For years I've had an Onkyo TA-2800 sitting in a forgotten corner due to a belt failure. Living in Perth I was always wary of having to box it up and send it East for repair & alignment. Now, 18 months after I've moved East, I was distracted by some cassette-related videos here on YT , and I discover there was a repairer almost right under my nose. Definitely mixed feelings on that, but I'm thrilled there is SOMEONE out west taking care of vintage Hi-Fi.
Don't see many of these in the wild. I am the original owner of a CT-A9X deck as well; had it fully serviced a couple of years ago. I have yet to find a deck that makes a tape like this one does, spec wise the Nakamichi Dragon looks like a world beater up against the -A9X but I have heard both and spent a great deal of time with both and I will take the Pioneer everyday.
I know what you mean Craig! The Dragon is overhyped, I'd take a ZX-9 or definitely a 1000ZXL over a Dragon, but they are all cool decks. The problem is how maintenance-intensive and finicky the Naks are. My CT-A9X just works every time, with no problems. An under-rated machine in some ways I think.
@LiquidAudio not to bother you but , since you mentioned you are moving into Recievers and CD ( Main Part of my System is a Beautiful Dialed in SX1280! ) absolutely Love it too, Anyhow what would you recommend to me for a CD player to Closely match my A9X , Component Style-wise with the Beautiful Wood Sides and Performance, I'm in the Market too? Thank You
@@dtracy03ss I work on all types of discrete hi-fi stereo equipment, so receivers and CD players are a big part of my work here. The SX1280 is a beast, love those receivers. I've written tons about vintage CD players and have many videos here on the channel. Check: liquidaudio.com.au/faq/whats-better-an-older-cd-player-or-a-new-one/
@LiquidAudio I Freak everytime you answer! A little History, I Sold my 69 SS RS Camaro to an Awesome "Mate" in Victoria, absolutely Immaculate Bright Yellow with a 540 CI Bad A Big Block, the Car was a 9000 Mile unit with a Full Nut and Bolt restoration by myself and a buddy except for Body and Paint, Bill A. and I are good Friends although we are as far away from eachother as you and I! Wow, so anyway as soon as I hit your Link to the Website What do I see? At first thought was a Sony ES CD, but Wrong, it was the Awesome Kenwood and it Just so Happens I am having a Kenwood KR 11000 GX Built for me as we speak, another Wow Moment! So I will go through your website and Look at real CD Classics, if there is a contact link I would like to talk more before I pick a Classic Quality CD player if you don't mind, I really am interested in a High Quality Pioneer to kind of match my A9X, and I see you are Busier than a Hornet is why I'm asking ? The Kenwood is being put together for my Wife's System, She Loves HiFi almost as much as I do, we've been married 44 years! Thank you for taking the time to read my rambling, maybe we'll talk through your Website!
Very happy to assist any way I can and really glad you are enjoying the site and connection to Australia. I've been to the USA twice and love it over there!
this looks like a good project deck for me... i could make an external box with pots for calibration (i ll add a pot on each channel for extreme accuraccy) , thus making it one of the best decks
beautiful looking deck. i'm really surprised that there's no auto ble on the second from the top of the line deck though. there isn't even a manual bias or sensitivity adjustment. so you can monitor your recordings, but can't affect them in any way... hmmm.
I agree entirely, the CT-A9X is much more for those interested in getting the last ounce of performance from their tapes. The CT-A7X is more for the person who just wants to play and record without worrying about adjustments. It works very well in that capacity though, and many non-diehards and new to tape enthusiasts, including the owner of this CT-A7X, seem to prefer the simpler approach. I think that's a sign of how things have changed!
Honestly Pioneer decided that the DD motor was an issue on alot of the ct-a9x decks and the later models to follow used the mechanism style of the CT-a7. I own all the totl decks from the ct-f1000 to the ct-93 and my favorites are the Ct-a1, CT-a9 and the ct-93. My ct-a9x has the DD issue and has major flutter until I let it warm up. I get it to work correctly by turning it on and off and you can hear the DD motor when it finally goes correctly as it has a higher pitched hum rather than a lower pitched irregular sound. You have to listen very carefully and it took me a while to figure out how to solve the issue even though a bit of a pain. I'm not sure if it's the power supply not getting enough power to the DD motor or what. You can hear the power supply kick in and just makes me think maybe a capacitor needs replaced?
Not quite correct, Pioneer stopped using DD motors as a cost-saving exercise, once the writing was on the wall for cassette as a medium. There is no inherent issue with them, these DD models are superb and you have some beauties in your collection. I've seen this flutter issue in the workshop a few times and it's usually resolved through service, with careful electronic measurement and adjustment, specifically in relation to the motor drive circuit.
Ive just brought myself a AIWA F660 TAPE DECK and its playing cassettes way to fast. Everything seems to be working correctly . Ive tried turning the screw anti clockwise on the rear of the main motor with no luck..i was wondering if you could possibly adjust it to the correct speed ...
Hi James, we service cassette decks so if you are anywhere near Perth, you are welcome to get in touch via the website to arrange a booking. Just visit the contact page: liquidaudio.com.au/contact
Hi Brian, this old girl performed very well. Check this video for some of the lab-grade test and measurement gear I use: ruclips.net/video/2_53R2hTXJY/видео.html. Scopes are not very useful for ultimate speed measurements due to their relatively low time and amplitude precision and resolution. I use calibrated frequency counters, distortion analyser and wow and flutter meter for these sorts of measurements. Scopes are great for azimuth adjustment and basic level adjustments though.
@@LiquidAudio hi yer just following on from the cassette question do you now anyone in Australia that works on DAT machines Iam after a service manual for a Victor/JVC XD-Z 700 or 707 Ive tried all the usual suspects for the manual I know hifido has a copy but they won't release a copy Pro-audio has gone quiet I also tried 12 volt kid in Canada but with no luck Thanks Simon
Hi everyone, check out my video on the Pioneer CT-A9X Reference Master mechanism, here: ruclips.net/video/ChQKny2boMI/видео.html
For years I've had an Onkyo TA-2800 sitting in a forgotten corner due to a belt failure. Living in Perth I was always wary of having to box it up and send it East for repair & alignment. Now, 18 months after I've moved East, I was distracted by some cassette-related videos here on YT , and I discover there was a repairer almost right under my nose. Definitely mixed feelings on that, but I'm thrilled there is SOMEONE out west taking care of vintage Hi-Fi.
Don't see many of these in the wild. I am the original owner of a CT-A9X deck as well; had it fully serviced a couple of years ago. I have yet to find a deck that makes a tape like this one does, spec wise the Nakamichi Dragon looks like a world beater up against the -A9X but I have heard both and spent a great deal of time with both and I will take the Pioneer everyday.
I know what you mean Craig! The Dragon is overhyped, I'd take a ZX-9 or definitely a 1000ZXL over a Dragon, but they are all cool decks. The problem is how maintenance-intensive and finicky the Naks are. My CT-A9X just works every time, with no problems. An under-rated machine in some ways I think.
My A9X Nickname is the Dragon Slayer! Some guys and Gals get all mad when I tell em that!! Lol
I have a 9X and it is Awesome!
Yeah, fantastic machines, I love my 9X!
@LiquidAudio not to bother you but , since you mentioned you are moving into Recievers and CD ( Main Part of my System is a Beautiful Dialed in SX1280! ) absolutely Love it too, Anyhow what would you recommend to me for a CD player to Closely match my A9X , Component Style-wise with the Beautiful Wood Sides and Performance, I'm in the Market too?
Thank You
@@dtracy03ss I work on all types of discrete hi-fi stereo equipment, so receivers and CD players are a big part of my work here. The SX1280 is a beast, love those receivers. I've written tons about vintage CD players and have many videos here on the channel. Check: liquidaudio.com.au/faq/whats-better-an-older-cd-player-or-a-new-one/
@LiquidAudio I Freak everytime you answer! A little History, I Sold my 69 SS RS Camaro to an Awesome "Mate" in Victoria, absolutely Immaculate Bright Yellow with a 540 CI Bad A Big Block, the Car was a 9000 Mile unit with a Full Nut and Bolt restoration by myself and a buddy except for Body and Paint, Bill A. and I are good Friends although we are as far away from eachother as you and I! Wow, so anyway as soon as I hit your Link to the Website What do I see? At first thought was a Sony ES CD, but Wrong, it was the Awesome Kenwood and it Just so Happens I am having a Kenwood KR 11000 GX Built for me as we speak, another Wow Moment! So I will go through your website and Look at real CD Classics, if there is a contact link I would like to talk more before I pick a Classic Quality CD player if you don't mind, I really am interested in a High Quality Pioneer to kind of match my A9X, and I see you are Busier than a Hornet is why I'm asking ?
The Kenwood is being put together for my Wife's System, She Loves HiFi almost as much as I do, we've been married 44 years! Thank you for taking the time to read my rambling, maybe we'll talk through your Website!
Very happy to assist any way I can and really glad you are enjoying the site and connection to Australia. I've been to the USA twice and love it over there!
Super deck. Licwid 100%. Best japan. 100wolt.
this looks like a good project deck for me...
i could make an external box with pots for calibration (i ll add a pot on each channel for extreme accuraccy) , thus making it one of the best decks
I thought it was Autobahn by Kraftwerk when that car started 😂
Nice deck 💯
I learned how to clean belt residue very good by using brake fluid. It works great then use 99% alcohol to finish it off.
beautiful looking deck. i'm really surprised that there's no auto ble on the second from the top of the line deck though. there isn't even a manual bias or sensitivity adjustment. so you can monitor your recordings, but can't affect them in any way... hmmm.
I agree entirely, the CT-A9X is much more for those interested in getting the last ounce of performance from their tapes. The CT-A7X is more for the person who just wants to play and record without worrying about adjustments. It works very well in that capacity though, and many non-diehards and new to tape enthusiasts, including the owner of this CT-A7X, seem to prefer the simpler approach. I think that's a sign of how things have changed!
Honestly Pioneer decided that the DD motor was an issue on alot of the ct-a9x decks and the later models to follow used the mechanism style of the CT-a7. I own all the totl decks from the ct-f1000 to the ct-93 and my favorites are the Ct-a1, CT-a9 and the ct-93. My ct-a9x has the DD issue and has major flutter until I let it warm up. I get it to work correctly by turning it on and off and you can hear the DD motor when it finally goes correctly as it has a higher pitched hum rather than a lower pitched irregular sound. You have to listen very carefully and it took me a while to figure out how to solve the issue even though a bit of a pain. I'm not sure if it's the power supply not getting enough power to the DD motor or what. You can hear the power supply kick in and just makes me think maybe a capacitor needs replaced?
Not quite correct, Pioneer stopped using DD motors as a cost-saving exercise, once the writing was on the wall for cassette as a medium. There is no inherent issue with them, these DD models are superb and you have some beauties in your collection. I've seen this flutter issue in the workshop a few times and it's usually resolved through service, with careful electronic measurement and adjustment, specifically in relation to the motor drive circuit.
Ive just brought myself a AIWA F660 TAPE DECK and its playing cassettes way to fast. Everything seems to be working correctly . Ive tried turning the screw anti clockwise on the rear of the main motor with no luck..i was wondering if you could possibly adjust it to the correct speed ...
Hi James, we service cassette decks so if you are anywhere near Perth, you are welcome to get in touch via the website to arrange a booking. Just visit the contact page: liquidaudio.com.au/contact
It's a nice classic deck, but unfortunately without tape calibration and that's its big minus.
How's the W&F? Did you play a reference frequency tape and measure the output with a scope?
Hi Brian, this old girl performed very well. Check this video for some of the lab-grade test and measurement gear I use: ruclips.net/video/2_53R2hTXJY/видео.html. Scopes are not very useful for ultimate speed measurements due to their relatively low time and amplitude precision and resolution. I use calibrated frequency counters, distortion analyser and wow and flutter meter for these sorts of measurements. Scopes are great for azimuth adjustment and basic level adjustments though.
Hi yer do you work on DAT players ?? Thanks
No, in terms of tape, just cassette decks these days and in moderation, given my focus on amplifiers, CD players and turntables.
@@LiquidAudio hi yer just following on from the cassette question do you now anyone in Australia that works on DAT machines Iam after a service manual for a Victor/JVC XD-Z 700 or 707 Ive tried all the usual suspects for the manual I know hifido has a copy but they won't release a copy Pro-audio has gone quiet I also tried 12 volt kid in Canada but with no luck
Thanks Simon
@@drmindbender8616 Hi and sorry, I don't know of anyone working on DAT machines these days.
What’s that squeaking sound