Akai CS-F21 Stereo Cassette Deck

This Akai CS-F21 is a stereo cassette deck with Dolby B and C noise reduction, it was first sold by Akai in 1982 with a recommended retail price of USD $250 and discontinued a year later.

The main features of the Akai CS-F21 cassette deck are: 2 heads, mechanical 3 digit tape counter, manual tape type selection and capable of handling normal, chrome and metal tapes, belt driven single-capstan transport.

Typical front loading cassette deck with the cassette compartiment located on the left side of the deck. Tape eject is operated mechanically and the cassette needs to be placed with the side to be played facing forward in the cassette well.

Level meters used on the Akai CS-F21 cassette deck are generic digital peak reading meters. Full-logic transport controls used on the Akai CS-F21 let it respond to the slightest finger contact for fast and effortless transport function selection.

Dolby C-type used in the Akai CS-F21 provides 20 dB of noise reduction above about 1,000 Hz, fully doubling the amount given by B-type. The 19kHz multiplex pilot slgnal present in FM stereo broadcasts can cause false triggering of the noise reduction system. The switchable MPX filter of the CS-F21 filters out the pilot signal, and assuring proper Dolby processing of FM stereo programs.

To make live recordings this deck has 2 microphone inputs to connect microphones with a jack connector. For undisturbed listening a jack connector for a pair of stereo headphones is supplied. Connection to other audio components for plaback can be achieved by a RCA cable and recording from a source by a RCA cable.