Akai 4000DB Reel to Reel

This Arrived some time ago and I hadn't had the chance to run it through its paces.
 I have some excellent Columbia recordings of Leonard Bernstein originals. If your testing these old reel to reels I find piano and Symphony ensembles are an excellent, discriminating source for any fluctuation or unwanted noise.

This 4000DB is an attractively designed compact tape deck offering multiple connections and controls and quality features among which are Akai's one micron gap heads for high density recording and the well known the incorporation of Dolby Noise Reduction System.
As you can see the Akai's one-micron gap head is responsible for an amazingly important difference in tape recording. It's the difference between ordinary performance and high density quality recording and playback. Ordinary head gaps are from 2 to 4 microns, but the gap of this outstanding head is only one micron. This high density recording system provides excellent frequency response and clear, high pitched sound is generated as a frequency tone and recorded smoothly without distortion.

With the Dolby Noise Reduction System, hissing noise heretofore thought impossible to eliminate, is reduced to a completely inaudible level. Basically, this circuit boosts the low level signals prior to recording and lowers them by precisely that same amount at playback time. During this revolutionary process, the extraneous noise is eliminated, thus also eliminating tape hiss.

Internally illuminated and quite cool are the  VU Meters

In keeping with Akai's top quality parts utilization policy, the 4000DB also features robust construction and sturdy mechanism. Further, a highly efficient induction type motor assures stable tape travel and ideal starting torque. The characteristics of this motor coupled with a boldly designed flywheel reduces wow and flutter significantly.

Head Transfer

Specs on this little baby

Track system: 4 track 2-channel stereo / monaural system
Reel capacity: up to 7" reel
Tape speed: 7-1/2 and 3-3/4ips (±2%)
Wow & flutter: less than 0.15% at 7-1/2ips, Less than 0.2% at 3-3/4ips
Frequency Response: 30Hz to 23,000Hz (±3dB)
7-1/2ips, 30Hz to 16,000Hz (±3dB) at 3-3/4ips
Distortion: less than 1.0%
Signal to noise ratio: better than 55dB (with Dolby process 60dB at 5kHz)

Jeff Conrad Project LP

Here is a great addition to your collection. Mirage is Jeff Conrad's solo project after leaving the LA band Big City Rock. This out of print and very rare is an audiophile eclectic pressing that presents Moog Synth fusion and Jazz for a great listening experience. Top shelf rare recording that's a pleasure to listen to. If you can find a clean copy add it!

Electrostatics facelift

 I am giving the grills some dimension. The originals are simplistic and I think they will have a nice look when I'm finished with them. The cabinets are also getting refaced with walnut. Stay tuned...

I advanced Masked LP - Andy Summers/Robert Fripp

Here is one to add to your vinyl collection. Released in 1982 by the Police and King Crimson guitarists this progressive all guitar intstrumental album is a spectacular blend of the two talents. Very impressive recording that is a pleasure to hear over and over. One of two collaborative LP's they did together. Andy Summers and Robert Fripp. Vintage Sound!

Vintage Sound's Audio Favorites

Lloyd's Seventies Stereo

Here are the top three sites I visit to view stunning vintage audio equipment.
Add them to your list of sites to enjoy!


SEVENTIES STEREO

THE VINTAGE KNOB

HIGH FIDELITY CLASSICS

All great collections with lots of knowledge shared.

Magnaeplanar Mini Maggies

 Really? 3 way Ribbon speaker for your computer? Perhaps a vintage mini system would be a better fit with some true vintage output power...
No question that the innovation of the Maggies in the 70's set them at the top of this new speaker technology.

the original beasts

Mini Maggies

I don't know what to say...compressed digitized sound released to an innovative desktop ribbon tweeter technology. Isn't that like putting a Mercedes emblem on your Mazda??
I guess I will never really know as this analog reviewer won't be shelling $1300 a pair!

through the grill Ribbon

 If any of the readers has an experience with these please post your comments. I love the company's vintage gear and by all accounts these house the technology that set them apart though the 70's and 80's gear.

Mini Maggie System
Description	3-Way, True Ribbon/Planar-Magnetic
Freq. Resp.	40 - 40 kHz
Rec Power	Read
Sensitivity	86dB / 500Hz / 2.83v
Impedance	4 Ohm
Dimensions	14 H x 9.5 W x 1.25 D
Available in cherry, natural or black solid oak trim with off-white, grey or black fabric.

VINTAGE SIGHT - Vintage Camera Site

If you have an interest in Vintage Analogue Camera equipment as I do then check out my new site dedicated to the camera collectors and 35mm film format Photography. 

Come and visit VINTAGE SIGHT 

Steely Dan - Gaucho LP

My favorite pressing to spin is the original Japanese issue. Dead silent vinyl and great true to original mix. Truly an Audiophile Staple and excellent tracks for reviewing vintage audio gear!
Released in 1980.

Janszen ER139 Speaker update

Here is some important additional information. Also there is a comment posted from David Janszen - Son & President of A A. Janszen. We appreciate his comments greatly! 

These Janszen units might possibly be the only 3-way prototype built prior to closing. Interesting and fascinating audio history and yes, true vintage sound!

Originally Posted by Brian 

The ERC139 was developed as a 20 way system when we evaluated them and suggested a Philips mid range be added; there was a mid range hole, the depth of the Grand Canyon on the pair we reviewed. The company did more development to fill in the mid range with the 2-way but announced they were developing the 3-way.

The company only started delivering the 2-way systems when it closed and before it announced the 3-way was in production so I wonder if the blogger has a set of engineering samples or pre-production units.

Regardless, he has a VERY unique system as it was Art's last design and the tweeter was far different than his previous models plus so few made. I hope he continues to love them and maintains them as a guardian of a piece of history.

...from AudioKarma posting

Electrostatic Speakers - Janzsen ER139

Arrivals like this are truly what keeps me thrilled about Vintage Sound gear. I have been very interested in Electrostatic Speaker technology for as long as I can remember but had not had the opportunity to test them on my array of music. Acquired in a trade deal I came to own these Arthur A. Janszen designed ER139 Hybrid Speakers. Designed by this innovative ( i would dare to say revolutionary) sound engineer. In 1974 Electrostatic Research Corporation formed in Massachusetts and acquired Janszen for the sole purpose of developing an unprecedented omnidirectional Hybrid Electrostatic Speaker. As with most Estat speakers there is a somewhat small "sweet spot" for the listening plane due to the charge (notes+-) dropping of at the edges of the membranes of the speakers. The innovation here would be to offer the high end tweeter signals in a circular array thus eliminating the smaller listening plane then those of the traditional cone drivers. Well, these achieved that and more! The inverted cone you see mounted on the woofer magnet has an intricate array of ribbon wound tweeters. A true Janszen patent stroke of genius!
The cone extending from the woofer magnet was also designed to grab and project through a top port resonant mid-range signals although these were modified with the additional mid driver listener facing.
Here is a Popular Mechanics short review... The ERC139's
The Vintage Sound....
Come on! That's what I said when I heard them for the first run of Paul Desmond's "Take Ten" LP. (hugely recommended on vinyl - PL42045)

Said in the most excited way - not the disappointed verb age, These kicked my butt! Cymbals sooo pure I thought they moved into my listening room. Bass true and Musical. I mean these really hit an audiophile stratosphere I did not anticipate. Really up there with some recent Totem Storm's I demoed.
Really! That good. They are very thirsty and I would guess that they are 4 Ohm as it really took a lot of power to get them opened up and fully breathing!

With all electrostatics the membranes need a charge applied to them thus each speaker has an outlet plug to supply that charge. I noticed that it took a few minutes before they really opened up. Once they did it was a joy to hear. The reduced levels of (audible) distortion that electrostatics bring is really ear candy. Less distortion - less fatigue.

Here is the man himself with his electrostatic tweeter. One of 8 that would be fitted to the ER139's.
Although this design really was revolutionary A A. Janszen had to move on from ERC as they folded the company from under-capitalization. It is my understanding that only 50 sets were made and he had not even optimized a real production for them prior to closing. Timing is everything and had these been marketed as they should have they might well have taken on many large Estat companies of the day.
In the end the proof is always in the listener's hands (ears) and these are absolutely Dope!!!