Today I bought some RCA to 1/4 " Phono connectors to try recording with my Akai M7. I had good results but do have a question. I ran the audio from my turntable into my Dynakit PAS-3 preamp and into the deck, at the same time the deck is powering the spekers. I set the VU meters so the loudest peak was just under 0, per the manual. This worked fine, but later I decided to unplug the speakers since I wanted to hear something else but continue recording. What I noticed, and why I'm asking for helps is when I unplug the speakers the VU meter level jumps noticable and I have to turn it down to keep the correct level for recording.

Is this normal and just something I'll have to be awar? I'm new to this technology. Sure does sound great though.

The VU meters are loaded down with speakers attached.
Nothing wrong there.

Probably meant for the speaker to remain disconnected during recording in order to prevent feedback if using a microphone. Best to use without speaker for recording to achieve the proper record levels without distortion given a loaded down VU meter will not indicate the record level properly unless of course the manufacturer took into account people using a speaker when recording then it wouldn't matter. only way to know for sure is to get an owners manual.

Glad you're using the M7 and not scrapping it for the amplifiers like so many do. I've heard that a lot of people who scrap the reel to reel solely for the amps usually just throw the tape transport away

I have some parts for your M7 tape transport if you should need them. Cannot say for sure what parts I can part with as my AKAI deluxe Terecorder takes some of the same parts for its tape transport.

Good to know, thanks. I thought it was somthing like that. Tube Radio, I may need a part or two since I've noticed the tape slackening when I press play during a rewind. It use to keep the tape taught, but now when I hit play during rewind the tape slackens up and over feeds the pinch roller a bit. It's not too bad, but it's getting worse.

I don't quite understand what you mean as it is impossible to select play while rewinding a tape.

On that machine, it's best to allow the tape to come to a COMPLETE STOP before changing functions.

Otherwise, you'll risk breaking the tape.

Especially on an older machine such as the M7 where in the high motor speed the rewind speed can be very fast.

I should have written, when I switch to stop the tape slakens or back ups a bit. Now that I've listened to most of the 3 hrs I recorded this evening I can report that if I had the speakers connected during recoding it sounds great. When I recorded with the speakers dissonnected there is a noticable fedback hum noise or ground loop problem. Can't really hear it after the music starts though, but that bugs me. I 'll have to look into that.

Oh I see the rubber pieces that press against the reel tables to stop the reels are probably hard or worn.

If they are simply hard and not cracked then this product http://reelprosoundguys.com/RestoreKit.html should work. If they are worn too bad or cracked I have a couple I can sell you.

Note that Akai was ahead of its time making one component perform 2 or 3 functions. Which entails compromises. Typically their audio outputs were also their record drivers and meter drivers. So if you unload that circuit by disconnecting the speaker, parameters are going to change unless compensated internally. Sometimes they were, sometimes they weren't.

The issue of Akai using the speaker output transformer primary as an impedance
coupling to derive a high voltage for the tape head network probably is because
they had problems with the high inductance (about a Henry) with the 1/2 track R/P heads.

In order to get enough ampere turns over 7 octaves requires a high voltage and
a large dropping resistor (~~500 K) with portions netted with capacitors to
equalize. If the R/P head is not very sensitive that cant be got off the
plate of a resistance coupled stage. When they made machines with
separate record and play heads, they could reduce the inductance of the
record head, since the high inductance was needed only for playback heads
to give a good s/n ratio.

I don't know if Mullen's snatched the electronics when their detail packed the Magnetophon
decks up and shipped them back.

When the Japanese recorders started to appear in the 50's some had better electronics
than others. The market in the US had moved off wire recorders and the early Webcor
and Rheem machines were already in schools. Webcor had heads with replaceable pole
pieces that were marketed like phonograph needles.