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Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 24th 08, 05:37 PM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
still_trackin
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Posts: 36
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

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.
Yeah the pre-83s have their issues, but a properly functioning/
working 80-82 blows the 83 away IMHO. The 82s have also been bringing
good $$. Maybe it's the 83s cool looking circular tape counter, or the
fact that it's not gonna give you track changing/crackling problems.
Either way, the cheap DC motor is on borrowed time before it craps out
eventually!
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.
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?
Ads
  #2  
Old February 24th 08, 07:24 PM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
DeserTBoB
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Posts: 3,541
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

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.
  #3  
Old February 24th 08, 07:54 PM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
still_trackin
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Posts: 36
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

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.
  #4  
Old February 24th 08, 09:29 PM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
William W Western[_2_]
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Posts: 107
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

http://www.katestrackshack.com
That guy in the picture looks familiar. But from where?
  #5  
Old February 25th 08, 03:00 AM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
DeserTBoB
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Posts: 3,541
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:29:09 GMT, "William W Western"
wrote:

http://www.katestrackshack.com

That guy in the picture looks familiar. But from where? snip


Why, it's none other than the guy who made good while Charlie Nudo's
many frauds and scams went down the toilet, Dan Gibson! You saw him
before when Noodles tried to post a picture (against the charter, of
course...no binaries allowed) of Gibson, purporting it to be him, or
some such nonsense.

It's good to see honest people make a go out of a niche business like
8 tracks, while the fraudsters, like Charlie Noodles, wind up broke
and universally denigrated.
  #6  
Old February 25th 08, 04:40 AM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
trippin-2-8-track
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Posts: 365
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

On Feb 24, 11:37*am, 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.
* * Yeah the pre-83s have their issues, but a properly functioning/
working 80-82 blows the 83 away IMHO. The 82s have also been bringing
good $$. Maybe it's the 83s cool looking circular tape counter, or the
fact that it's not gonna give you track changing/crackling problems.
Either way, the cheap DC motor is on borrowed time before it craps out
eventually!
* *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.
* * 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?




the 83D only had a 14khz top end, compared to 15-17khz for the
80-81-82

the 83D has a small Matsu. 12 volt motor, and ALL the original motors
in those decks are not BAD- I had (2) 83D decks, had to put motors in
both- and sold them both.

$150 is nothing- a few years ago, the 83D's were bringing $200-400
each. Reason- the tape counter looks space-age high-end high-tech,
and they are very QUIET on track switch. The also have a more
reliable track switching mechanism, once it's lubed. And front panel
is more modern.

I'd still take a good running 80-81 anyday, or an 82D with an 80-81
head swap.
  #7  
Old February 25th 08, 05:18 AM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
William W Western[_2_]
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Posts: 107
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

Why, it's none other than the guy who made good while Charlie Nudo's
many frauds and scams went down the toilet, Dan Gibson!
Ah, Dan Gibson. Many years ago on this newsgroup his was a
refreshingly reasonable voice.

  #8  
Old February 25th 08, 04:48 PM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
DeserTBoB
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Posts: 3,541
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:18:31 GMT, "William W Western"
wrote:

Ah, Dan Gibson. Many years ago on this newsgroup his was a
refreshingly reasonable voice. snip


He, along with all other reasonable people, left this deserted isle
long ago and has built his little 8 track biz into an excellent source
for all into this arcane hobby. His coup d'ętat in taking the 8 track
crown was getting the WinGib® pad items to be sold exclusively at the
Track Shack. I've tested quite a few replacements in my time, and
only the OEM replacement pads for broadcast carts compared in quality
and performance. Everything else is, of course, chaff.

I've also left the hobby, as my Honda has left the fold to perform
yeoman duties for a youngster down the street, who uses the Panasonic
8 track deck to blow his friends' minds. I just cleaned the heads for
him while doing some mechanical work on the car. It seems an
auxiliary intake valve seal decided to not stay seated, causing #3 to
use prodigious amounts of oil. Simply pushing the valve down manually
past its normal travel solved that problem nicely, and now the 32 year
old Accord sips a U.S. quart about every 2000 miles, it seems. Next,
when the weather clears up some, he wishes to have it painted in its
original Portland metallic blue clear coat finish. It's quite nice to
see it running around town. He does has a problem, however, dealing
with the manual choke. Youngsters these days don't seem to get the
concept. Neither do they understand what a carburetor is and does.
  #9  
Old February 25th 08, 04:51 PM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
DeserTBoB
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Posts: 3,541
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:40:38 -0800 (PST), trippin-2-8-track
wrote:

I'd still take a good running 80-81 anyday, or an 82D with an 80-81
head swap. snip


Silly, since the 82D had a glass-ferrite head, superior to any of the
others. Of course, Charlie Noodles has the market cornered on
"silly."
  #10  
Old February 25th 08, 08:39 PM posted to alt.collecting.8-track-tapes
William W Western[_2_]
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Posts: 107
Default Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

with the manual choke. Youngsters these days don't seem to get the
concept. Neither do they understand what a carburetor is and does.

Hard to imagine you would need a rich mixture to get the thing lit
in your climate. I do not miss carburetors all.

 




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