Nak in the rack

Fongolio

I posted recently about my aquisition of a Pioneer CT-F1250 cassette deck. It's a great sounding machine but everyone says Nakamichi is better. I'd never heard one except in car stereo but being the obsessive compulsive I am had to have one. I got interested in cassette again after hearing just how great the Pioneer sounded in my system, and seeing that I have a totally retro system anyway, the only thing missing was a high end cassette deck.

After doing some research I concluded that a really good Nakamichi Dragon was out of my reach but a CR-7 (CR-7A in the US) many reviews said sounds as good if not better than the legendary and more expensive Dragon. I started scouring Audiogon, Canuckaudiomart, Ebay and Craigslist. I didn't want to pay huge shipping so in Canada was prefered. I found one in the province of British Columbia where I live on Craigslist for $500. Well below market value. I had it shipped and it arrived in perfect condition. He even through in 10 high bias brand new tapes!! Hard to find now and expensive when you do.

So how does it sound? In a word stunning! The Pioneer had already blown me away with it's sound but the Nak is in a whole different league. I'm a vinyl lover because of the analog sound. Hi res digital is very good as well but I've always preferred the smoothness of vinyl. The Nak delivers in spades. I truly did not totally get the Nakamichi hype until I experienced this deck. I've scrounged up a bunch of pre recorded cassettes, which I never liked the sound of much always preferring to record my own off of vinyl. Even normal bias old tapes sound great. I played what appears to be an original issue Pink Floyd Medle and found the sound to be clear and sound stage wide and deep (with some help from the SDA's). Not even marked as dolby b and from the listening chair could not detect any hiss. I through in a high bias metal tape of Yello that I was given and my jaw dropped to the floor. Possibly better sounding than my vinyl copy.

So now I'm finding tapes everywhere for a $1 and expanding my already huge library of music even further. It really makes me wonder why we all so quickly abandoned this format. Mind you in it's prime these Nakamichi decks sold for huge dollars. This CR-7 sold for $1800 new and that's in circa 1989 dollars. I've made a few recordings of vinyl records and don't remember any deck I used back in the day sounding as good on home recordings Anyway if you a Nak at a garage sale or for cheap at a thrift store grab one and capture some of the magic.

heiney9

Like I have always said, there really isn't a better deck than a NAK. I had a lot of different cassette decks back in the day and the Naks I owned were always a step above.

Enjoy

H9

Polkersince85

The Dragon I picked up at GW was the best $25 I've spent in a long time. The Naks are on a whole different level. Enjoy yours.

George Grand

Fongolio wrote: »

So now I'm finding tapes everywhere for a $1 and expanding my already huge library of music even further.

"Everywhere" is a little pricey. Have fun.

Tony M

Polkersince85 wrote: »

The Dragon I picked up at GW was the best $25 I've spent in a long time. The Naks are on a whole different level. Enjoy yours.

AWSOME, awsome, awsome!!!!!!

I have 2 lower model decks that need belts and one day I just might order a belt or two and hear their sound. I've heard the Nak. Stasis receiver sound since I owned a GREAT older little one. Powerful sound and warm too. I should've kept it too....Dohhhh

[Deleted User]

Congrats ! Always wanted a Nak Dragon, still tempted to find one that is broken just as a curio. I have a Stasis receiver that I use at work, many compliments on its sound. :cool:

Fongolio

zibiga reported^^^^