JVC KD-A7

[Elite-ist]

Hi all,

Here's a deck that I bought some time ago, 06-22-2010 to be precise, as I taped the receipt to the back of the deck. I didn't really expect it to work, but when I plugged it in at the Salvation Army store, where I found it, and inserted a pre-recorded cassette, then borrowed a pair of headphones, it seemed to be OK. An investment of $16.04.

Today, I pulled it down off of the storage shelf, demagnetized the head and thoroughly cleaned the tape path with IPA. I will keep it running for most of this morning and I'm listening to a Sony UX 90 of Rolling Stones' "Let It Bleed."

Here's a short video of it in action. Had to keep the volume down as it's still too early in the day to crank on it:

Click on image to play video:

Nando.

 

[Northwinds]

That deck is pretty badass looking Nando!!!

I really wish Lee's buddy had come through with the CT-F1250, that's the only deck I want in my system, it would see only very limited use though. I wish I shared your enthusiasm for recording again

 

[Elite-ist]

Thanks, Ron. You do know records and tapes go together like ham and cheese. Once you get the tape bug, it's hard to get it out of your blood stream. My Pioneer CT-F1250 is a deck that gets regular use in my main system. It won't be relegated to a shelf.

Nando.

 

[Dazen1]

Retro cool factor is 8/10 in my book Nando.

I wish I shared your enthusiasm for recording again

With your impressive record collection, I'm surprised that you have not embraced recording to cassette. It will save wear and tear on your treasured vinyl (& turntable) and you get to keep everything in the analogue domain.

 

[Elite-ist]

Daren: Thanks. I've been playing a few recent mix tapes I've received from Larry and Miles. On Miles' tape, which was recorded with Dolby C, I used the Super ANRS on playback to check compatibility. Larry's mix had no NR used. This is a nice 2-head deck for playback. I haven't tried recording with it, yet.

This is Larry's tape (Blackwatch 2020) playing:

Click on image to play video:

Nando.

 

[Miracle Mile]

This JVC deck must be from 1983 or so.... I can remeber it from those days.

It reminds me of the RX80 ES from 88/89:

 

[Elite-ist]

Miles: So, there are a few more cassette decks out there with the spectrum analyzer feature. Vintagecassette.com lists this deck as a 1979 model. It looks more modern, like the early 80's as you noted. I may bring it upstairs to see if it records OK.

Going through the functions test.

Click on image to play video:

Nando.

 

[BlazeES]

I cut my teeth on the next down "brother" of this deck Nando, between 1979 and 1982. I can't recall the model number but it looked identical minus the fluorescent-spectrum display. This vintage of JVC decks are built like tanks; solid - positive transports. It brought back lots of memories viewing this thread! The father figure bought a JVC component system + some KLH speakers for the household system and I clocked in a boat-load of hours on the deck. For some reason, Super ANRS encoded tapes sounded really sweet in the car.

 

[Elite-ist]

That's a great flashback moment, Tony. This is no flyweight deck, at all. The Super ANRS is a form of high frequency compander as well as noise reduction function. That would explain the nice playback on your car's stereo system. I will download the operating manual to get more information on it. Because I hadn't planned to use it, regularly, I didn't bother with a manual.

I just slotted in another deck that has been sitting on the sidelines for about seven years - an Akai GX-F31. I bought this deck and a Pioneer CT-F650 from the same owner who had them since new. He was happy to see them go to a good home. Both decks for $80, I think.

Click on image to play video:

Nando.

 

[El Magnifico]

Very nice indeed, Nando! It's beign a long time since I saw another deck with a SA in it.

Enjoy!

 

[derek92994]

Nice Pair of Decks you have there Nando. I have always wanted to see the JVC spectro in action. The Akai is a cool looking machine to with its counter/display.

 

[Elite-ist]

Thanks El Mag & Derek. The Akai GX-F31 is a nice little 2-head deck. I engaged the Dolby B in that video for demo purposes as the tape wasn't recorded with NR. I have quite a number of mix tapes I pick up at the flea market that have music I like. I only pick brands of cassettes that I know are of good quality thinking I would re-record over them, but after listening to them, I don't think I have recorded over any of the used tapes, as yet. That brings bad karma to record over someone else's mix.

Nando.

 

[orange]

I cut my teeth on the next down "brother" of this deck Nando, between 1979 and 1982. I can't recall the model number but it looked identical minus the fluorescent-spectrum display. This vintage of JVC decks are built like tanks; solid - positive transports. It brought back lots of memories viewing this thread! The father figure bought a JVC component system + some KLH speakers for the household system and I clocked in a boat-load of hours on the deck. For some reason, Super ANRS encoded tapes sounded really sweet in the car.

Would that be KD-A5? Has five LEDs between the meters, swept from the bottom? I have that one...have to work on it, OF COURSE. Needs lamps or something in the drive? and somebody put it together with hex bolts...grrr.

(not my picture though...)

Ain't that something?

 

[fitz43]

Would that be KD-A5? Has five LEDs between the meters, swept from the bottom? I have that one...have to work on it, OF COURSE. Needs lamps or something in the drive? and somebody put it together with hex bolts...grrr.

(not my picture though...)

Ain't that something?

My wife has a KD-A5.

 

[BlazeES]

Would that be KD-A5? Has five LEDs between the meters, swept from the bottom? I have that one...have to work on it, OF COURSE. Needs lamps or something in the drive? and somebody put it together with hex bolts...grrr.

(not my picture though...)

Ain't that something?

That's the one!
Man the sight of that rig brings back all kinds of fond memories. Thanks dude!

Mastered a huge pile of Sony FeCr tapes through that beast. Still have several of them still going strong after all these years.
I can remember transcribing my complete Beatles BC-13 box-set to tape on this JVC. Pretty much grouped all the songs in chrono-order,
omitting a few of the songs I didn't much care for to keep it flowing. This picture will come in handy for when I get around to doing a
"Memory Lane" tape deck thread...

 

[Miracle Mile]

Memory lane...

That's the one!
Man the sight of that rig brings back all kinds of fond memories. Thanks dude!

Mastered a huge pile of Sony FeCr tapes through that beast. Still have several of them still going strong after all these years.
I can remember transcribing my complted Beatles BC-13 box-set to tape on this JVC. Pretty much grouped all the songs in chrono-order,
omitting a few of the songs I didn't much care for to keep it flowing. This picture will come in handy for when I get around to doing a
"Memory Lane" tape deck thread...

Tony,

If you start a thread like that I will support you...

Good Idea!

 

[BlazeES]

Tony,

If you start a thread like that I will support you...

Good Idea!

Miles, the 'Memory Lane' section is already in place.
It's a members only section:

http://forums.phxaudiotape.com/forumdisplay.php/64-Memory-Lane

I'm still trying to dig up photos (from albums and boxes...) that might have pictures of my turntable travels.
But feel free to start a personal thread in that group.
The more the merrier!

 

[Elite-ist]

Tony: The KD-A5 looks like a very nice deck to record with. There aren't many members, here, who have recorded on Type III tape. I have a few recordings done on Sony and BASF FeCr which turned out nice.

Once the Cassette Deck Memory Lane thread has begun, I will see what old articles and advertisements I can include with the thread, depending on which deck is featured.

I expect Miles will have some great pictures to share with us.

Nando.

 

[orange]

It's an awesome deck! Will be again when I get it open and fixed.