New Arrival..virtually new in box Aiwa TPR 968

[Demonfinder]

I recently saw this for sale at an auction room here in the U.K and decided to take a punt on it ( as I have recently purchased one of it`s slightly smaller siblings a TPR 950 which I first bought new as my first boombox around 1979 ).
The pictures on the auction website were not that good but they said the unit was "sold as working " so I left a bid online for the auction as I had to head off to work before it went up on the live link.





I was pretty amazed that I won it for less than my max bid of £65 ..though with the auction fees and courier charges that bumped it up to £110 :0(

I was well pleased when it arrived though.. much better condition than I had expected although well in need of an exterior clean up to remove the years of accumulated dust.
As I`d already factored in that the deck would need belts replacing it was no surprise that I just heard a little clunk when pressing the cassette play button with no signs of movement.
The build quality on these early Aiwa`s is excellent and it`s a classy looking unit (my only slight quibble is with the slightly cheesey sounding "High Power Stereo Sound Music Machine" )
It weighs in at over 7 kg without it`s batteries.

I`ve aleady booked it in for a service next week so crossing fingers everything can be fixed.
The TPR 968 is about 6 cm wider than the 950 -and has larger tweeters and woofers.
It takes 8 rather than 6 D cells and has metal tape capabilty (not that I have any ! )
Same radio bands as the 950 but one large rather than twin aerials.
Soft touch logic deck controls instead of the 950`s piano keys.
Twin VU meters/radio tuning dial doesn`t have a backlight like the 950.
The 968 also doesn`t have the manual recording level option that the 950 does.
The 950 has a wide stereo setting that the 968 lacks -so I`m hoping that the larger size of the 968 speakers and unit itself will help compensate for that nice feature .

I will no doubt be doing a back to back comparision when the new arrival gets back from it`s service.
Although the box came with it`s original plastic bag and polystyrene packing wedges it`s user manual has gone missing -If anyone knows a web link to download one could you let me know please.
Cheers,
Martin

 

[Hisrudeness]

These 968’s are almost like the bridge between the last Aiwa TPR’s and the incoming CS’s (see pic)
The deck repair might be a little more hassle than anticipated. It uses belts and an overly complicated gearing system.
Good find anyway.

 

[Demonfinder]

Thanks for the input @Hisrudeness ..I`d done a bit of background research and had read they could be a bit tricky..which is why I`m not touching it myself ..and have already emailed the repairer the servicing manual !

 

[caution]

Fantastic score Martin
You can find the service manual here (link)
Did you notice the carton, it says "soft TOUTH"

 

[Demonfinder]

Hi @caution .. I hadn`t noticed the translation/spelling mistake .
I`m on the look out for a copy of the operating /owners manual rather than the service one as I already have that -thanks though.

 

[Northerner]

Wow that’s a bargain for a squeaky clean beast

 

[Demonfinder]

Thanks @ Northerner- it was a squeaky dusty beast but I`m well pleased and crossing my fingers for the repair guy.
I`ll be gently peeling off and saving the stickers on the front too -they are only partly stuck on (so retailers could remove them easily I think).
Although it`s a boombox it has looks that suggest playing classical music at picnics at Glynbourne rather than being hauled down to the `80s skate park and pumping out bangin` toons

 

[AE_Stereo]

Great catch! Getting it in its original box is even greater!

Aiwa CS-85X must be its sibling! Many common elements, including the body. My old post here:
https://boomboxery.com/forum/threads/my-aiwa-cs-85x.17705/

 

[Demonfinder]

That CS-85X is a nice piece @AE_Stereo ..much I higher spec all round by the look of it than my 968 K but it looks like their is a family resemblence

 

[Demonfinder]

Update:
This great new arrival is now being attended to at a boombox hospital -I`m hoping it will need just one jab and and a bit of dust removal.
When I get it back I might do a head to head review against my TPR 950 .
As far asI could make out melted/disintegrated belts and a build up of a bit of of vintage dust should be the only problems with the deck.
I`m not sure if these "Easi-Touch " decks have metal contacts that might have accquired a bit of mild surface corrosion or anything though.
Still pondering whether to remove the original stickers or not (they are only partially fixed on).
It`s a very clean unit without them but also looks slightly "naked "with the gap between the tweeter and the VUs with no stickers :0).
If I remove them I will of course be keeping them safely stored for the future.
I`m currently on the hunt for a metal cassette tape as I`ve never heard one and it`s a scratch I have to itch if I`ve got a bit of kit that will play the things !
Please PM me if you have a spare one for sale .
When it`s up and running I might post a brief head to head review of the 950 and 968 .
My guess is the 968 might be hard pressed to match the overall sound of the 950 but we shall see...

 

[Demonfinder]

Just back from a great repair guy I managed to find on the outskirts of Oxford (U.K)
The TPR- 968 now has it`s mojo restored after a service including 5 (!) new belts after the removal of the tarry remains of (presumably) the one`s it got during original manufacture.
I`ve no idea what the 5 belts drive.
All this clean up added a fair bit to the service cost due to the time needed and the guy also mentioned how it was a tricky job..something I`d pre-warned him of after reading articles on this and other forums.

There was no way I could have tackled it myself though .and I`m pleased with the result.
The 968 is now back alongside it`s slightly smaller brother and sounding virtually as good.
The 968 has a slightly higher output (2x 5w) and is 5cm wider than the 950- but it lacks the wide stereo and loudness features.
The bass is still rich and warm and well controlled though so no complaints from me.

The 968`s radio signal is as good- if not slightly better than the 950 in my brief testing so far .It has only the one aerial compared with the classic great looking two on the 950 but it`s aerial is longer and much thicker/stronger and less likely to get damaged.
I`ve just had a short chance to test the recording quality..from an FM station and it was very good..I give the edge to the 950f or recording from the radio though due to it`s extra manual recording level function rather than just the ALC on the 968.
Unable to try a metal tape in the 968 at the moment as I don`t have one and they are fetching some crazy prices on eBay lately though.
The 950 doesn`t have a bias setting for metal tape ..but it does for the even rarer beast a FerroChrome tape..which I can only ever rember buying one of back in the early 1980s.

The original merchandising stickers have been carefully removed and stored away along with the hang tag that came with it in the original box.
First cassette in the slot was Michael jackson`s "Bad" ..recorded from vinyl on my Aiwa hifi deck and it sounded amazing..that album had great production values.
I`ve yet to get the full feel of the soft touch deck buttons so I`ll have more of a play about with them later in the week when I try recording from an aux source or two.
The 968 weighs in at 7.2 Kilos before the eight batteries get anywhere close to it so it`s unlikely to be going to my local "`hood" or even a picnic untilI get back in the gym and beef up my arms.

One thing I noticed for the first time today was that the compartment where the VU meters are has a removeable cover (secured with Allen key bolts like the tape door).
Does anyone know why you might need front access to VU meters ?
If anyone knows where I could download a copy of the Users Manual (aleady have the service one) I`d be gratefull if you could let me know.
Cheers.

 

[AE_Stereo]

Just back from a great repair guy I managed to find on the outskirts of Oxford (U.K)
The TPR- 968 now has it`s mojo restored after a service including 5 (!) new belts after the removal of the tarry remains of (presumably) the one`s it got during original manufacture.
I`ve no idea what the 5 belts drive.
......

Congratulations on getting it restored.
These Aiwa soft touch cassette decks are made by adding an additional gear drive mechanism attached on to an otherwise normal mechanical cassette deck. Hence they may have usual 3 belts on the original mechanism plus few additional belts driving the gear drive.

 

[Demonfinder]

Thanks for the info @AE_Stereo ..the guy did mention the deck controls were a kind of mix of the old and new types but I didn`t realise belts were involved.
that would help explain lack of movement of the buttons..they were gummed up with melted belts!.

 

[AE_Stereo]

You can see one of the belt pulleys of the gear drive in this photo of my CS-85X.
Each of those gear cams operate the respective function of the mechanical deck below it.

 

[Demonfinder]

Eek !... that looks a real challenge ..well beyond anything I could manage !
My best effort so far is new belts on an Aiwa HiFi tape deck..much more room to play with and easier access -gave it a go after watching a few YouTube vids

 

[Valde]

Congratulations with the 968! One of my favorite in my collection. The skrews in the vu-meter window is ony for good looks. You are lucky to get a perfect one without dents and scratches. And best of all, you got one that no one had tryed to "repair" the tape transport. The tape transport is a normal good quality pice for a boombox, but the added mecanical logic is what makes it a little special. Glad to hear that your repair guy got it cleaned up and working again.
The beautiful mecanical logic:

 

[Demonfinder]

Congratulations with the 968! One of my favorite in my collection. The skrews in the vu-meter window is ony for good looks. You are lucky to get a perfect one without dents and scratches. And best of all, you got one that no one had tryed to "repair" the tape transport. The tape transport is a normal good quality pice for a boombox, but the added mecanical logic is what makes it a little special. Glad to hear that your repair guy got it cleaned up and working again.
The beautiful mecanical logic:
View attachment 52881

@ Valde .. No wonder the job cost a bit more than the original estimate if gooey belts had got on to that mass of parts ..it must have given the poor repair guy nightmares !

 

[Valde]

You are right, these transports can give you nightmares. It's a time-consuming repair and you definitely found the right repair guy for the job. Where I live I don't even think there is any repair shop that would know how to, or even accep an 80's boombox in for repair.