Nakamichi CA-7A and ST-7 Cable

adcomcyclone

I have purchased quite a number of new items recently, including a Nakamichi CA-7A, an original Nak remote for the preamp, and a ST-7 tuner. Neither of the units included a remote cable to connect the tuner to the preamp. I haven't recieved the CA-7A yet, but just got the tuner today.

Does anyone know if this is just a standard din cable (7 pin I believe), or does this require a proprietary Nak cable?

While I am asking, the tuner didn't have a power cord, will a monoprice 14 G power cord suffice for this?

Any input will be helpful!

On a side note, I got another CA-5 II and a CA-1 in the deal with the tuner, now I have to figure out what to do with them. May end up replacing my Onkyo AVR with the Nak and get a PA-1 amp to go with it. I almost never use any of the features on the Onkyo, and I have an upconverting DVD player, so can't see any reason not to do this.

adcomcyclone

Oh well, bad news. Got the CA-7A, and the volume control was damaged, so going back to seller. Have to find another one to go along with the tuner and NOS remote I got.

If anyone has input on the connecting cord from the preamp to the ST-7 tuner, I would really appreciate your input. I am assuming it is just a 7 pin DIN cable, but again, want to make sure it isn't a NAK proprietary configuration that I am not aware of.

heiney9

That is a killer pre-amp, my favorite back in the day when I sold Nakamichi. I hope the seller takes it back, because I believe parts like that motorized volume control are hard to come by.

I can't remember if a std. DIN cable will work, that was a long time ago when I sold that stuff new in the audio store. Keep scrounging on the 'net, I'm sure that question has been asked before.

Knowing NAK, it probably was proprietary, but I just can't remember.

Good luck...........it's a shame when gear like that gets damaged.

H9

Joe08867

Would a picture help H9. I don't think they are standard but I am not real good with this type of cable.

adcomcyclone

Joe, thanks for posting the picture. I haven't been able to get around to getting one taken. I didn't really notice it until I looked at your pic, but the Tuner seems to be 7 pin (no center pin), but the rest of the remote outputs look to be an 8 pin (with the center pin). Interesting.

Fortunately the seller is being good about it. He offered to even pay to have a shop repair it, but as you mentioned H9, parts are likely really tough to get, and I have never taken any gear to shops around here, so it would be a total shot in the dark in finding one locally that was qualified to repair it....if they could find the part.

I will keep looking for another one, they come up pretty regularly, and also see if I can find anything about the remote connection cables. I have done a number of searches, but to no avail so far.

stuwee

That is a killer preamp, shame it got damaged :frown:

It looks like a European model to me. I'd keep it and try to fix the volume control, Yamaha made a similair one in the MX series preamps, I bet it's just like theirs.

adcomcyclone

I thought about keeping it and trying to get it fixed, bit would rather not risk it and find one that doesn't need repaired. They come around every once in a while.

Just have to be patient until another decent one pops up.

heiney9

stuwee wrote: »

That is a killer preamp, shame it got damaged :frown:

It looks like a European model to me. I'd keep it and try to fix the volume control, Yamaha made a similair one in the MX series preamps, I bet it's just like theirs.

It is leaps and bounds better sounding and better build than the Yammy

adcomcyclone wrote: »

I thought about keeping it and trying to get it fixed, bit would rather not risk it and find one that doesn't need repaired. They come around every once in a while.

Just have to be patient until another decent one pops up.

IIRC, the Nak uses a motorized Alps pot, perhaps they have a modern equivalent that might work. It's worth atleast investigating

CA-7E is the Euro model if IIRC, CA-7 is for America and other non-Euro countries and CA-7A is an America model only. Going completely on memory here.

Another ultra cool feature of the CA-7A is the ability to remotely control the manual azimuth of the Nak decks that utilized an adjustable azimuth control, like the CR-5A and CR-7A. The Dragon had automatic azimuth adjustment. That's just plain cool :cool:

H9

hukkfinn

Does anybody know:
1. What the difference between a CA-7 and a CA-7 mk ii would be?
2. Whether the CA-7 sounds better than the CA-5? Or is the difference just more features?
Thanks!
Hukk

inspiredsports

Post 10 Laurel421 reported as spam for removal

1952scott

Did you get anywhere finding a replacement Pot for the CA7? Mine has just given up the ghost. It still works manually, but you can't adjust the volume remotely. I am told this is a common failing on the CA7. I understand that there is a very complex gearing mechanism inside.

1952scott

the 7 is definitely superior. I have had both.

cnh

Is the CA-7 remote controllable and does it have tone controls. Because I have a CA-5 that is a passive only pre (so hopefully you can bypass all that extra circuitry on the 7 if it does have it).

As for the CA-5, it adds next to "nothing" to the sound of your amp! So it's a great choice for a budget pre that rivals units costing a lot more.

cnh