The most striking feature of the CS-F21 is its form factor. Unlike the wider, two-cassette decks common at the time, the CS-F21 utilizes a vertical, "up-front" loading mechanism. The cassette is inserted with its face pointing outward, allowing for a very slim and tall profile. This design made the unit highly portable and easy to fit into tight spaces, such as small shelves or vehicle consoles, making it a popular choice for travelers and journalists.
Fully serviced units have recently been valued around $120.00 , while units sold "for parts or repair" can be found on sites like eBay for significantly less. akai cs-f21
The defining characteristic of the CS-F21 is its ability to extract remarkable frequency response out of standard cassette tape formulations. Frequency Response by Tape Type 30 Hz to 15,000 kHz Chrome Tape: 30 Hz to 16,000 kHz Metal Tape: 30 Hz to 18,000 kHz The most striking feature of the CS-F21 is its form factor
Do you need help finding or tracking down replacement parts ? This design made the unit highly portable and
The transport runs on a reliable powered by an electronically regulated DC motor. This maintains an impressive wow and flutter rating of just 0.04% WRMS , keeping musical pitch steady and free of audible fluttering. The cassette compartment features a mechanical smooth-loading door and cassette backlighting to visually monitor the amount of tape remaining on a spool. Front Panel Functionality & User Controls
An impressive 30Hz to 18kHz (using Metal tape), ensuring crisp highs and respectable lows.
1 x high-density metallic record/playback head, 1 x erase head Electronically speed-controlled DC motor Wow and Flutter Less than 0.04% WRMS (0.10% DIN 45500) Tape Capability Type I (Normal), Type II ( CrO2cap C r cap O sub 2 ), Type IV (Metal) Frequency Response (Normal) 30 Hz to 15,000 Hz ±3 dB Frequency Response (Metal) 30 Hz to 18,000 Hz ±3 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio 56 dB (no NR), 73 dB (Dolby C enabled) Total Harmonic Distortion Less than 0.8% Dimensions 440 mm × 103 mm × 273 mm Weight 4.1 kg (approx. 9 lbs) Key Features and Audio Performance 1. Advanced Noise Reduction (Dolby B & C)