Akai AP 005 (1976–1978)
A fully automatic belt-drive turntable from Akai's 1970s premium lineup. It has a precision tone arm and a factory-fitted Audio-Technica cartridge.
Overview
The Akai AP-005 is a fully automatic belt-drive turntable built between 1976 and 1978. It sat in a high-end series with the AP-001 through AP-004, and it was the peak of Akai's turntable engineering for that era. It comes with an Audio-Technica AT-11 cartridge and ATS11 stylus, which has a 0.65 mil diamond tip. A 45 rpm adapter is included. It plays at 33 and 45 rpm, with low wow and flutter.
Specifications
| Tone Arm | Static balanced type stainless steel tubular arm with inside force canceler & lateral balance weight |
| Arm Length | 220 mm |
| Platter | 300 mm aluminium alloy die-cast turntable |
| Drive type | Belt drive |
| Speeds | 33 and 45rpm |
| Wow and flutter | 0.05% wrms |
| Signal to noise ratio | 52dB |
| Stylus pressure (factory setting) | 2 grams |
| Stylus Pressure Adjustment Range | 0 to 3 grams |
| Applicable Cartridge Weight | 4 to 8 grams (8 to 12.5 grams using sub-weight) |
| Arm Lifter | Oil damped |
| Supplied cartridge | Audio-Technica AT-11 |
| Supplied stylus | ATS11 |
| Stylus type | 0.65 mil diamond |
| Included accessory | 45 r.p.m. Adapter |
Context
The page calls the AP-005 part of the greatest lineup of turntables Akai ever made, before or since. The series was the AP-001, AP-002, AP-003, AP-004 and this one, all high-fidelity automatic turntables aimed at demanding audiophiles in the late 1970s.
Market
Replacement styli are available through specialty vendors such as LP Gear. Common refurbishments are a new drive belt and a new cartridge. Units have been listed for as much as $401.11 on Etsy, while others show up on Facebook Marketplace for $25, depending on condition and restoration status.
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Related Models
- Akai AP-D2 (1979-1982)
- Akai AP-003 (1980)
- Akai AP-007 (1985)
- Akai AP 100
- Akai AP 207
- Garrard SP (1975)
- Luxman PD-310 (1981)
- Luxman PD-555 (1983)
- Thorens TD-124 (1957–1967)
- Harman Kardon kardon-turntables (1975)