AKAI GX-220D playback head does not play high frequencies

[gregkoya]

Although I've tried to adjust the azimuth, the playback head does not respond frequencies above 6 khz. I have already demagnetized it but it still the same way. Has anyone a clue? Must i change the palayback head?

 

[gregkoya]

seems to be defective, i would guess some transistors went off duty, with mentioned result... sorry mate...

because of the age, and depending your budget, you might be able to get repair for it, you just have to judge if it's worth to do so, my fear is - too expensive

Thanks Telisaro, I thought about the amplifiers but Left and Right.? Seems unlikely to me. I just can't understand why a playback head that works fine up to 4 or 5 khz does'nt work with high frequencies or with a result so poor....

 

[gregkoya]

they seem to have seperate circuits for left and right, which would be not uncommon in that time... and if amplifier for one side does not work properly :-(

btw. thanks for amplifier - i'm not native english speaker, and was searching for that word when putting first anwer *g*

I'm not native english speaker too, but in our way we can talk with each other.

 

[makkem]

Hi
Have you tried cleaning the head with tape head cleaner?
This is a classic symptom of a clogged head which is caused by minute particles of tape.

 

[gregkoya]

Hi
Have you tried cleaning the head with tape head cleaner?
This is a classic symptom of a clogged head which is caused by minute particles of tape.

Dear Makkem, I never used head cleaner, only Isopropyl alcohol. Is there any significant difference between them?

 

[makkem]

No,isopropyl alcohol works just fine.
If the head is clean then it could be head wear this can also manifest as high frequency loss and unfortunately would require a new head.

 

[gregkoya]

No,isopropyl alcohol works just fine.
If the head is clean then it could be head wear this can also manifest as high frequency loss and unfortunately would require a new head.

Well, this is what I was affraid of. Thank you Makkem . I think that's the solution after all.

 

[chris-L]

hi, that's really weird to roll off so sharply at 6khz. just to be clear : wipe the head with a cotton swab and alcohol very hard until there is no brown residue on the cotton swab. Then use a pre-recorded commercial tape that you definitely know plays well to check the sound. IF you
still feel there is no high frequency and the tape you are using plays well on another known good machine then you can look carefully at the
mechanical alignment of the tape as it passes across the head Make sure the head track is parallel to the tape and not too high or too low.
you should not be able to see the head tracks with the audio portion of the tape crossing the head. My guesses are that either the head is very dirty, or the tape is defective or the head alignment has been thrown off or the tape is not making good contact with the head. I would suspect all of these before I suspect an electronic circuit defect or worn out GX head. If you are sure the head is clean you can use the cotton swab to push the tape against the head to make sure you have good tape to head contact. IF you can hear better high frequency by
pressing the tape against the head, then look to make sure all of the tape path guides, etc. are clean and you have sufficient tension on
the tape to get good tape to head contact.
chris-L