recorded tape, any tape that was brand new blank, then recorded music on it on various machines, was way off. ( Maxell, Sony, TDK, anything that was purchased brand new - blank - then recorded, didn't work. Maybe original, album released tapes have wider tracking with Dolby System/ HX-PRO ( Headroom Extension- PROfessional Type) / Dolby B-C-S. I finally got the head re-aligned, but for future reference, never mess with the azimuth alignment screw ( the screw with a spring and on the left side of the head, if the head is facing upwards). Never mess with it, unless you know what you're doing. I learned it the hard way when I was a teenager, decades ago. Nowadays I'm a pro with cassettes and tape mechanisms. Especially Tanishan's world-famous Mechanisms, which are still being sold in brand new players/recorders
the main point is: you always should know what are you doing ;) but for the sandwich heads, you may set up azimuth just using your ears. Take a factory-recorded tape and turn on Dolby C. You will be spot on on the azimuth getting the max amount of high frequencies, as Dolby C will 10x amplify any azimuth error. We did this was in 80s and 90s, it still works :)
The question is, are you sure that the head should go deeper by four mm? I still don’t understand why in the service manual for the Dragon you need to turn the PX gear until there is a minimum of VTVM. At least on VTVM, this means the head must be low or I do not understand correctly. And you write below that on a mono minimum on a stereo tape a maximum. I don't understand exactly what is meant? If the signal, then it will be the smaller the farther the head is from the tape, and the greater the closer the head is to the tape. And as for stereo, the phase is responsible for this; if it is correct, then in both channels there will be a maximum in phase. In general, I liked the video, but the questions remained. It’s not difficult to make a mirror cassette, but I can’t find a dynamometric cassette and have disappeared from the sale of ABEKs 801. I will try to set it up with your method.
The better would be use head alignment gauge. It has proper mark on how far head should go into the cassette. I will probably do another video on how to use it. As for the levels. Factory test tapes are made using large heads which write thru the whole width of the tape. For the level tape they used a mono head to write on the half of the tape. That what I mean under “mono” signal. In this case when you following instructions from the service manual you should be looking for an EVEN maximum value between two channels. That what they mean under minimum even value across two maximums on the diagram. However, if you do not have that tape, you may create one on the good proven stereo deck. In that case you should just tune to a maximums on both channels. They may be NOT EVEN. As you tune head before tuning the playback amplifier levels. Hope that explains.
Hi again. I just noticed on this video that you seem to have one of those Chinese made pinch rollers for the left capstan. I noticed it because I also bought some a while back, although yours appear to be a little different from mine. I've no problems with mine, I guess this pinch roller has been okay for you too? regards Eric.
If you have an original test tape - it is recorded with a mono signal and you should be searching for a minimum. However, if you have the tape recorded on the stereo recorder, you should look at maximums on both channels.
I DO HAVE a gauge. It was a request from my subscriber on how to calibrate having the ONLY mirror tape. And it is possible to do. See comment below. It was a success.
EVERY time,when I power up my AIWA ADF-770....heads are demagnetized!! Learn about A.D.M.S That series of decks are soo good. From 660--770--990. AUTO CAL-also. A.D.M.S.
@@hifirulezzz Series ADF came along back 1983. Best decks in their pricetag class. They were early eighties models. Sounds better than many nineties models. Better than Pioneer from 1991,that got auto cal also. Not the easiest models to maintain.
@@artsimannisto5659 I own and owned multiple decks from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It is easy to follow changes in the internal design, introduction of connectors, and integration of the parts into ICs. ADF series are looks nice but have design faults. I consider Sony and Nakamichi as the best representatives of good design and repairability. Aiwa's tape transport made me cry for a few moments during the repair. And the sound is mediocre. Very overpriced decks.
@@hifirulezzz nope. Makes superior recordings. But you know your stuff,give u that. I bought akai gx 52,back in 1989,i remember, but this adf770 beats the living begeuses out of it. I still have akai,but it can be in its grave for good.
@@artsimannisto5659 One day I thought that KVC DD-5 gives a great sound. However, everything changes when you compare decks. Most pleasant for ears are Nakamichi's 6xx series decks and 700zxl/1000zxl. Most precise in reproduction quality are Sony's 555, and KA5/7. Everything else is in between :)
It's hard to re-adjust the tape playback/record head once you knock it out of alignment. I used a pre-recorded, store purchased, original album tape as a reference, and the tape head seemed to be in a perfect track alignment. But everytime I played a tape that was blank, then recorded music on it, it was way off. Played both tapes in a different machine, and both of them sounded fine. Put the original tape back into the machine that I was adjusting the heads, it sounded fine, played the custom recorded tape, any tape that was store-bought blank was way off. Maybe original, album released tapes have wider tracking with Dolby System/ HX-PRO ( Headroom Extension- PROfessional Type) / Dolby B-C-S. I finally got the head re-aligned, but for future reference, never mess with the azimuth alignment screw ( the screw with a spring and on the left side of the head, if the head is facing upwards). It is not easy
You should definitely check my videos where I am lapping the heads and then installing them back and fully tuning. For example good series will open tomorrow about very bad KA3 which now plays like a new 😳
Also, Azimuth screw is the less of the evil :) I can tune Azimuth using my ears 99% exact to alignment tape just using factory tape playback. As far as I remember we did it in 80s right that way. It is hard to miss. However, changing height or tilt - and that may be a very different issue.
It's hard to re-adjust the tape playback/record head once you knock it out of alignment. I used a pre-recorded, store purchased, original album tape as a reference, and the tape head seemed to be in a perfect track alignment. But everytime I played a tape that was blank, then recorded music on it, it was way off. Played both tapes in a different machine, and both of them sounded fine. Put the original tape back into the machine that I was adjusting the heads, it sounded fine, played the custom recorded tape, any tape that was store-bought blank was way off. Maybe original, album released tapes have wider tracking with Dolby System/ HX-PRO ( Headroom Extension- PROfessional Type) / Dolby B-C-S. I finally got the head re-aligned, but for future reference, never mess with the azimuth alignment screw ( the screw with a spring and on the left side of the head, if the head is facing upwards). It is not easy
It is something that requieres experience and understanding .Without understanding aligning may be often to not all band harmonics but choosen higher harmonics and it is misleading someone who do not suspect it. Someone who knows phase problems easy sense by ear it's distortions, For others it may sound even interesting and unusualy widerange.
Thje same mistake may be done with use of dedicated for azimuth alignment 10 kHz tape and oscyloscope it may be perfect for 10 kHz but out of azimuth for 5 kHz and opposite do right for 20 kHz
It is interesting that AKAI chose to postion their tape guide *seperate* from the record/replay head. It is the same with many of their 'modern' decks.
It really sucks because you literally can't use a pro gauge like the ABEX801 or WHS300 to adjust to a proper head height and tilt. The only way (as per Service Manual) to set the height is to use a special AKAI narrow track test tape 🙄
m300 jig
@@svenschwingel8632
Never mess with the alignment of the tape head azimuth alignment screw. It's hard to re-adjust the tape playback/record head once you knock it out of alignment. I used a pre-recorded, store purchased, original album tape as a reference, and the tape head seemed to be in a perfect track alignment. But everytime I played a tape that was blank, then recorded music on it, it was way off. Played both tapes in a different machine, and both of them sounded fine. Put the original tape back into the machine that I was adjusting the heads, it sounded fine, played the custom recorded tape, any tape that was brand new blank, then recorded music on it on various machines, was way off. ( Maxell, Sony, TDK, anything that was purchased brand new - blank - then recorded, didn't work. Maybe original, album released tapes have wider tracking with Dolby System/ HX-PRO ( Headroom Extension- PROfessional Type) / Dolby B-C-S. I finally got the head re-aligned, but for future reference, never mess with the azimuth alignment screw ( the screw with a spring and on the left side of the head, if the head is facing upwards). Never mess with it, unless you know what you're doing. I learned it the hard way when I was a teenager, decades ago. Nowadays I'm a pro with cassettes and tape mechanisms. Especially Tanishan's world-famous Mechanisms, which are still being sold in brand new players/recorders
the main point is: you always should know what are you doing ;) but for the sandwich heads, you may set up azimuth just using your ears. Take a factory-recorded tape and turn on Dolby C. You will be spot on on the azimuth getting the max amount of high frequencies, as Dolby C will 10x amplify any azimuth error. We did this was in 80s and 90s, it still works :)
The question is, are you sure that the head should go deeper by four mm? I still don’t understand why in the service manual for the Dragon you need to turn the PX gear until there is a minimum of VTVM. At least on VTVM, this means the head must be low or I do not understand correctly. And you write below that on a mono minimum on a stereo tape a maximum. I don't understand exactly what is meant? If the signal, then it will be the smaller the farther the head is from the tape, and the greater the closer the head is to the tape. And as for stereo, the phase is responsible for this; if it is correct, then in both channels there will be a maximum in phase. In general, I liked the video, but the questions remained. It’s not difficult to make a mirror cassette, but I can’t find a dynamometric cassette and have disappeared from the sale of ABEKs 801. I will try to set it up with your method.
The better would be use head alignment gauge. It has proper mark on how far head should go into the cassette. I will probably do another video on how to use it. As for the levels. Factory test tapes are made using large heads which write thru the whole width of the tape. For the level tape they used a mono head to write on the half of the tape. That what I mean under “mono” signal. In this case when you following instructions from the service manual you should be looking for an EVEN maximum value between two channels. That what they mean under minimum even value across two maximums on the diagram. However, if you do not have that tape, you may create one on the good proven stereo deck. In that case you should just tune to a maximums on both channels. They may be NOT EVEN. As you tune head before tuning the playback amplifier levels. Hope that explains.
Interesting looking Akai
I am confused. How does the video show the front of the cassette but above the head shows the tape above the head?????
Mirror tape used to tune up the decks.
Dude you have a golden arms
Hi again. I just noticed on this video that you seem to have one of those Chinese made pinch rollers for the left capstan. I noticed it because I also bought some a while back, although yours appear to be a little different from mine. I've no problems with mine, I guess this pinch roller has been okay for you too?
regards
Eric.
Yes, these rollers work well.
remeber to demagnitze. and remember NOT to use magnetic screwdriver!! when operating in a cassette deck.
I am always demagnitize my decks. Every 50 hours or so. But thanks anyway. :)
For PB head height do you go for maximum or minimum output readings? The SM for my Nakamichi CR-4A says to obtain minimum readings at the voltmeter...
If you have an original test tape - it is recorded with a mono signal and you should be searching for a minimum. However, if you have the tape recorded on the stereo recorder, you should look at maximums on both channels.
Hi Sir. Do you offer repair and refurbishing services? thanks.
Price
That deck is gone long ago. I have 9100EV in perfect shape - can discuss. Please send email to hifirulezzz@gmail.com
W&F hard and soft @
There are height gages for setting that you can't do it by eye. I would never let you calibrate my $800 Teac!!! Or my $1200 Aiwa
I DO HAVE a gauge. It was a request from my subscriber on how to calibrate having the ONLY mirror tape. And it is possible to do. See comment below. It was a success.
And BTW, I have more decks and they cost significantly more than your Teac or Aiwa. No offense.
@@hifirulezzz NP
@@hifirulezzz OK thanks for clarifying
dont do this - this is wrong
EVERY time,when I power up my AIWA ADF-770....heads are demagnetized!! Learn about A.D.M.S That series of decks are soo good. From 660--770--990. AUTO CAL-also. A.D.M.S.
Well, I was fixing 990 and was not impressed by the build quality. And overall design.
@@hifirulezzz Series ADF came along back 1983. Best decks in their pricetag class. They were early eighties models. Sounds better than many nineties models. Better than Pioneer from 1991,that got auto cal also.
Not the easiest models to maintain.
@@artsimannisto5659 I own and owned multiple decks from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It is easy to follow changes in the internal design, introduction of connectors, and integration of the parts into ICs. ADF series are looks nice but have design faults. I consider Sony and Nakamichi as the best representatives of good design and repairability. Aiwa's tape transport made me cry for a few moments during the repair. And the sound is mediocre. Very overpriced decks.
@@hifirulezzz nope. Makes superior recordings. But you know your stuff,give u that. I bought akai gx 52,back in 1989,i remember, but this adf770 beats the living begeuses out of it. I still have akai,but it can be in its grave for good.
@@artsimannisto5659 One day I thought that KVC DD-5 gives a great sound. However, everything changes when you compare decks. Most pleasant for ears are Nakamichi's 6xx series decks and 700zxl/1000zxl. Most precise in reproduction quality are Sony's 555, and KA5/7. Everything else is in between :)
It's hard to re-adjust the tape playback/record head once you knock it out of alignment. I used a pre-recorded, store purchased, original album tape as a reference, and the tape head seemed to be in a perfect track alignment. But everytime I played a tape that was blank, then recorded music on it, it was way off. Played both tapes in a different machine, and both of them sounded fine. Put the original tape back into the machine that I was adjusting the heads, it sounded fine, played the custom recorded tape, any tape that was store-bought blank was way off. Maybe original, album released tapes have wider tracking with Dolby System/ HX-PRO ( Headroom Extension- PROfessional Type) / Dolby B-C-S. I finally got the head re-aligned, but for future reference, never mess with the azimuth alignment screw ( the screw with a spring and on the left side of the head, if the head is facing upwards). It is not easy
You should definitely check my videos where I am lapping the heads and then installing them back and fully tuning. For example good series will open tomorrow about very bad KA3 which now plays like a new 😳
Also, Azimuth screw is the less of the evil :) I can tune Azimuth using my ears 99% exact to alignment tape just using factory tape playback. As far as I remember we did it in 80s right that way. It is hard to miss. However, changing height or tilt - and that may be a very different issue.
How would you adjust the record head if you can't hear the results live, say with playback head? Tascam 122 mkii