The Akai GXC-570D was introduced in Japan in 1978 as a prestige stereo cassette deck designed to combine operating convenience with advanced recording and playback performance. Built around Akai’s wear-resistant GX head technology, the Akai GXC-570D used separate recording and playback heads mounted together in a single head holder. This construction maintained accurate parallel alignment between the recording and playback head gaps, supporting precise tape contact and consistent performance.
The transport was based on a three-motor mechanism. A centre-pole frequency-generated AC servo motor powered the closed-loop dual-capstan drive system, while two direct-drive DC motors independently handled the reel drive. This arrangement reduced the number of mechanical drive components required within the transport and provided dedicated motor control for the capstans and reels.
The Akai GXC-570D accommodated Normal, Chrome and FeCr tape formulations through a three-position tape selector. Selecting the appropriate tape type adjusted the deck’s bias and equalisation settings for the tape in use. The transport also included adjustable fast-forward and rewind speed, allowing the user to regulate high-speed tape winding, while playback pitch control provided further control over reproduced tape speed.
A built-in 400Hz calibration oscillator could be activated through the calibration tone switch. This supplied a reference recording signal for adjustment of the recording calibration controls and was particularly useful when preparing the deck for Dolby noise reduction recording. Separate left and right recording calibration controls were provided on the upper control panel.
The Akai GXC-570D incorporated double-process Dolby noise reduction and Akai’s Automatic Distortion Reduction system. The A.D.R. system automatically adjusted high-frequency recording equalisation while suppressing intermodulation distortion across the frequency band. The upper control section also included controls for the Dolby noise reduction system, MPX filtering and limiting.
Two illuminated level meters could be switched between VU and peak indication. In the VU position, the meters displayed conventional recording and playback levels. In the peak position, they operated with a faster response to indicate transient peaks, helping the user make fuller use of the tape’s available dynamic range while avoiding excessive recording levels.
Independent microphone and line inputs were supported by separate left and right level controls. This allowed microphone and line signals to be adjusted independently and mixed directly through the deck. A separate output level control was also provided, together with front-panel microphone and headphone connections.
Transport operation used Akai’s Sensi-Touch control system. Rather than requiring conventional mechanical buttons to be pressed through a long travel, the controls responded to a light touch when changing between pause, record, rewind, stop, play and fast-forward modes. Repeat and memory functions were also included.
A smoked acrylic cover protected the upper control panel. The cover was opened or closed by a dedicated motor, activated through the front-panel door control. This concealed the less frequently adjusted calibration, tape selection and processing controls while leaving the main transport, level and input controls accessible.
The Akai GXC-570D could also be operated with the optional Akai RC-17 or RC-18 wired full-function remote control. With its three-motor dual-capstan transport, GX heads, calibration facilities, selectable metering and extensive input controls, the Akai GXC-570D represented one of Akai’s more elaborate cassette deck designs of the late 1970s.
Features
- Wear-resistant Akai GX recording and playback heads
- Recording and playback heads mounted in a single head holder
- Three-motor transport mechanism
- Centre-pole frequency-generated AC servo capstan motor
- Closed-loop dual-capstan drive system
- Two direct-drive DC reel motors
- Normal, Chrome and FeCr tape selector
- Adjustable fast-forward and rewind speed
- Playback pitch control
- Double-process Dolby noise reduction
- Built-in 400Hz calibration oscillator
- Independent left and right recording calibration controls
- Akai Automatic Distortion Reduction system
- Switchable peak and VU meter indication
- Independent microphone and line input controls
- Direct microphone and line signal mixing
- Sensi-Touch transport control system
- Repeat and memory functions
- Motor-operated smoked acrylic control cover
- Compatible with the optional Akai RC-17 or RC-18 wired remote control