Can anyone tell me who manufacured the output transformers for the Akai M8 tube reel to reel? They seem too good to be generic.
Wow, that is a lot, I just aquired my first pair, but have gutted a smaller Akai RTR (cant rememeber the model) and I used those OPT in a 6BM8 spud amp and it sounded outstanding.
I haven’t done anything with them yet, bu tthey are a good starting point. The OPTs look fairly generic. Maybe TamRadio?
dave
dave
Im thinking about harvesting the iron for a 45 amp, but I dont know if I have the heart as the M8 monoblocks look so cool!
The power transformers are marked "Orion", so it wouldn't surprise me if the OPTs are also made by Orion Electric.
So if the Akai M8's are TamRadio then I take it they have the same metal ? which I will not name .
The Tamradio outputs from the Sony TC-500A are pedigreed so to speak, but the (likely Orion) outputs from the Akai/Roberts decks are almost exactly the same size and weight. Since the Akai/Roberts iron lacks the 500 ohm secondary the Sony has, it’s tempting to assume better performance on the 8 ohm secondary.
I saw on another forum there’s someone who plans to test both OPTs, and that’s likely to be enlightening. The praise for both is near-universal.
I saw on another forum there’s someone who plans to test both OPTs, and that’s likely to be enlightening. The praise for both is near-universal.
Again, no one’s suggesting the Akai transformers were made by Tamradio - Orion Electric is the most likely suspect.
The Tamradio OPTs used by Sony are sometimes purported to have permalloy cores, but to the best of my knowledge, this isn’t true.
The Tamradio OPTs used by Sony are sometimes purported to have permalloy cores, but to the best of my knowledge, this isn’t true.
When the amp is finished will use the Tektronix TM515 to measure results .
Am tempted to use a 2A3 @ 50mA into 5K which is lower power but more importantly lower distortion
Am tempted to use a 2A3 @ 50mA into 5K which is lower power but more importantly lower distortion
I doubt the output transformers are Orion Electric , they are far to close a match to the Japanese production units .
I’m not sure what you mean. Orion Electric was based in Osaka, and definitely manufactured the Akai/Roberts power transformers, at a bare minimum (Orion put their name on them).
If you’re saying that the Akai/Roberts OPTs look close enough to the Sony OPTs that they must both have been made by Tamradio, then I’d strongly disagree, as someone who has owned a bunch of both.
If you’re saying that the Akai/Roberts OPTs look close enough to the Sony OPTs that they must both have been made by Tamradio, then I’d strongly disagree, as someone who has owned a bunch of both.