On Feb 24, 12:24*pm, DeserTBoB wrote:
On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:37:22 -0800 (PST), still_trackin
wrote:
Recent Ebay auction results show the CR-83D *getting some pretty high
prices...$150+. I own one and never really knew what the allure was
about this deck. Not bad sound, but the build quality just wasn't up
to the older Akais. snip
EBay has a way of distorting reality to the point where auction ending
prices aren't congruent with fact. *No, NO 8 track deck is worth that
much...period...unless someone is suckered into an impulse buy without
knowing any facts.
* *Yeah the pre-83s have their issues, but a properly functioning/
working 80-82 blows the 83 away IMHO. snip
True, but there were other well-performing recorders back in that era,
too. *Although, through narrow gapped heads mostly, the earlier Akais
had the edge on high frequency performance, they were notoriously weak
in bass. *You cannot have both unless you *increase tape speed or
change head geometry...period. *Cassettes got away with increasing
bandwidth at a slower speed by changing head geometry to a much
smaller proximity of the poles to the tape surface while newer
manufacturing techniques allowed for much smaller head gaps. *You'll
remember, that during the introduction of the Philips cassette as a
much format in the early '70s, the conventional head configurations
and fairly wide head gaps led to telephonic frequency response.
Either way, the cheap DC motor is on borrowed time before it craps out
eventually! snip
Easy fix for anyone with technical skills. *I've never had one of
those DC motors, especially those with a tachyservo circuit, be
outperformed by the supposedly "superior" AC motors, which do not
allow for speed adjustment.
* Lately my CR-80T has been acting up a bit. When first turned on the
right channel is weaker than the left, then after about 1 hour it
comes back up to the proper level and remains that way until I turn it
off for a long period of time. Maybe a cap is going? If the right
channel goes out completely I'll have to have it looked at. snip
Cap, or a dirty pot, or some cracked solder. *All are problems with
old Japanese electronics. *By this time, film caps were pretty much
standard in consumer electronics, so look for a failing electrolytic.
Japanese electrolytics from that era were notorious for failure over
time, as are any.
* *It's not the amp as I hooked it up to another system and it does
the same thing. Any ideas as to what might be causing the problem? snip
Are you sure your pressure pads and tape path are OK? *Bad pressure
pads (or phony ones, like Charlie Nudo's aquarium filter foam fakes he
sells on eBay) are the #1 cause of failure of any high frequency
performance or channel balance in that format. *Do you hear any
"crackling" in the faulty channel? *If yes to the latter, look for a
leaky cap, probably an axial electrolytic.
As far as pressure pads go, look no further than:
http://www.katestrackshack.com
...and pick up a bag of WinGibs Revitalizers® from them. *They're the
only ones that work properly and give good tape/head contact. *Also,
Ampex (and others') "spring pads" can be refurbished using felt had at
any fabric store.
Thanks for all the info again. No it's not the pads as the problem is
also apparent when using the tuner. Like you said, might be one of
electrolytics. It's been playing fine now for about 3 hours, after an
hour warmup. If it gets worse or I lose the right channel entirely,
I'll have it checked out.