Akai GX F25 (1981)
A microcomputer-controlled stereo cassette deck with Twin Field Super GX head and metal tape support
Overview
The Akai GX-F25 is a 2-motor stereo cassette deck introduced around 1981. It has a dual-gap Twin Field Super GX head for recording and playback, and it handles four tape types: LN, LH, CrO2, and Metal. A microcomputer controls motor timing and the operating functions. An electromagnetic switch handles record/playback switching in the amplifier section. A direct function mechanism gives precise mechanical control of the transport. The auto-mute inserts a 4-second silent gap before recording begins.
Specifications
| Product type | Stereo cassette deck |
| Wow and flutter | 0.04%WRMS |
| Frequency characteristic | 30 Hz ~ 19 kHz (Metal Tape) |
| Distortion factor | 0.7% (Metal Tape) |
| S / N ratio (metal tape) | 60dB(Dolby NR off) |
| Heads | Recording : Twin Field Super GX Head x1; Erase : 1 double-gap erase head |
| Motor | Capstan Drive : One electronically controlled DC motor; Reel Drive : 1 DC Motor |
| Power supply voltage | 100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz |
| Power consumption | 20W |
| External dimensions | Width 440x Height 118x Depth 285 mm |
| Weight | 6.8kg |
Design
The GX-F25 drives the tape with 2 motors. A microcomputer times the motors and plungers, using a ceramic oscillator. The Twin Field Super GX head combines high and high-μ ferrite materials in one housing, with separate 4 μm recording and 1 μm reproducing gaps. An electromagnetic switch routes the amplifier section between record and playback. An LED and phototransistor sensor detect tape motion, which allows a light-based mode display. The direct function mechanism uses dual plungers with silencers and dampers, so the transport runs quiet and stable. The front panel has a 2-color 12-segment LED bar meter with +3 dB and +7 dB peak indicators. The deck supports Dolby NR and MPX filtering. A tape selector switches between LN, LH, CrO2, and Metal, and the headphone output has its own independent volume control. The auto-mute gives 4 seconds of silence before recording and works with REC standby.
Market
The Akai GX-F25 was sold with the optional Remote Control Unit RC-21, which cost ¥6,000 separately. The deck itself had an original price of ¥59,800 around 1981.
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