The Akai 270DSS, listed in period sources as the GX-270DSS, was a four-channel open-reel tape deck introduced by Akai America in 1977. Almost all of its surviving documentation comes from contemporary trade listings and a brief product announcement.
HiFI-Stereo (January 1977, p.18) reported that the deck featured Akai's "Quadra-Sync" system, which allowed synchronized recording on all four channels in sequence — a feature that let the user build up a multi-track recording one track at a time.
High Fidelity published specification data in its 1980 tape equipment directory (p.122). The GX-270DSS ran at 7½ and 3¾ ips, with wow and flutter measured at 0.04% WRMS at the higher speed and 0.06% at the lower. Playback frequency response was rated at 30 Hz to 24 kHz, +3 dB at 7½ ips, referenced to Scotch 211 tape.
Beyond these fragments, the record is thin. No service manual, no detailed circuit description, no original price beyond that $1,250 price-point bracket, and no production run figures have surfaced.
- Type: Four-channel open-reel tape deck
- Speeds: 7½, 3¾ ips
- Wow & flutter: 0.04% (7½ ips), 0.06% (3¾ ips) WRMS
- Frequency response (play): 30 Hz – 24 kHz, +3 dB at 7½ ips
- Reference tape: Scotch 211
- Motors: 3
- Features: Quadra-Sync, four VU meters, pitch control, remote control, mic/line mixing
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