If you don't like reading a lot of detail, perhaps this equipment is not for you but I am attempting to convey the most complete description of this equipment ...
Read on ...
EQUIPMENT HISTORY:
Everything I am describing below is IMPORTANT, read it please!
This receiver/amplifier is part of my "collection" of all things audio, both professional and consumer gear. I LOVE old gear and this has been with me for a long long time but this particular unit was a "to be looked at" as it is NOT WORKING - see the FULL details below.
This AKAI AA-1040 has "old school" stamped all over it! But gee don't you love it?
I have over the years collected together a LOT of quality audio equipment due to my business activities in pro audio post production and general electronics but the day has finally arrived when it must be shown the door to go out and seek a new home!
My wife says (quite rightly) "for goodness sake, get rid of that mountain of gear" so them's my orders ... out goes all the equipment and my vast range of spare parts too....take a look around my website to see all the weird and wonderful things that are going out the door.
Youngsters in particularly do not have great attention spans but it is VITAL that the complete advertisement is read and understood ... if you make a mistake or misinterpret what I am describing, I will NOT take it back!
THE CONDITION OF THIS EQUIPMENT IS PRETTY CLEARLY STATED BELOW, BOTH COSMETICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY
TO UNDERTAKE THIS RESTORATION YOU MUST HAVE SOME TECHNICAL SKILLS (OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP YOU)
Even if the new owner doesn't feel up to repairing or having this equipment restored, it is still a great source of some very hard to find parts - a component "farm"
AKAI - Stereo Receiver Amplifier
Made In Japan
Model: AA-1040
Released to market 1976
Manufacturers specifications:
40W RMS per channel (8 Ohm impedance loudspeakers) MINIMUM, the amplifier can comfortably provide 50W RMS per channel when "pushed"
Total Harmonic Distortion at full output 0.15% maximum
Bandwidth: 7Hz to 70Khz
2x Phono inputs (Moving Magnet)
3mV 47K Ohm impedance
Auxiliary input
150mV 100K Ohm
2x Tape inputs
150mV 100K Ohm
Signal to Noise ratio Phono inputs better than 80dB
Signal to Noise ratio on other inputs better than 90dB
Channel separation better than 60dB
Bass & Treble controls provide +/- 10% adjustment centred on 100Hz & 10Khz
FM Tuner sensititivity 1.9uV
Selectivity better than 80dB
Signal to Noise ratio better than 75dB
AM Tuner sensitivity 180uV
Selectivity better than 30dB
Signal to Noise ratio better than 50dB
This equipment is LARGE and HEAVY!
DIMENSIONS: 482mm Wide x 390mm Deep x 140mm Height
WEIGHT: 13Kg
COSMETIC CONDITION:
This equipment is from a bygone era, slip on wooden outer casing with SOLID steel framework.
Nicely laid out and easy to access sub-modules, organised in a fashion that makes sense!
No solder interconnections here! These were the days of wire-wrap, you can still purchase wire-wrap wire/tools (Element 14)
Clean and relatively good condition considering this equipment has been on this earth for almost 50 years!
General signs of age but not water damage or physical abuse (dropping!)
I noticed that 2x side bushes/screws are NOT present (see one of the photographs to look at these)
I have found two different sets of bushes (brass and steel) so I will supply these as well, they may come in handy!
One meter indicator lamp is not working - SIGNAL STRENGTH (Meter works though)
Walnut veneer case (proper veneer not a plastic covering!) is in very good condition.
Front panel decals/labelling has worn just a little, take a look at the AKAI text on the front panel to see what I mean
REAL Aluminium knobs, not those fake plastic things with metallic paint on them!
Love the AC transformer, very nice looking and AKAI, a big tick! Like ROTEL gear they have placed the transformer roughly in the middle so the whole unit is "balanced" when lifted - good engineering.
INSIDE:
Relatively clean without masses of dirt and dust!
My goodness this is very old school gear but quite fascinating to look around inside (if that is "your thing")
I see NO OBVIOUS SIGNS of component stress e.g no overheated components, "popped" electro's or leaking or other little disasters!
TESTING:
Keep in mind this is not exhaustive testing (see my notes above about my better halve's instructions re spending too much time on this!)
Let the fun begin!
Actually there wasn't anything much that shouldn't have happened when I turned it on but there are issues!
First, I checked the loudspeaker outputs right at the terminals, the LEFT Channel is fine with no signs of any DC voltage but Oh My Wordee! the RIGHT Channel is sick - a full supply of 40V is sitting across this channel!
NEVER EVER CONNECT A LOUDSPEAKER IN THIS CONDITION OTHERWISE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SPEAKERS WILL TURN INTO LITTLE HEATERS (WITH SMOKE!)
NEVER EVER SHOULD DC BE PRESENT AT THE OUTPUT AND CERTAINLY NOT THE SUPPLY RAIL!
NO smells, NO overheating observed - just bad voltages on that
Ignoring this bad channel, I connected to the amplifier good channel (LEFT) my test speaker.
The tuner is lovely, I love that analog tuning system - it is smooth and so so very retro! Both meters (SIGNAL & TUNING) move as they should when you tune across a station.
Both AM and FM are working fine and it seems quite sensitive too! I especially like the fine control of muting (rotating user adjusted knob)
I shot some external audio into the line level inputs - all good here albiet just one channel output!
I have not checked the dual phono inputs but I would imagine these will also be fine, it is the Power Amplifier (RIGHT Channel) which has got the big issue.
So, what devices did AKAI use way back in 1976
The output pair are 2SD427/2SB587
Driver section is using 2SA814/2SC1624/2x 2SC1628
Thank goodness for small mercies! These are all silicon not germanium (the latter being very difficult to find now) and a quick scout around online shows these are all being offered by sellers in various places but watch the asking prices, I saw 2SA814/2SC1624 pairs range in price from A$95 (!) to A$9 (much better) so shop around.
As I am shutting down/clearing out my workshop spares, I had a quick look for these but didn't locate any that I could provide.
I had a quick look around online and fortunately the Service manual for this model is still readily available (FREE) from a number of sites.
Have a look around my website to see what components I am offering at the moment AND NOT AT STUPIDLY HIGH PRICES!
Finally, the asking price you can see INCLUDES free shipping around Australia - I can send this equipment packed nice and safely, with tracking and insurance.
If however you are local, you can pick it up BUT AN ORDER/PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FIRST and then come and pick it up - I have setup a special code for those who wish to pickup, ENTER THE CODE AKAI PICKUP IN THE CHECKOUT AREA WHEN ORDERING AND $40 WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE ASKING PRICE (averaged cost of shipping around Australia)
