Akai EA-A7 A Very Graphic Equalizer 

Please note that, although the interaction is “computerized”, this is actually an analog device with all-analog tone control circuits. There is no AD and DA inside.

I love terms like "DEFEAT", "CURVE" and "CURVE REVERSE"... they sound like they'be been pulled straight out of an 80s fighting game.

After uploading the video, I realised that I hadn't shown the rear panel - so I've put a picture of this my website here: goo.gl/OydTnL

Here's why I have no idea what the track names are. I've got a playlist made up of approx 70 tracks from the RU-vid audio library stored in my Sony HAP-S1 (HDD Music player). Whilst making this video I played through these, skipping to the next one (using the IR remote) to find tracks that sounded good. All this time I was looking at my camera viewfinder screen which was recording the equaliser so I have no idea what any of the track names are that are featured in the video, however you can download all these tracks and plenty more from: ru-vid.commusic

I've shown off some old car stereo graphic EQ / spectrum analyzers on my channel. These are cool devices! Great video, keep them coming.

Hello, just wanted to say that your channel is just about my favorite on RU-vid. Thank you for all the information! I just scored a Technics SA-600 receiver for my now ever growing set up. Thanks again!

Now this is the type of vids that I love - and you're very good at making them. Keep up the good work!

In 80's HiFi was so exciting! Its always the star in every house back then here in my country,in our Sunsui HiFi system i like to stack the Graphic Equalizer,Reverbration Amp,Spectrum Analyzer and Digital Soundfield Processor.When the music play the lights of this component go crazy! Love those days! Thank you for the video..

I have the entire system that came out this year and I love it. I have it hooked up to some old 12” Radioshack floor speakers and they have such a great sound. I love the old amps and how they make so much use of the power. I love being able to tweak the sound so they sound perfect to my ears.

Thanks for making these videos. I always enjoy listening to your great English voice and you are such a great source of information. To to mention you inspire me to go back to vintage audio equipment.

Wow! I've watched a lot of your videos about graphic EQs and I'm almost not surprised that you would have the exact eq I began my hifi career with. My mom bought it brand new and gave it to me about 25 years ago now.

gotta love an electronic Hi-Fi piece that has a "defeat" button on it. I know what it is intended for but when I see it...it reminds me of something Worf from Star Trek would love to own lol.

Not gonna lie, that reverb amp looks really cool... Can't wait for the video on that!

i enjoyed your video.i am a music junkie but i have very little technical knowledge,but i do find all this vintage equipment fascinating and being over sixty it is nice to look back at what has come before!

Akai has always built quality, reliable components. Most people think that if you have great speakers in a good hifi system you're all set. However, even top quality speakers can sound anemic. Your listening room can add it's own "sound" to the music. How?? Standing waves and room nodes can create havoc with sound. That's why a good parametric or graphic equalizer can make a big difference. This EA-A7 looks sweet, the presets are a nice touch. Good flexibility and useful features. I've used an ADC Sound Shaper Two IC (graphic EQ) since purchase in 1982, whenever my system is on. My ADC has twelve slider controls per channel with +/- 12dB range, right and left input adjustment, two (L+R) large seven segment meters with level controls, line in for recording EQ signal to tape, bidirectional dubbing for two tape decks, you can listen thru the EQ without turning it on, an excellent subsonic filter (18dB/oct @ 15hz) and THD/IM of 0.02%. A good expander wouldn't hurt but that's another discussion. I've used a Pioneer RG-2 since 1981. Interesting video. Looks like an old Pioneer SX-3600 or 3700 receiver.

I just wanted to say that I really like your channel, and your work. Thank you very much!

Very nice piece of kit. Handy for adjusting those errant room acoustics. Wouldn't have a Hi-Fi without one.

Love your channel. Saw your episode on the Dennon turntable. Made me nostalgic for the Dennon DP-1200 I had circa 1982 or thereabouts. Keep up the great work. Thanks.

Great as always! I have always loved the fringe audio as well. Like when the dcc came out, I wanted and still want one! Thanks!

Your hi-fi videos are the best.

Oh wow. that Kenwood is gorgeous - I love the visualization on that thing!

Very similar to my Alesis DEQ230D in one of my production PA racks. EQ is still huge in the pro industry, shame not so much in the consumer level. Great video as always.

Brilliant bit of kit. I adore the older hifi components, new stereos may be louder, but older stereo sound much warmer and deeper than new stuff. I have a brilliant pioneer amp with new speakers and powered sub woofer I had to put away when we had our children so it didn't topple over on them, now they're old enough to not touch stuff, I can start putting it back out. You have an envious set up, that's for sure. I'm planning on making a family room soon and I think I can bring in an old LED ghetto blaster and a NES or maybe Atari if I can get hold of my Visa card before my wife does. Love the video, always great seeing someone with similar tastes and passions as myself and what they're up to.

Absolutely love your videos. they seem to hit on everything id expect and want. keep up the great work!

I found your channel a few days ago and I absolutely love your videos!

great video mate, i hav`nt had an EQ on my stereo for nearly 20 years, after watching this i got a Pioneer GR-555 with spectrum analiser (cause i love the light too hahahha), has changed my life, cheers, keep up the great work

Love the look of this device which reminded me of the GXR-55 cassette deck from the same era. I owned one of those decks and it was a pretty neat bit of kit which even had the ability to be programmed to play tracks in your chosen order rather like a CD player but with the rather awkward inconvenience of waiting for fast forward or rewinds between tracks. Needless to say this was a function I never used!

Great video,I purchased the black version around 1986/87,I still have it but it is no longer part of my current set up which is mainly vintage consisting of a pioneer PL12D turntable & a pioneer SA-8100 amp,keep up the great work.

This looks really good even today. Looks pretty solid as well.

Nice to see so many cool stuff on this channel and some of them just brings back good memories. This breaks the monotony from seeing so many audiophile overpriced wall to wall built drive turntables that aren't any better then good turntables from few decades ago.

Dear Techmoaner I have an earlier Graphic Eq that was part of a Sansui hi-fi console of separates. The Sansui RG-7 Graphic Equalizer 'Consolette,it has 10 band mechanical frequency sliders a built in Reverb and a duette or Echo and a guitar\mike\line\tape input\output,which is passive\active. I love it and your videos get better and better,keep it up!

I have a 14 band graphic equaliser on my stereo, been part of the system for over 30 years and love it. Would like one these though - looks great!

This is great. I love seeing old equipment running :) Thanks! Your videos are interesting and well made :)

You can also use a graphic equalizer to tune your stereo to your room. The more bands you have the better the result. A 20 band graphic equalizer is fantastic for this purpose. You need a decent microphone to do it. It's used in live sound PA systems and is necessary to get rid of feedback.

That amp looks gorgeous, I want one without even hearing it work. Love that coloured display.

The display on the Kenwood looks amazing.

Great videos (and I know that ear problem all too well!) LOVE that display on the Kenwood.Gorgeous!

AKAI, old stuff, the best design ever of hi-fi. The look of the buttons, the fonts, the finishing and every detail was from another planet. Unbeated till present.

I had an Akai AA-A25L amplifier in my teen years, along with a GX-R55 cassette deck, and I can vividly remember lusting over that very model of Graphic Equaliser in Comet, always aware it was beyond the reach of my paper-round wages. Thanks for the video. Loved it. I always thought Akai made the coolest looking hi-fi gear (still do). I replaced the amp with a Musical Fidelity Tempest, and realised what my ears had been missing.

Techmoan is are very quickly becoming one of my fav channels, i watched over 4 hours of your videos last night

HUGE fan. Keep up the good work. Always informed and entertained by your videos.

This is the kind of video I love, very informative and in plain English.

I had a one these way back in the day, and it did sound good. I went all nut bag audiophile in the late 80's tubes, belts and no tone controls:) I was able to get another one of these units around 2003 and still use it today. I love these videos by the way:)

I was lucky enough to have a Rotel graphic equaliser back in the day and agree that they are worth having. Loads of fun had experimenting with the sound. Just wish I had the room these days.

Thank you for making these videos!! Your channel has become my new favorite very quickly, and I sub to 145 different people! Keep up the good work!!

I have the same model - albeit black - and I love it. Picked it up cheap on eBay and never looked back. Easy controls. No potentiometers to worry about wearing down and pretty effects. PS You should take the lid off. It's a maze of ribbon cables running every which way. So glad mine didn't need any repairs. Looks like a pain in the ass to disassemble.

I have one of these. My father bought it new around 1984, it still works and is in really good condition. I turn it on once in while for a show..

Another great EQ/Visualizer is the Panasonic SG-750. Nice clean equalization with an excellent spectrum visualizer. And if you can find the original microphone, it will even work as a system analyzer with a pink noise generator built in.

Nice equalizer. I love your vids. You always show radios and stuff from an era in which these were very populair and their quality was way better than what you can buy now these days. I really love these stuff. I don't want a soundbar. I myself have a 2 x 10 bands equalizer with 2 spectrum analyzers. Brand Pioneer. Model GR-777 and it has a remote controle. Another equalizer i have is a graphic/parametric equalizer from the brand Kenwood. It has a big FL display that shows a wide spectrum analyzer and other info. It also has presets and manual settings just like the Pioneer has. The model of the Kenwood is GE-7030. Both working great.

Thanks for another great review. It's amazing how much better a lot of the older technology is than the modern stuff. I suppose, these days, it's all about convenience at the expense of quality.

The display on that machine is beautiful. One day, take a close up of one, perhaps a scrap piece. The metal fabrication on those is wonderful. Thanks for the review.

I do know what equalizers are, but I didn't realize until I watched this video I will need one. Thanks for posting this :)

Love your channel, been watching for awhile and just wanted to thank you for all the hard work you put in to bring everyone interesting and informative content! Also, thanks for this video, in particular. I've been looking for a good graphic EQ for my turntable setup for awhile (like you, I have all silver components) and this sold me on the Akai EA-E7 but I had trouble finding one. I tried a few others but nothing worked quite the way I wanted (on a new unit, there was crackle on the sliders and when the EQ was enabled, there was high-pitched background noise!) or had lackluster displays - so when I stumbled upon one on eBay I had to snatch it up! Got it for a decent price as well. It should arrive early next week and I'm excited to add it to my rack! And since you ran through the basic functionality here, I should be using it to the full extent right away. By the way, I discovered you through your 'MiniDisc Appreciation' video and I agree, they were a fantastic bit of technology!

I own that exact equalizer by Akai, except that mine's the "black" model. I purchased mine in 1986, and it was a "demonstration" model, so it didn't come with the original box, or even the instructions. I figured out how to connect it up to the rest of my system anyway. I think it performed very well. I still have it, but it's in storage now. The only downside to that equalizer is that I wish it was 10-bands, and not 7-bands. Other than that, it's a great equalizer that gave me good service.

Thanks Techmoan, you made me buy one of these!!! Keep up the awesome videos!!!

Owned it. Loved this piece and the display was the cherry on top.

I love your videos on old electronic and audio equipment. On the other hand, it kinda makes me sad about all of the old stuff I had and either threw or gave away.

love these video as well.. that is when stereos where made really well and sounded really good.. I sure hope they go back to making stereos systems like that again!!!

More like porno-graphic equalizer, am I right? Mm, that thing just looks incredible.

Many thanks for your video on Hi-Fi audio. I'm interested in audio technology from 80-90 years. I'm watching you on a regular basis.

Man i love your channel

Great video as always Matt. Also love that shirt!

I remember Tomorrow's World (BBC popular science programme) featuring a graphic equaliser. That one has a sound analyser which listened to a prerecorded noise and automatically adjusted the settings to give a flatter frequency response. Hard to tell on the TV but Howard Stableford seemed impressed.

As promised more retro audio equipment : ) Great vid as always

I had a very similar JVC graphic equalizer that I bought to use with my Technics/JC Penny component system when I was in college (1986). My MCS system did not have remote control functionality so I purchased the JVC because it brought a full function remote control to the party. The JVC provided not just graphic eq/spectral visualizer but it also had loads of inputs and it gave me the coveted remote volume control. It was outstanding! The last time I saw it, the JVC was providing equalization and pre-amping for the live audio feed for a church based low-power FM radio station. I should contact them and see if they are still using it. ;-)

that was a pricey device in its day, still sounds great. always enjoy your videos

Being from the States and grew-up during the 1970's and Stereo Wars, I have never seen this and would buy this without hesitation, Good Find.

That thing is cool! I'm really sad my dad chucked out the high-end Pioneer system we had when I was a kid, although the graphic equaliser on that was an analogue one. I just found some super-cool Akai "AE-53 three dimensional speakers" in a charity shop for £15, they have both front and rear-facing drivers and a passive radiator. Yet to get them hooked up but they look so cool!

Hi, I have one of these (the exact model) for what it is, it's quite good. When I had an older amp, and nothing particularly special (a Sherwood) and some Audio-line Speakers (I believe these are particular to Australia where I live) it could make these components sound quite good and made up for a surprising amount of deficiencies in sound quality particularly mid range. these days I only run vintage gear. I have a lovely Luxman SQ 505 and B&O Mx 70's and I've never felt a need to connect it up. But if i needed to tune my sound in a difficult room then this could well make it back into my signal chain.

It seems these days that unless you go to a specialist retailer or go for a cinema sound system, most audio systems are a bit naff. I still have my Marantz system I built back in the late 80s, and even though I am not using it at the moment, I am loathed to get rid of it.

I love using graphic equalizers, its a necessity unless maybe you have a purpose built room for listening and high end components, maybe... It helps so much to get the best of the audio out of your equipment. I use the more traditional slider type.

Eq's are cool. Nothing I love more than coming home from a day in the recording studio and just slamming that bass. Anyway not all speakers are created equal. Sometimes you've got to get rid of that tinning high mid or boxy low mid sound. Have fun with it.

Eqaulizers are a must to make a tape deck sound good, great video 🔈🔉🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊

Oh my god, I had this one! I recognized it as soon as I saw the thumbnail!

I have an awesome equalizer built into my laptop which even makes the internal speakers sound good. But using the headphone jack, I plug it into my home stereo system and it is fantastic. I have extreme control over the sound and I hear instruments playing that I never knew were there before. This is the "Waves Audio" on the Dell computer.

I want one of these.. in fact one for each room.. best spectrum out there for visual effects!!

As far as I'm concerned there is nothing more beautiful then a busy white VFD with some orange accents, there is just something magical about. Probably just my 80's bias.

i've really started to get interesting in trying out a mini-dac for room correction purposes. one of those in combination with a manually controllable equalizer (like this) sounds even better

Lets equalize some graphics!

It works nicely with the HX-2 cassette deck, and that has been a real workhorse for me despite the slightly different controls Americans are used to. I've owned a number of Akai products over the years.

man, i want to go to your house and listen to music in all those weird formats and crazy setups you have.

I had a Kenwood reverb in the mid to late 80s. I remember using it sometimes to create a kind of sound stage for some music. Sometimes it was kinda cool.

I have a lot of old ferric cassettes and they sound terrible when I play them normal but when I adjust the graphic eq so it makes the high frequencies play louder and the low softer the cassettes sound incredible for a ferric one!

Thank you! I've been waiting for a new video.

So jealous on the Akai! I have the matching Akai amplifier with the touch slider

I just LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! Thanks a lot for your work!!!!!!

It's great you found some stuff that sounds great to you! The problem with older equipment is electrolytic caps dry out which can make the audio sound terrible. You probably already knew that though. Have you ever come across this issue with any of your devices?

Great video, You may look for a vintage Sansui computer equalizer I think the model is SE-88. The control panel detaches from the unit so you can change the setting from you listening position. Back in the day the reverberation amplifier to buy was the Pioneer SR-303. It was part of the Pioneer SPEC series

Thanks for the video, I found a Black EA-A7 on ebay a few days ago, I'm waiting for delivery.

EQ, gott have it! Love your videos, please keep them coming. My first experiences with equalizers was in the 80s at parties, not the best test environment I know, but after some time of experimenting with the sliders I was convinced that yes, Equalizers improve upon the sound to my hearing tastes. Now if you get into a discussion with one of those self proclaimed "audio purists", audio purists, lol "control freaks" is what they are. they will argue up and down you should listen to the music with a flat response. No plus or minus to the bass or treble and they also add with minimal amplification. I'm like hey that is why we all have our own minds man and to each their own, lol. I'll try not to write a book here but I have used and experimented with a number of EQ's with various amounts of bands per channel. I found for myself, I really liked those that had at least 10 bands per side over those that only had 5 or 7. Most of these were used 70s models from ebay usually ADC, Pioneer or realistc but was often disappointed with that slider noise. I bought one new, a Radio Shack Realistic 10 band per ch but had to return it because every so many seconds, almost on cue it would make a popping sound. In the late 90s I decided to buy a new EQ but do some research first, eventually settling on the Kenwood GE 7030. This was an all electronic model with no sliders and an awesome light show display and good audio specs. All adjustments were made with a jog wheel. It was only 7 bands per ch but I thought I could live with it because I would never get that slider noise. I found the jog wheel to be totally not user friendly. Adjusting the individual bands with the jog wheel was a tedious and slow process as compared to the rather straight forward approach of the traditional slider EQs. I also missed the extra bands, to me 7 just dosent divide up enough of the range. I sold it on ebay and purchased a new toy, a DJ mixer and it had a 7 band EQ on board, mic jacks, reverb, etc. It was a cool toy but here again I wasnt happy with the 7 band EQ and most mixers specs arent up to par with decent Hi-Fi equipment and this was the case with mine, plus I often wanted to listen to music without playing DJ and didnt want to have to turn on the mixer in order to use the EQ. My brother saved the day for me for a while. He gave me his old ADC 12 band per ch and it had no slider noise. I used it for a few years but it eventually died on me. I went without an EQ for a long time but then picked up a couple used ones, one an 80s Pioneer, works great with my main stereo, 10 bands per ch and no slider noise. The other I use with my computer stereo is and ADC, it also 10 bands. It has a little noise in the sliders but I just swish it up and down a couple times and it clears out. It isnt a book but maybe its a short story and there is of course more to this story. Equalizers were maybe as popular as ever until the multi channel surround sound took over the home audio market. A few brands offered multi channel EQs but they were too expensive for the average Joe and those surround systems really werent designed to be used with EQs. There is one market, probably where EQs got there start and are still use them today. The Pro audio and DJ market. There are many brands available and if I ever decide to buy another new EQ thats the way I'm gong to go. Many of these have excellent specs and at the entry to mid levels arent all that expensive. You just have to make sure the model you choose has unbalanced audio jacks like home equipment.

In the 80' I was in love with the Akai system, newer got the system except a used tape deck in the 90' there was too worn. Ended to be replaced by a beocord 8000. :-)

Thank you for this vid. It is interesting. As in the 80's I use to enjoy these things in the car audio's. As such, they are no longer found.

i really love the old school vacuum florescent displays beautiful

Wow, what an awesome looking unit!

just ordered one of these that I found cheap, can't wait for it!

Not too long ago I picked up an RCA graphic equalizer at a thrift shop. The only thing wrong with it seems to be a slight issue with the balance. So I the EQ for the left audio channel a little lower than the right. Other than that it's brilliant. I tested the spectrum analyzer with a sign wave sweep here on youtube. It looks to be nice and accurate. I appreciate the tape loops. Overall I am very happy with it. I run it all the time. I have an AV amp and run the EQ even when I am watching TV. I got quite a score with that one.

Kenwood was the name for middle/high range systems in the mid 80's early 90's. It wasn't Bang & Olufsen, but it was rock solid. I still have and use my Kenwood KR-V7040 receiver that I got in 1992 and everything still works, even the remote. The sound is amazing and radio reception is fantastic as well. It's probably the best piece of a/v hardware that I own and it's over 25 years old!

I agree! I absolutely love the equalizer I got at a flea market. It sounds so much better!

This looks a lot like an EQ I saw back in the late 80s-early 90s. The one I remember had a remote that allowed adjusting of the EQ as well as the presets (memory) directly from the remote.

Thanks for the very nice video, I managed to find a Yamaha EQ-630, What a find to state the least.