Dokorder

About the Company

Dokorder — Japanese Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck Manufacturer

Brand: Dokorder
Parent Company: Denki Onkyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Country: Japan
Active in Reel-to-Reel Production: Early 1960s – early 1980s
Market Focus: Consumer hi-fi and semi-professional open-reel tape decks
Reputation: Technically ambitious designs, strong export presence, good sound quality

Company Background

• Dokorder was a brand name used by Denki Onkyo Co., Ltd., a Japanese electronics manufacturer founded in the post-war period.

• The company specialized in magnetic recording equipment, including reel-to-reel tape decks and later cassette machines.

• Dokorder products were export-oriented, particularly to North America and Europe, where the brand became well known among hi-fi enthusiasts during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Early Production: Tube and Early Solid-State Era (Early–Mid 1960s)

• Dokorder entered the reel-to-reel market in the early 1960s, initially producing tube-based mono and stereo decks.

• These early machines typically featured:
  3¾ and 7½ ips speeds
  7″ reel support
  Built-in amplifiers and speakers
  Simple two-motor or single-motor transports

• By the mid-1960s, Dokorder transitioned rapidly to solid-state electronics, aligning with broader Japanese industry trends.

Late 1960s–Early 1970s: Hi-Fi Expansion

This period marked Dokorder’s rise in prominence.

Notable models include:

• Dokorder 600 / 700 series – Early stereo hi-fi decks with improved transports

• Dokorder 801 / 814 – Three-motor machines with better speed stability

• Dokorder 900 series – More refined designs aimed at serious home recording

Key features introduced:

• Three-motor transports

• Three-head configurations (erase / record / playback)

• Half-track stereo recording

• Improved frequency response and reduced wow & flutter

Dokorder decks from this era were frequently compared with Akai, Sony, and Teac, often offering strong specifications at competitive prices.

Mid–Late 1970s: Flagship Models and Technical Peak

Dokorder reached its technical peak in the mid-to-late 1970s.

Flagship Models

• Dokorder 1120 / 1140 / 7140
  Large, heavy chassis
  Three-motor, three-head transports
  7½ and 15 ips speeds (on select models)
  Direct-drive or quartz-locked capstans on later units
  Excellent head assemblies and robust electronics

These decks were marketed as audiophile-grade machines, suitable for serious music recording and high-quality playback.

Market Challenges and Decline

• By the late 1970s, the reel-to-reel market began shrinking rapidly due to:
  High-performance cassette decks
  Lower cost and convenience of compact cassette

• Dokorder faced intense competition from larger Japanese manufacturers with greater economies of scale.

• Production of new open-reel decks slowed significantly by the early 1980s.

End of Reel-to-Reel Production

• Dokorder ceased producing reel-to-reel tape decks around 1981–1982.

• The company shifted focus toward other electronics but eventually disappeared from the global hi-fi market.

Legacy

• Dokorder reel-to-reel decks are well respected among collectors for:
  Solid mechanical construction
  Good sound quality
  Distinctive industrial design

• While not as widely supported today as Teac or Akai, many Dokorder machines remain serviceable and desirable.

Summary

Dokorder was a Japanese reel-to-reel tape deck manufacturer active from the early 1960s through the early 1980s, producing a wide range of consumer and semi-professional open-reel machines. Known for technically ambitious designs and strong export presence, Dokorder reached its peak in the 1970s with large, three-motor, three-head decks that competed directly with better-known Japanese brands. The decline of the reel-to-reel format ultimately brought Dokorder’s tape deck production to an end.