Hello, Darren. It's really nice to see young people rolling their sleeves up (not literally in your case) and replacing components in printed circuit boards, so well done! I have a gx365 that I have to admit I haven't used in decades but I really should roll my sleeves up and replace the electrolytics and maybe some of the transistors as well.

Recapping it is one of the most important thing to do. Good job.

@user-tv3nu8zs3s

8 ай бұрын

Recapping yess , 2sc945 noo!

I'm going to buy one in two days, it's refreshing to see that it's not that impossible to service it. I'm quite familiar with electronics but I was scared as hell to open up something like this. Cheers for the video

Special Thanks. My first Machine. The next to repair. ;-) Nice Video.

Good evening, I bought the Akai gx 625 used and I was aware that it would need a total overhaul. All this happened with the replacement of all the transistors of the preamp section and with the replacement of some electrolyte capacitor. The machine has been cleaned lubricated and calibrated. It works great and is perfect aesthetically. The technician to whom I brought it could not solve a big problem. The recorder has a great background noise that feels very pronounced when the music is stopped and the tape is flowing. I tried to record a piece of tape with volume at zero. When i listen to it again with the volume of the recorder on the second line it starts to be audible. This problem makes me listen to the recorder with the amplifier volume at 80% of its power and with the output volume of the recorder on the first line. The noise is not in the tape because in another recorder it sounds perfectly. Thanks for your help.

Beautiful deck. Thanks for the video, looking forward to the next one :)

@howardcollin2704

3 жыл бұрын

instablaster.

Exceptional

Looking forward to the calibration vid. I'll be there soon in my Akai 4000ds revival project. Never done that before.

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

I believe the 2SC458 transistors are in most akai tape decks. They are either 'going bad' or bad. Sound was amazing after I had done the job

Thank you 🙏

Any chance of the calibration video you mentioned? In what way is the sound better when the transistor and capacitor mods are done? Thanks !

Thanks for the informative video. Did you have to use special audio caps or normal electrolytics?

Have a GX-635D which will need this as well. Theres 16 2SC458's in it. A bit scary as I've never monkeyed with electronics before but it does seem straightforward.

Muy buen trabajo

Hello. I enjoyed your video on servicing. I am glad that you mentioned that some transistors pin outs are different. Also what brand is your solder sucker?

akai's try a teac A3340 changing the lamps under front panel it's a lot harder i had to do it great to see young man getting into fixing them i gone over to 1/2 tapes because 1/4 inch price'sare crazy high i use 7 1/2 on a tascam 38 new eq settings saved money in the long run

Hi Darren I was wondering if the 2sc1845 transistor was the same polarity ? I’ve heard it was inverse compare to the original? I’m repairing a 4000ds mkii

Hi Darren! I was wondering if you might be inclined at all to do a vid on calibration? Many thanks!

I have a 1960s ultra (FERGUSON) UNIT.New belts coming but..is it worth replacing any caps or just leave it? Does gave HT line as there is a valve Cheers

My Akai GX-4000D r2r right channel (from the RCA output jacks in the back) does not work. Everything else, including the front headphone jack, is fine. That is, sounds from both channels (L and R) are sent to the headphones but the R channel is NOT output via the back RCA R channel output. Do you what went wrong?

Great work. I also have an Akai GX-625. If I may ask, When I put in reels, supply and take up, the function buttons do not work. Could this be a blown fuse? Thanks in advance.

Hi Darren Why did you not used the 2sc458 and 2sc945 transistors?

Saludos!

what is a good place to get old transistors like 2SC458LG

So if I replace some 2SC458 to BC549 I have to switch because the pinout is the other way around..I'm just asking for confirmation thank you

Hello, I have a GX-625 that is in very nice condition as well. I am having an issue with the digital timer though. when it starts out, it counts up fine until it gets to about 500 feet, then the digital display goes haywire. or if you reverse the tape and it goes to 9999 it will do it almost immediately . I have had it to a repairman and he couldn't figure it out, also another one told me not to bring it to him. any ideas of what the cause could be? ps: it worked fine when i got it, then just started doing this. also it blows an 800ma fuse and the screen goes out. thank you for any help

I didn't realize that a transistor can go bad. I thought they either worked or they just did the "fastest fuse" thing. Do they lose linearity or something? Also, what brand of cap do you use? I tend to go for nichicon, or rubycon, or nippon chemi-con.

what transistors you replace the old ones with?

Would like to know what is your desoldering tool make and model. Have not seen one like that before.

@DarrensVlog

5 жыл бұрын

Its a cheap Chinese one from ebay pretty good for the price

Congratulations sir..! I have a GX 266 II and I've just finished replacing all the electrolytic capacitors with NICHICON caps of which I've specially ordered abroad..What about tantal caps..? The recording is not that good for me..%80 of the transistors are renewed..Should I go further..? Thank you very much..!

why didn't you rebuild the power board? mine drifted and smoke the logic circuit.

I have an Akai GX255 and the transistors (2SC458LG's) and others have been replaced. The deck sounds amazing except there is ridiculous hiss coming out of the output stage without tape playing. I suspect this to be the transistors?. Have you seen this before and can you suggest replacements?. Thanks for any help Cheers Julian

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

Jcamp definitely the 2sc458 transistors causing that

Hello, and how long did it take to do that job?

Hi Darren, nice video, how did you calibrate the deck afterwards??

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I just used test tones recorded on a known good recorder and a signal generator app on the ipad

Thanks for the video, do you think only the transistor change would do the trick to reestablish the sound or capacitors change are also vital in this case?

@luizduque2172

7 жыл бұрын

Just ordered the transistors, hope this helps, I'm bit lazy about the caps though... ;-)

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

I'd start with the transistors this will sort it

Hi Darren, great video, thank you. I have the task of getting both a GX-4000D and a GX-630 in working order. I will replace the 2SC458s for sure, but I'm on the fence about the electrolytic caps - trying to decide how much time I have to put in on these machines. When you replaced the caps on your deck, did you happen to test any of the old ones once you desoldered them, and if so, how far out of spec had they drifted, generally? Hats off to you for replacing them all, perhaps I will, but it would take me longer than one night I suspect : /

@DarrensVlog

3 жыл бұрын

The old caps went in the bin as once soldered more hassle to test when the replacements are pence! Most important ones to repalce are the yellow Low leakage caps for the rec & PB heads.

@markbilyeu1129

3 жыл бұрын

@@DarrensVlog Excellent, thank you for replying, that is helpful.

hi have worked on alot of tascam 34-38 they can be a right pain to fix best to leave the audio boards don't need re cap the logic board is the pain there's a 2 watt 1.5k res i have had bad time with and the 24v line on the logic pcb like you best to keep to the home decks they don't play up like the pro decks

Hello, very nice video... I bought a 625 last year, and, because i have also a GX 215D, i knew the issue with 2SC458.(replaced with low noise BC549 if i can remenber well--) I immediatly changed the transistors and all went fine. But not the capacitors.. I will do that, it is a good idea. Did you use good quality caps?

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

Roberto DS yes used HiFi grade caps but not crazy expensive ones.

@estiviguonder2762

6 жыл бұрын

Hi everyone. I have an AKAI gx266, where you bought the replacements? Sorry for the bad english.

@estiviguonder2762

6 жыл бұрын

By the way, excelllent job, thanks for sharing.

Mui lindo aparato

Why change working transistors? Either they work or not, its not like caps.

@DarrensVlog

3 жыл бұрын

If only I'd sort your advice before starting that'll saved me hours!

Thank you darren for this video...I have a GX635D, that will also need doing...:-) Also i have a problem with green led that does not light up ,It powers up but it is not working...Any adeas? Thank you...:-)

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

Steve Saferat could be a dry joint are we talking the power on LED?

@jazzey69

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the reply Darren, it is the direction green led....:-)

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

Steve Saferat it'll be the led lamp itself if you test for power it it's legs. You'll be needing a scrap machine if that's the case to rob the part

@jazzey69

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you , i will try that...:-) take care , Steve ...:-)

@jazzey69

4 жыл бұрын

@@romanticdance975 Thank you for the reply...will get on with this ...Blessings to you ..:-)

Hi I have a GX4000D that needs some work if your interested?

@DarrensVlog

5 жыл бұрын

Hi barry i really dont have the time. I have a massive self of projects of my own which i rarely gwt time to do. Great machine ypur gx4000 i have one too

now...next job is repair MINE AKAI GX-625 please 👍

Do you remember what capacitor values you needed? Sure be nice if someone would just put a kit together :)

@DarrensVlog

7 жыл бұрын

Lots of 10uf & 47uf, a few pairs at other values. If you download the service manual and look at the schematics basically it's all electrolytics in the output and record preamp. Just double the amount you count up

@benjaminharmon6070

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply Darren. I have a copy of the service manual but it's pretty much not readable (at least the pdf copy I have) Thanks again

When using a vacuum cleaner be very careful not to cause any static discharge or arcs.

Thank god newer Maxell tapes don't have the tape hole in the reel. Dont use it period

I am about to do the same to a GX210D.. Lost one input suddenly. The same shit transistors in it.

hi re cap on this is easy re cap a teac 3340 the first quad they did is hell lot harder AKAI GX77 with bad capstan the audio board come out the same way asm your and the rs 1700 1500 is easy to get at tascam 32 to 38 is easy to do as well

Не знаю как в этом магнитофоне, но в Акае 635 ни один конденсатор не полетел, а вот транзистор шумел и то один всего.

My GX 620 work perfect for 45. Dont need TLC. All new transistors are low power then original transistors 2SC945 . Amplification factor for new transistors is weak! If the transistors and .capaccitors are made in china you pull out JAPANESE accuracy. Like Sanyong SUV clone of Mercedes ML.

blowing out dust is no added value, nor is it a revision

@DarrensVlog

4 жыл бұрын

My machine, if i want to blow dust from it i will.....so there!

Darren, I'm looking at purchasing one of these 625s without a mains lead. It seems to be a two-pin input - do you know if replacements are readily available?

@BensSightSoundandAuto

6 жыл бұрын

The cord is the same type used in most portable stereos, just a standard two pin fig 8 input.