Akai 4000-DS MK II 3-Headed Reel-To-Reel Stereo Tape Deck Japan 1977

The Akai 4000DS Mk II has been the most popular hi-fi tape deck in the country for quite some time now. The simple reason is that it gives you high quality performance for a reasonable price.
Ordinary head gaps vary from 2 to 4 microns. But, the narrower the gap the better the frequency response and lower distortion. So, Akai engineers closed the gap to just one micron to give you the benefit of really excellent frequency response and low distortion.
Then, there's off-tape monitoring.

The combination of a Tape Monitor Switch and three heads gives you an instant comparison of the signal input and the actual recording being made. Just flip the switch from Source (where you hear exactly what's going on to the tape) to TAPE and hear, as it were, simultaneous playback. To make monitoring even easier, there's a headphone jack on the front panel.
With regular low noise tape, the 4000DS Mk II gives a frequency response covering 20,000 Hz. Switch to wide range and the bias is increased for use with the low noise high output tapes now available.
Sound-on-sound is an ideal feature for amateur musicians or people who like playing with sound for the sheer fun of it.
You can build up several recordings on one track. Just record on track 1, rewind and record again on track 3 (monitoring the first recording through headphones at the same time). Both recordings will merge on track 3. Very simple. Very professional.
The 4000DS Mk II features a built-in microphone- line mixing circuit. Independent line and microphone recording level controls and input jacks mean that signals from the microphone and signals from other sources can be blended and recorded simultaneously on tape.
Automatic shut-off - at the end of the tape, (or if the tape breaks), the transport shuts off - automatically. A Pause Control - specially useful for editing that momentarily stops tape travel during recording or playback.
Two large VU meters to give you a quick and accurate reading of recording and playback levels. An equalisation switch for tape speed - so whether you record on 72 or 334 i.p.s. you still get the best reproduction possible.
The device has been completely restored, it’s fully functional both mechanically and electronically. Plays, rewinds, forwards, records and plays back on all four channels in mono and stereo mode.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Akai Electric Co., Ltd.; Tokyo
Model: 4000-DS MK II
Type: 3-head coil tape
Serial number: 21002-02066
Years of manufacture: 1976 - 1978
Made in: Japan
Color: Silver / Black, housing wood walnut
Power type and voltage: Alternating Current supply (AC) / 220 Volt
Power consumption: 30 W
Material: Wooden case with metallic front panel. 
Dimensions (WxHxD) 405 x 315 x 140 mm / 16 x 12.4 x 5.5 inch
Weight: 11.5 kg

Connections:
Number of inputs:
Microphone: 0.5 mV, 30 kOhm
Line: 50 mV, 330 kOhm
DIN: 20 mV, 100 kOhm

Number of outputs:
Line: 1.23 V
DIN: 250 mV
Headphones: 30 - 40 mV at 8 Ohm
Technical Data:
Max. coil diameter: 18 cm
Drive: 1 motor
Heads: 3 (one head each for recording and playback, 1 ferrite erasing head)
Tracks: 4
Tape speed: 9.5 / 19 cm/sec
Overall frequency response:
- 30Hz - 17kHz ±3dB(9.5cm/sec).
- 30Hz - 22kHz ±3dB(19cm/s)
Coincident frequency response:
9.5 cm/sec: 0.25 %
19 cm/sec: 0.15 %
Signal to noise ratio: > 50dB
External voltage spacing:
Distortion factor (1000Hz, "0" VU recording): < 2 %.
Cancellation attenuation: < 70dB
Premagnetization and extinction frequency: 100kHz
Equalization: according to NARTB
Crosstalk attenuation at 1 kHz in Stereo mode -40 dB
Rewind time: 180 seconds for 350 m band

Special features:
Mixable microphone / line inputs
Multiplayback via S O S Switch possible
Band selector switch for low-noise and wide-range bands
Switchable equalisation related to tape speed
Adjustment of the tape speed by mans of an adapter
Horizontal and vertical operation

Tags: Akai, 4000DSMKII, ReelToReel, TapeRecorder, Japan, Vintage, Hifi