Hi!

I am tempted to get my first reel-to-reel. On the local ebay clone I find an Akai x-200 D, current bid at approx $40 and no reserve and local pickup. Is this a good model?

http://my.qxl.no/accdb/viewItem.asp?IDI=14178363&ListingType=0&ListingSort=1&PageNum=1&Catg=11644

http://images.aucland.com/ImgUsers/0/14/1417/141783/14178363_Big.jpg

I am grateful for any advice.

- Harald

I got one back in the 70's. I still have it and it still works. The only trouble I've had with it, is with one of the recording level meters. Every now and then it would stick. A highly scientific flick of my finger on it, restored motion. The slide switches (For Recording Level) are a departure from the normal rotary controls. It's not a Top of the Line unit, but it sounds all right.

Seems like a good starter deck if it is in working condition. X 200D has 3 motors and reverse play.

It's a decent model, X-crossfield heads with track-selector for mono/stereo recording.
8 decks out of 10 have problems with auto-reverse function does not function anymore. :worried:
Loss of the left channel in reverse playmode is very common.
Sometimes the 2 pushbuttons and solenoid/linkage/relay need service as the heads moves.
Also looking at the picture, the play-lever is not straight, could be a cracked cam inside that was made of pot-metal and kind of swells up and break in half.
Ask some questions before you buy. :thmbsp:

If you have a chance, look for a 2300S or 2300SX, you should be able to get it for about 50 to 60 bucks before shipping. Much better unit, very durable and in good supply ! Good Luck ! :banana: Joe :pistols:

Not sure if it's easy to find a Teac in Norway Joe. :)
That's the country of Tandberg. :yes:

I missed that part Rolf... I guess a Tandberg would be easier to find...Matbe we should found an International Organization to ship TEAC's to places in the world where they are deprived....

What about the Spitsbergen Wholesale Electronics Exchange, ???- Joe:withstpd:

That's a good idea Joe. :thmbsp:
What do you think Harald ?

I'll put in a low bid for the x-200 D. The Tandbergs I have come across have all been quite expensive units, as there are plenty of Tandberg collectors here. I'd like a rtr because they're cool looking big pieces of machnery.

I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks for the advice guys!

- Harald

My first reel to reel is an AKAI X-200 D! Got it for $50 with local pickup.

- Harald

Congratulations, I can see your reels spinning. :banana: :D :banana:

Picked it up earlier today. What a heavy beast - 17 kg (or 37.4 lb for the metrically impaired). It looks really clean, at least from the outside. The real plywood case is near spotless. It also comes with a plywood lid which covers the 'butter' side when not in use. I also got the original owner's manual with a schematic diagram. Now I need to locate a source of tapes befor I can start to play with my new toy!

harhau - I had one of these decks, purchased new, way back when. i still regret that circumstances forced me to sell it. Ah, well. I did enjoy it for many years. it was a solid performer, and provided background for some especially pleasant memories. :yes:

Good luck with yours, at least you should be able to find tapes.

Harald, You should be able to find lots of Maxell UD-35-90 on ebay. It's the best there is. Runs clean, you'll seldom have to clean the heads.

The 35-90 is 1 mil thickness so there is better head to tape contact. The 1.5 mil tape is just to rigid.

Do you have a capstan sleeve to change the speed or is the 200D a speed switch ? If there is a capstan sleeve treat it like gold. There hard to find.

:thmbsp: Good Luck ! - Joe M.

Harald, if you don't find any tapes in Norway, put a wanted ad on this site.
http://www.samlaren.org/samlarforum/index.php
Located across the border in Sweden.
I do some trades with people over there. :)
"Jenterna i Oslo ar inte att leka med." :naughty:
Many 'moons" ago I use to drive across the bridge (Svinesundsbron) in to Norway buying trunk-loads of your famous strong beer and drive back the same day hoping the customs didn't stop me. :yikes:

The good old days Harald. :beerchug:

One more time, You drive the truck Rolf and I'll drive a Blown/Injected Volvo to clear a path for you ! We'll bring a load of Norge Brewski all the way to Upsala. The chicks will love us ! :ntwrthy:

:D That would be fun Joe.
One time me and 3 other guys drove 2 times the same week cross the border with a 71 Ford Torino, it had a 351 under the hood and very deep trunk.
After loading up 4 grocery carts with beer in a store, the cashier behind the counter was shaking the head and ask us what the hell we were doing. :scratch2:
Told her "We like beer " :yes:
And the girls in Norway, they are sweet. :thmbsp:
Fun to party with and happy girls. :banana:

Joe, have you been to Uppsala ? :scratch2:

Rolf,

You would be considered a lunatic if you did the same trip today. Norwegians are crossing the border to Sweden to get trunkloads of cheaper beer - more than a sixpack is of course above the customs excempt limit. Swedes go to Denmark to buy even cheaper beer - trunkloads of beer are fully legit thanks to generous EU rules (see the picture).The Danes go to Germany for the very same reason. The Germans cross the border to Poland. I have no idea where the Poles get their cheap beer.
http://cache.aftenposten.no/multimedia/archive/00219/140568b073_MT78hove_219939h.jpg
Cheers!

- Harald

NO I've never been to Upsala, can't even spell it. It was the only city name I could think of in Sweden last night. Not bad though, College Town right ? " Taking Coors beer east of the Mississippi is bootlegging ! " :beerchug:

Things have changed Harald. :)
I heard the EU made prices and shopping go haywire, but why buy beer in Sweden ?
The beer made in Norway taste so much better Harald. :thmbsp:
Of course danish Dynamite is not bad or Elephant beer from Germany. :yes:
Did you find any tape yet ?

Joe,
I thought you maybe visited there.
You are right, it's a college town :thmbsp:

I ordered some brand new tape today. Will pick them up on Monday. Emtec (BASF) 35-1/4-1800 and 528-1/4-1200. Is there a good source for tapes in the US? I'm going to San Jose for a conference in January.

- Harald

I finally hooked the AKAI up to my system. I loaded a reel of BASF 528 Audio Broadcast tape. My daughter was thrilled about this big machine that can record her voice. I haven't done any cleaning or oiling (yet). It works fine as is. As a test I recorded a few tracks from the Pat Metheny Group live CD "The road to you" at 3 3/4 ips

Things I have noticed:

- surprisingly little hiss
- record level pots are scratchy
- there is a stronger signal on the left channel than the right during playback. I believe the meters were pretty even while recording

Cheers!

- Harald

When you clean the line in and output controls the out put may stabilize. Clean the heads and capstan roller with Q-tips and alcohol, there could be tape deposits making the recording or playback un even...

I think you have the Glass Ferrite heads in that puppy, If so, there's no worry about head wear....

The Akai's are incredibly bright, so you should not notice any tape hiss, except with really awful tape...In fact you have such a bright sound that if you have a normal amp ( one without an equalizer) you could get an equalizer and actually be able to use it. Expanding the mid range and bass when you want.

Harald, how about I buy a tramp steamer and load it with Genesee Cream Ale and we sneak it ashore at Trollenborg some moonless night ? Boollegging in the EU, sounds like fun to me :wtf:

I have finally put the X-200D permanently into the system. Now I'd like to fix some scratchy pots and do some general lube and cleaning. The problem I am faciing is this: How do I get it out of the wooden box? I don't want to break anything. I have tried to take the front panels off, but some of the switches/levers are really attached well (without any visible screws). I'd appreciate any input.

- Harald

I did a 150 once, it seems to me that I removed all the visible screws on the back and was able to lift the wood case off of the deck, I think, Vintage Texas will know !!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

The X-200D is three speed with electrical speed selection--no slip-on capstan sleeve hassles. :thmbsp:

I've made two modifications to mine: one, removal of a relay used to mute playback when switching from forward to reverse play (or vice versa) as whatever electronics that fed it was causing the intermittent playback syndrome. Two, I added a 100 ohm, 20 watt wirewound resistor in the voltage pickoffs for the two reel motors, to correct the stock machine's excessive takeup tension and insufficient back tension. (Sorry, I do not have a schematic for the deck or a way to scan and post the mod if I did have said schematic. :sigh:)

It doesn't have the later Glass Ferrite heads. It is a cross-field design.

It's been awhile since I was in mine, i think you need to start with the 4 "feet" screws on the back and it should come out of the cabinet. Mine also is picky about the reverse function. No S/M, but this might come in handy.
They're pretty similar.
http://www.dantiques.com/tapedecks/manuals/akaix100d/index.htm

C'mon Harold, it's only been a year and a half! We live vicariously through others peoples projects you know. :D

howdee all; A fellow GI had one when they first came out in 1970-71....they were hot among Gis...durable, but not great response, and NO source or tape monitoring...like most cassette decks...
I find the X-200d fine for playback , but i would find a three head machine to do serious recording... blooeyz

OOps..almost forgot...this machine, the Akai x200d also comes in a nice large vinyl or wood covered case with amplifiers, and speakers, and a carry handle....and in this configuaration its called the M-10. and with the cassette and 8 track added i think Akai called it X-2000.