AKAI M-8: The Top Engineering from the 60s.

When Akai introduced the M-8 model to the market in 1963, the retail brochure said:
- Only Akai's exclusive CROSS-FIELD HEAD is capable of recording real high-fidelity music at 1-7/8 ips.
- Only Akai's exclusive VERTICAL STEREO fills "the hole in the middle" creating a new era in stereophonic sound reproduction.
- Only Akai's exclusive multiple adjustment head allows simplified SOUND ON SOUND recording.



Comparing the Akai M-8 to other tape recorders, it was well ahead. There are four speeds available with the Akai M.8: 17, 34, 74, and 15 ips. With a regular 1200-foot tape, the M.8 can provide 4 hours of full stereo high-fidelity audio at up to 21,000 Hz at 74 ips. It has a frequency response of up to 10,000 Hz even at 17 ips.

Its exceptionally high-quality performance can be attributed to the Akai Crossfield Head, which has the bias and recording heads positioned with their centers offset. By doing this, the recorded signal is released from the bias fields, allowing for the highest level of fidelity modulation across the full frequency range on the tape. Contrast this with competitive heads where the bias current tends to erase the higher frequencies.

Please check out the other features of the Akai M-8:
- Vertical center speakers.
- Sound on sound.
- Biased to receive FM Multiplex stereo broadcasts.
- Automatic shut off.
- High-speed forward and rewind.
- Four speeds.
- Hysteresis synchronous motor.
- Vertical and horizontal operation.
- Automatic Tape cleaner.
The Akai M-8, which cost 125 guineas in 1963 (equivalent to 3,725 Euros today), has all of this. Amazing machine with a warm tube sound!

 

Correction: comparing the Akai M-8 to other tape recorders, it was well ahead. Four speeds are available with the Akai M.8: 1 7/8, 3 3/4, 7 1/2, and 15 ips. With a regular 1200-foot tape, the M.8 can provide 4 hours of full stereo high-fidelity audio at 3 3/4 ips, and up to 21,000 Hz at 7.5 ips. It has a frequency response of up to 10,000 Hz even at 1.7 ips.