Akai cassette player no signal ????????

boston1450

AKAI CS732d everything works great. So it seems. Including the counter/lights but no signal...I know its not the cord because ive been using it on another player and it works fine. Just not sending out signal..any ideas ? Is anyone into cassettes that think this unit is worth fixing. Its in Very clean good/mint condition. I do have others but id hate to just scrap it. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance

Fongolio

I'm probably stating the obvious but that deck has a built in pre-amp and output level control. Have you turned the output level up?

gudnoyez

Fongolio wrote: »

I'm probably stating the obvious but that deck has a built in pre-amp and output level control. Have you turned the output level up?

This. Turn the output level up.

boston1450

Attachment not found.I have turnt it up unless you have to open up the unit to do that. I set it at half way when i first hooked it up. Then i brought it up n down and still nothing...sorry if pic is sideways. Issues with pics

gudnoyez

When you say counter lights do you mean the vu meter level indicators, are they working when you play a tape? What is the input set at on your amp or receiver. and do you have the cables hooked up to match your input selection?

boston1450

When i first turn it on there is a slight movement in the meters. Then they rest back down..i press play-tape moves fine in play mode. But meters do NOT move at all

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what i ment above is the counter numbers move and all lights work on the meter vu ---

George Grand

Make a recording and see if THAT plays back.

boston1450

I have no idea how to record. Sorry never done that. Ive had tape players for years. Ive only played-rew-ff thats about the extent ive ever done with tape players. I have plugs plugged going out to receiver. And i also tried the other----i know my rec works fine because its hooked to the advent cassette player & works fine..ive played with all the buttons that are on it. Maybe a wire loose. Ill open it up tomorrow n take a glance. Ill update if i come across something..thanks for feedback. Randy

George Grand

"Good Sound" by Laura Dearborn. Great book.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
I believe that is a bi-direction deck, meaning it can record and play going in both directions. There is usually some kind of switch that lets the two sets of combination record/playback heads play in the correct direction. These switches often need taken apart and cleaned. They are usually located directly behind the head assembly.
Good luck, Ken

boston1450

Thanks ken. I plan on opening it up later. I just got done with a service on the yamaha n hooking it up. So its next on the list. Its a NASTYish day up here in Maine so what better things to do ---hope its repairable because i dont like vintage stuff becoming part of the scrap pile. Lol----ill keep progress updated

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thanks,,,,Randy

[Deleted User]

No problem, I hope you figure it out.

Polkie2009

Post some pics for us Randy, hope it's something easy to fix and her up and running again.

boston1450

I had to do the wife list this afternoon so i didnt get a chance ;( i hope to in the morning thanks-randy

boston1450

Attachment not found.Well i poked around inside. It runs perfect. Still no signal out. No meters moving. But im not gonna give up. Not ready to die yet..lol

mhardy6647

so - you're sure that the tape you're playing has material recorded on it, yes?

This isn't as dumb a question as it sounds :-)

If you know it's got "program material" on it, and you tried to play it on this AKAI and you got "dead air", did you try the following 'experiment'?

Take the same tape, rewind it past the "dead air" point, and play it on your Advent deck; make sure it still plays.

I am wondering whether the AKAI may be 'stuck' in "record" (or at least running the AC record bias and the erase head) - perhaps it erased the tape as you tried to play it.

I guess I am also wondering, as Ken Swauger posited, whether the auto-reverse AKAI is stuck on playing the "other" side of the tape? Is your test tape known to contain recorded program material on both of its two sides?

The AKAI isn't a three-head deck, so you can't have a "source/tape" mode selector problem (unfortunately - that'd be an easy "fix"!).

http://www.vinylengine.com unfortunately doesn't have a manual for this AKAI deck. There is a tiny bit of info at:
http://www.vintagecassette.com/akai/cs_732d
(I cannot vouch for how accurate that page is, though)

George Grand

If it has a "Tape or Monitor/Source" switch, make sure it is set to Tape or Monitor when trying to playback a tape.

I see now Hardy has spoken of this above.

boston1450

The tape is fine. I played around with it more. I hooked it back up to a stereo. And i have to put it at HIGH volume to hear very faint sound of it. Very faint. And the meters are not moving at all. Week signal......it may be above and beyond my capability. Lol...i have pleny of tape players. So its not a big issue. But i hate when something so nice doesnt work. Maybe i can give it away to someone. Or when i get my service done on one of my stereo's i can give it to them as a nice gesture. Let them repair it----then they will take good care of my stuff.....i dont have the equipment or knowledge,,but eager to learn as i find it interesting....thanks for all the responses

tias79

Hello Everybody, first post.

Hi Boston,

I have the same problem with the same deck.
exactly the same :
"And i have to put it at HIGH volume to hear very faint sound of it. Very faint. And the meters are not moving at all. Week signal......it may be above and beyond my capability."

Did you get a fix for this deck ?

Please share :-)

Thx

Matthias

boston1450

No I haven't messed with it. I was just looking on the shelf last night at it saying I need to look it over. Fall is here in Maine-so it's on my list. I was wondering if I de-Magnitized it if that might be the problem ? I never got around trying it yet. It's a beautiful unit & I hate the thoughts of TRASHING it--Welcome to Club Polk

[Deleted User]

While anything is possible, it's doubtful that demagnetizing will solve the problem. Residual magnetism on metal parts only causes an increase in noise levels, but not a complete lack of playback. There's more of a direct cause, the auto-reverse relays are prime suspects.

Msabot1

Sounds like you are having a prob with the playback head....or alignment..check that..make sure it's clean...just a thought!

boston1450

Thanks KEN & msabot1 I figured it wasn't that but thought I'd do it anyways-when I look it over. I will check on those areas you mentioned. I have lots of vintage players because down the road they will be harder to find. Sometimes you can pick up mint vintage players for 5.00 or in package deals. Most here don't use them & I understand that. But if they operate & sound good why not. I still have tapes I bought in the 1970's & some you can't get on cd such as OAK (king of the hill & this is love) a local Me & NH group that made it to the TOP 40's in the late 1970's early 80's (which I do have on albums NOW REEL TO REEL-- I would love to have. But room & tapes are a problem. But boy they sound so sweet on a vintage receiver. Ok I'm rambling. Thanks again

George Grand

There's a gorgeous Nakamichi BX-2 sitting at the end of my driveway as I type this. It's not alone, there's a Kenwood KX-910, and a Teac out there with it. Dual tables and Yamaha integrated also to keep the cassette decks company until the WM guys arrive.

boston1450

The last curb/driveway alert CARVER that i picked up i sold for 50.00- the new owner was very pleased.. maybe someone who needs a player will score

tias79

hello,

the problem of the 732d is the dual stereo amplifier that became defective.
the component is a dip14 chip just right behind the vu meters.
part number is LA4170 and could be replaced by a NTE1477. both chips are available on ebay.

hope you will try the fix and that it will solve your pb.

cheers from France.

Matthias

boston1450

Thanks i wont give up. Its a beautiful player just on the fall back burner along with 4-5 other projects