If you trust your azimuth test tape, then the best way to set azimuth is to use an analog scope and set to X-Y mode. You'll be able to dial in the azimuth precisely. Setting the tape/head height. Again, if your test tape is properly made (and made as a stereo tape, not full width), your level should peak when your height adjustment (setting the leading pinch roller, in this deck's case) is achieved.
I hear you about the price of cassette decks. It's a hobby to have fun with, not an investment vehicle for retirement. I'm into them for the same reasons, to get a few fun decks I couldn't or didn't when I was younger and to see what cassettes are really capable of. All the different blanks are really neat too. It was extremely affordable around 2010-2015, but like any hobby where there's a collector's element, prices have skyrocketed because everything needs to be about making money. Things are priced far out of the hobbyist's range. This includes finding decent alignment tapes and blocks.
I have a TD-V531 that I recently aligned. All it needed was bias, speed and azimuth adjustment. It makes nearly any decent blank sound incredible, even Memorex dB tapes from 1985. I'm thinking of getting a second in case something happened to the first. The only fault is it can wrinkle tapes if it's not really clean due to it being a dual capstan mechanism. Japan went crazy in the late 80s and early 90s for just about everything probably do to its on fire economy. Take a look at the cars that came out including the NSX, 3000GT, all wheel steering Prelude and Supra Turbo.
What a beast this device truly is. IMO you can get it to better performance after you fix all the left... Nice deck, great video! Keep it going! Cheers mate!
I think this is the first time I’ve considered not even trying to find a better cassette deck. I’m having to stop myself from recording with it until I can finish the alignment. It looks like that part shouldn’t be too hard at all, as long as I can get enough adjustment on the azimuth.
I personally like these machines, Jeremy, but they are a labor of love. I can't rush through them though, there are hidden gremlins lurking about. Enjoy it, I'll bet you like it even more as time goes on.
I’m making myself slow down for the DD-99… I think I started putting too much pressure on myself to get these videos done with the TC-K666ES. That machine and this one are both too much for one week’s work.
I'm still glad I did this video because this deck did help get a lot of the enjoyment back I lost on that Sony, and the rest of what this deck needs seems really minor to me now that I've had a week to study the 1050's head alignment procedure. It looks really not that difficult. Probably not something I would want to try without the alignment gauge, though.
@@Oklawolf I can't recall, isn't the record head just an azimuth alignment to the rerpo head? The mechanical alignment is usually okay, although I have definitely seen them out of spec. By the way, your axial lamps were sent back to me postage due. I'm pretty certain it made it to the border because I double checked our requirements, and it was in compliance. I wonder how much it cost us all to have them run it back through the system in order to collect the extra 47 cents?
It looks like the plate on the front handles all of the play head adjustments with the record head adjustments in behind. I do know that when I did just the play head adjustment, the record head was as far off as the play head was. It seems like the heads align completely independently to one another. The azimuth alignment on both heads was really quite easy once I finally broke that nut loose and did it the way the 1050 procedure said to. The only trouble I can see having when I go back in there is if the head tilt changes when I adjust head height. But I have the gauge for that anyway so no big deal as long as I can break the adjustments loose. You don't have to send the lamps - I'm in no great hurry to get the 666 done at this point. I want to finish the transport service on it now anyway, so I'm going to shoot segments on it here and there as I find time and willingness while working on other things.
1:42 I am 19 and I got into cassette decks because I love the technology and the engineering that went into these units. I'm also AuDHD hence I haven't replied to the K65 thread because I haven't had the motivation to try and learn how to troubleshoot it's issues.. eventually
Any time I see any of those surface mounted electrolytics they are bad. I worked for a major electronics repair company and saw tons of these. We called them "fish caps" because they had a fishy smell to them.
Thank you! You have no idea how long I've been looking for the source of that sample. Sometimes vaporwave artists make that difficult. Now I can find more of his work.
@@Oklawolf He was the earliest artist who brought Electronic type music in Bangladesh. The original music you've used in your video is called "Vule jeona amay" by habib wahid. The album is "Ahoban"
Impressive deck. I never knew JVC made such high end things.
If you trust your azimuth test tape, then the best way to set azimuth is to use an analog scope and set to X-Y mode. You'll be able to dial in the azimuth precisely.
Setting the tape/head height. Again, if your test tape is properly made (and made as a stereo tape, not full width), your level should peak when your height adjustment (setting the leading pinch roller, in this deck's case) is achieved.
I hear you about the price of cassette decks. It's a hobby to have fun with, not an investment vehicle for retirement. I'm into them for the same reasons, to get a few fun decks I couldn't or didn't when I was younger and to see what cassettes are really capable of. All the different blanks are really neat too. It was extremely affordable around 2010-2015, but like any hobby where there's a collector's element, prices have skyrocketed because everything needs to be about making money. Things are priced far out of the hobbyist's range. This includes finding decent alignment tapes and blocks.
I have a TD-V531 that I recently aligned. All it needed was bias, speed and azimuth adjustment. It makes nearly any decent blank sound incredible, even Memorex dB tapes from 1985. I'm thinking of getting a second in case something happened to the first. The only fault is it can wrinkle tapes if it's not really clean due to it being a dual capstan mechanism.
Japan went crazy in the late 80s and early 90s for just about everything probably do to its on fire economy. Take a look at the cars that came out including the NSX, 3000GT, all wheel steering Prelude and Supra Turbo.
What a beast this device truly is. IMO you can get it to better performance after you fix all the left... Nice deck, great video! Keep it going! Cheers mate!
I think this is the first time I’ve considered not even trying to find a better cassette deck. I’m having to stop myself from recording with it until I can finish the alignment. It looks like that part shouldn’t be too hard at all, as long as I can get enough adjustment on the azimuth.
Good Morning🎉😁
Wow great video, I love this deck!
I personally like these machines, Jeremy, but they are a labor of love. I can't rush through them though, there are hidden gremlins lurking about. Enjoy it, I'll bet you like it even more as time goes on.
I’m making myself slow down for the DD-99… I think I started putting too much pressure on myself to get these videos done with the TC-K666ES. That machine and this one are both too much for one week’s work.
@@Oklawolf Exactly, don't pressure yourself, UA-cam's algorithm is random and inconsistent. Just enjoy the walk the same way you do chasing storms.
I'm still glad I did this video because this deck did help get a lot of the enjoyment back I lost on that Sony, and the rest of what this deck needs seems really minor to me now that I've had a week to study the 1050's head alignment procedure. It looks really not that difficult. Probably not something I would want to try without the alignment gauge, though.
@@Oklawolf I can't recall, isn't the record head just an azimuth alignment to the rerpo head? The mechanical alignment is usually okay, although I have definitely seen them out of spec.
By the way, your axial lamps were sent back to me postage due. I'm pretty certain it made it to the border because I double checked our requirements, and it was in compliance. I wonder how much it cost us all to have them run it back through the system in order to collect the extra 47 cents?
It looks like the plate on the front handles all of the play head adjustments with the record head adjustments in behind. I do know that when I did just the play head adjustment, the record head was as far off as the play head was. It seems like the heads align completely independently to one another. The azimuth alignment on both heads was really quite easy once I finally broke that nut loose and did it the way the 1050 procedure said to. The only trouble I can see having when I go back in there is if the head tilt changes when I adjust head height. But I have the gauge for that anyway so no big deal as long as I can break the adjustments loose.
You don't have to send the lamps - I'm in no great hurry to get the 666 done at this point. I want to finish the transport service on it now anyway, so I'm going to shoot segments on it here and there as I find time and willingness while working on other things.
td-x501 ... got one, sweet deck. 🎉
It sounds like CD quality, very nice deck.
1:42 I am 19 and I got into cassette decks because I love the technology and the engineering that went into these units. I'm also AuDHD hence I haven't replied to the K65 thread because I haven't had the motivation to try and learn how to troubleshoot it's issues.. eventually
No worries… it can wait until you’re ready. Rushing things leads to mistakes. Ask me how I know.
Man if I ckose to u, I wpuld so give u some gd business. Thanks for cobtrnt rich videos. Warm greetings from Trinidad❤😊
Any time I see any of those surface mounted electrolytics they are bad. I worked for a major electronics repair company and saw tons of these. We called them "fish caps" because they had a fishy smell to them.
Let me spill the beans for you, a Kyocera, otari,and some others were made by nakamichi if you can find them
1:19:48 i just cant believe my eardrums Relly??😮
Its a Bengali album of Habib Wahid. I'm the biggest fan of him
Thank you! You have no idea how long I've been looking for the source of that sample. Sometimes vaporwave artists make that difficult. Now I can find more of his work.
@@Oklawolf He was the earliest artist who brought Electronic type music in Bangladesh. The original music you've used in your video is called "Vule jeona amay" by habib wahid.
The album is "Ahoban"
Thanks again. I've already checked out some of his stuff, and he's fantastic.