Akai GX-F90

In between recorder : after the beginning of Akai's obvious design efforts and before the more remembered and structured, striking, designs which, however, signaled the end of Akai as a successful brand.

The GX-F90 is a modern mid-end two-motor, three-head recorder :
modern because of the new Super-GX heads and the Type IV (metal) tape compatibility,
mid-end because of its mechanical counter and "industrial" build-quality.

Super GX heads are a combo of two GX heads mounted in the same block for super short signal path with a combined PCB for both rec and play heads.
Behind the glass of the Super GX casing is ferrite with 4u gap for recording and 1u gap for playback.

The capstan motor is a brushless FG DC servo with three Hall elements ; it is named BLM-100 and was also used in the GX-F95 monster. I don't know who made it for Akai.
The reel motor is a simple DC.


The IPLS feature, Instant Program Location System, is a one-stop memory mark used to access the end or beginning of a track - with the use of the counter's 000 position - not yet full programmability :)
The ADR mode is Akai's own automatic limiter which acts automatically to avoid distortion in relation to frequency and input level ; a 400Hz calibration tone is also at hand, alongwith an MPX filter.

The 24-segment meters ca be switched from VU to Peak, with 7dB difference between the two modes.
The Rec Cancel function is a bit like today's "undo" : if you find you engaged REC too late, pressing stop, then Rec Cancel brings the tape immediately back to before you hit REC too late.
This, however, probably works with a give-or-take location precision :)

Tape selection is manual but includes LH, LN, CrO2 and Metal ; old-style REC Cal potentiometers are provided - screw-driver necessary.

Available in brown-ish black as well (GX-F90BL - rare and more expensive) and seemingly with a faux wood enclosure for the US market.


Large images of an export and silver GX-F90 here ; another real one here.