AIWA HS-J9 / HS-J09 / HS-J600 Part II

Part II...

Some Facts:

A. The HS-J9 model's title stands for HS=Headphone Stereo and J for Jockey (ie: DJ) series 9. It was introduced in June 1986, as soon as it hit the market it was a huge success worldwide and was manufactured for 2 years. It was sold globally at approximately 2 million units (mostly for the North American market) between the years 1986 to 1988. 

B. AIWA improved and revised the HS-J9/R9 with 2 revisions, besides the model differences due to countries' regulations. There are two versions. The early version had a middle screw in the back of the player for the belt hanger, in the tradition of older players (see pic).

AIWA HS-J9 Complete Series Backside: Black & white are missing the belt screw

While predecessors like the J8/R8 players had a strong plastic back (and even metal on the G8 and P8) the J9 and R9 had a weak plastic cover often resulting in damage to the player. Hence a second version was made - omitting the belt screw altogether. once they omitted the screw, a new Carrying case had to be made.

HS-J9/J09/J600 Carrying Cases. Left: Hybrid Case. Right: Plastic Case.

HS-J9/J09/J600 Carrying Cases: Front & Back. 

Left: Hybrid & Plastic Cases. Right: Hybrid Case.

While the early version had a Hybrid case (PVC & Plastic) the new version's case was made only from plastic.

HS-J9/J09/J600 Carrying Cases Front & Back. Left: Plastic Case. Right: Hybrid Case.

First Edition PVC Carrying Case for the Eight Series (HS-G08)

C. There is an early black version which is totally black. this version is unknown to be available anywhere but the Japanese market. this version is very scarce and carries a very low serial # -C.....0032.

D. The white model is not actually white, its color is a 'metallic Silver'. However, some early versions were really white.


E. Serial numbers; are different for the US market and for the rest of the world. The US Serials mostly stand for how many units were made and the year (later on serials were sequential). However, for the rest of the world, the serial numbers are a combination of the full date of manufacturing and the number of units that were manufactured till now. 
this is the way how to read the serial model number for model rarities (for collection reasons; let's say you want to own a very early unit).

AIWA CassetteBoy HS-J9 Serial # 09

AIWA HS-J600, US Serial number is actually the number of units that were made

PROMOTIONAL:

A. Some Units came with sale promotional stickers: For Japan, there was a yellow Sticker promoting some features pointing out economic values like:

"Recording and playback auto-reverse Charging type

Rechargeable AC adapter included" 

B. For the European market all units came with a small sticker: "Made in Japan".

C. Another version and improvement are spring-style Cassette Stabilizers which are found only in the US version - the J600. The Japanese (J9) and the European (J09) lack this improvement for an unknown reason.

HS-J600 Spring Style Cassette Stabilizers


HS-J9 without the Cassette Stabilizers

Others:

This player was so unique in quality and versatility that some dudes in 1993 made an invention for the USAF (US Air Force) based on it. and they called it: 

"Low-cost time-indexed voice recorder system" Patent ID #: US 5225947 A. Here is their description of that invention: 

"A time-indexed voice recording system wherein tone coded time signals are received on one channel of an entertainment grade stereophonic tape recorder and the desired voice signals entered into the other channel. The recording system is portable in nature and specially adapted for use in airborne missions where it can be placed within the clothing of an aircrew member in even the smallest of aircraft cockpits. The tone code in the disclosed system is generated by a telephone-compatible microcircuit system which also includes a microcomputer and software for system control purposes. The disclosure includes a flow diagram of the microcomputer software as well as a complete assembly language"  For more info google:  http://www.google.com/patents/US5225947.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Service Manual  for HS-J09/J600/  HS-T09/T600

Troubleshoot and Diagnostics:

These are a few tips in general, other issues need an expert repairman.

Belt issues:

1. When you press any button, the indicator light turns on, there is no movement but you hear the motor running in the background – the belt is loose or torn and needs to be replaced.

2. If the audio is wobbly or too fast - The belt size is either too small/big and needs to be replaced.

3. FF or Rewind seems to work but when you press play, the mechanism will not work – the belt is a bit large or loose and needs to be replaced.

4. If the auto-reverse function doesn't work either manually or automatic there are two reasons;

A. The belt is old or loose.

B. A well-known issue of the 9 Series is a cracked central gear.

Series 9 - Center Gear

Sound issues:

1. If you hear statics from the volume knob or any of the switches - know that your contacts are rusty and need lubrication.

2. If the sound is unclear or distorted – the head needs to be cleaned with 95% alcohol.

3. If the sound is dull or not crisp - the head needs to be aligned.

Specifications;

HS-J9, J09, J600

< Radio Section >

Frequency range:               FM: 87.5-108 MHz

                                                   AM: 530-1.605 kHz 

           

Antenna:                                FM headphone antenna

                                                   AM ferrite bar antenna

< Tape Recorder Section >

Track arrangement:                4-track. 2-channel. 

Stereo Frequency range:       40 to 12.500 Hz (NORMAL tape)

                                                         40 to 16.000 Hz (METAL tape)

Microphone:                               Electret-condenser microphone

                                                         (Single-point stereo, detachable)

Maximum output:                    15 mW + 15 mW (EIAJ/DC)

Input terminal:                         MIC jack. 3.5 4> stereo mini x 1

Output terminal:                      Phones jack. 3.5 <t> stereo mini x 1

Power source:                             Battery DC 3V LR-03 (UM-4. AAA. R03) x2

         Domestic AC power (using AC adapter)

Battery life:                     • Using manganese batteries (R03,UM-4. AAA) 

                                              Approx. 2 hours (EIAJ. recording mode)

                                             Approx. 2.5 hours (EIAJ. 1mW output, playback mode)                                             

                                             • Using alkaline batteries (LR-03. AM-4. AAA)

                                              Approx. 4 hours (EIAJ. recording mode)
                                              Approx. 5 hours (EIAJ. 1mW output, playback mode)

Dimensions:                               74 (H) x 113 (W) x 25.9 (D) mm

        (excluding any projecting parts)

Maximum dimensions:          80.2 (H) x 113.5 (W) x 27.7 (D) mm

Weight:                                         270 g (including batteries)

Accessories:                                Stereo headphones (HP-M11) x 1
                                                          Carrying case x 1
                                                         Microphone (CM-S9) x 1

                                                         Battery Charger RB-104/ RB-100 x 1 (only for A model)

                                                         Rechargeable Batteries x 2 (only for A model)

Practical Service Figure

<RADIO SECTION > 

Sensitivity:

(IHF, THD 3%)                     FM 17±5dB (at 98MHz)
                                         (HS-T09/T600)
                                         FM 15 ± 5dB (at 96MHz)
                                         (HS-J09/J600)
(S/N 10dB)                          AM Less than 52dB (at 1000kHz)
Intermediate frequency:        FM 10.7 MHz AM 468 kHz

< TAPE SECTION >

Record bias frequency:         54 kHz (HS-J09/J600)
Erasing ratio:                      More than 55dB
                                        (HS-J09/J600)
Wow & flutter:                    Less than 0.45% (RMS)
Distortion:                          Less than 3% (PB)
                                        Less than 10% (REC)
                                        (HS-J09/J600)
Signal noise ratio:               50±3dB (PB)
                                        35±8dB (REC)
                                        (HS- J09/J600)
Noise level:                        Less than 5mV
                                        (DC, AC/MAX PB)
                                        Less than 25mV (DC MAX REC)
                                        (HS-J09/J600)
                                        Less than 27mV (AC MAX REC)
                                        (HS-J09/J600)
Pinch roller pressure:           180 ±20g
Tape up torque:                  25~35g-cm (FWD)
                                        25-40g-cm (REV)
                                        FF/rewind torque: 60~120g-cm
Back tension:                     1.5~3g-cm
FM stereo separation:          17±3dB (1 kHz)