40 year old portable reel to reel 6 transistor battery powered tape deck will play tapes at normal volume, but when I record and playback the volume of what I record is extremely low. It is an inexpensive unit, but it would be nice to repair. Could the problem be a bad transistor? I have checked all of the connections, switches, etc. already. I have also tried multiple microphones.
Problem could be in either the record or playback circuits of unit. Try playing back a tape in another machine to see what the volume is like. If also low then the issue is with the record amp circuits.
Fixing will not be cost effective, however.
SOURCE: Repairing or replacing old tape decks
Hi m522posner
There is a surprising interest in "vintage" hifi products these days. Your tape machines probably needs new belts. Check this site out. You can get spares for your tape machine here. Belt kits are $17. He does repairs also, but the transport to and from may be an issue for you. I suggest emailing Bob, he may be able to refer you to someone in CA > I could do the repairs,but I am in Australia. :)
Vintage Electronics
P.O. Box 941
1241 Conestoga Creek Rd
Florissant, Co 80816
Email: [email protected]
You could have a go at freshening up the belts yourself:)
regards
robotek
SOURCE: Teac cassette deck records at very low volume
Tape decks have a record amp, depending on the age of the machine it will probably be an IC. Yours might have failed. See if you can identify it or try and get a C diagram. To locate it follow the leads from the head. If your lucky it might have 'Rec Amp' on the board. Their maybe a preset marked 'rec level' for each channel. The (IC) box with legs - near them will most likely be it. Don't adjust the presets unless somebody has tampered with them before. (they will look to be sitting around the middle if they are OK).
SOURCE: audio tape cassettes,old pre-recorded and home
A good cleaning to the rollers and tape head with a qtip and a small amount of rubbing alcohol should do the trick
SOURCE: play back on Sanyo mr-929 reel-to-reel tape recorder is backwards
I also have an MR-929. The information that you need is in the 'Stereophonic 4 track stereo''. As stereo is only two tracks, there is another 2 tracks in addition to the one you are listening to. Wind the entire reel to the empty spool, and then play that. As you have to physically turn the reel over to do so, you should then hear the other tracks (or track, if recorded in mono).
I use my 929 to play my parents recording of my family from the late 60s, which were recorded on a valve (tube) Ferguson machine, which had a green "magic eye" level indicator, which as a child I found fascinating!
Howie
SOURCE: My AKAI GX 636 records but can't hear anything on playback
Trace the wires from the head to the amp section. Put your finger on where they join (during playback) and see if you can get a buzz. If you can't on either channel, look for something that might be common to both channels. Either a switch, or a pre-amp IC, as being the cause of the fault.
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