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Author Topic: Nakamichi Cassette Decks  (Read 12352 times)

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Offline bhoy

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Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« on: May 17, 2011, 03:06:18 PM »
I'm interested in upgrading my cassette deck to something suitable for cassette tape digitizing.  From what I've read, one of the best decks is the Nakamichi Dragon because it has auto-azimuth adjustment.  Is this the best deck to shoot for, or are there other Nakamichi models that are just as good?  I'd like to invest in one good deck, as I have 1000s of analogs to work with.

How does the auto-azimuth work on the Dragon?  Does it track the tape to find the best setting?  Am I better off with a manual control?

Thanks for any input, and if this has been discussed on other boards, I'll gladly read what's been said there.

Thanks,
Bill

Offline spyder9

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2011, 09:12:06 PM »
CR7A and ZX9.  ZX9 is hard to find.  People never get rid of them.  CR7A has a playback azimuth knob.  They are always on eBay.  DR1 gets honorable mention.

 

Offline Belexes

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2011, 09:45:41 PM »
I have a DR1 and like it. Manual azimuth adjustment, but I trust my ears to make it correct.
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Offline Lil Kim Jong-Il

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2011, 11:31:21 PM »
Doesn't the azimuth adjust require a calibration tone put down at the time of the master recording?  If the cassettes weren't recorded with a tone how do you know when the azimuth is correct.

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Offline rjp

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2011, 09:06:55 AM »
Doesn't the azimuth adjust require a calibration tone put down at the time of the master recording?  If the cassettes weren't recorded with a tone how do you know when the azimuth is correct.

If there isn't a calibration tone, you can listen for the treble (especially cymbals). Adjust until you hear them the best.
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Offline andromedanwarmachine

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2011, 06:28:22 PM »
I think the answer would be anything by Nakamichi immediately puts you in the top slot for playback.

I've got a DR3 which I'm very happy with- my pish old Pro-Walkman's having recorded a variety of alignments over the years, I'm happy that the DR3 is sucking the middle of the road- what should be there, so to speak...

Dragon would be the one to go for though- I don't know how it pulls off it's magic though...

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Offline Brian Skalinder

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2011, 12:45:47 AM »
If there isn't a calibration tone, you can listen for the treble (especially cymbals). Adjust until you hear them the best.

Second this.  It's like night and day and even the Nak lower end DR-3 (one of which I still have) allows azimuth adjustment -- as do many other decks without a dedicated azimuth control.  Typically, you pop off the cover and use a plastic screwdriver to make the adjustment.  I'm all thumbs, and find it easy.
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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2011, 10:06:21 AM »
I've done azimuth adjustment using the screw on the transport but that was after a head replacement and using a factory calibration tape. It's a fairly fine adjustment.  If you change it for a specific tape, how did you put it back to true?

I have a DR3 and never thought to touch the alignment screw just because I didn't want to take the deck out of spec.  I have a NAK700 tri-tracer that I used as a playback deck and that has azimuth controls but I never really felt confident that I was finding the optimal setting.  When there wasn't a calibration tone, which was like every tape I ever got in trade, I would play with it but always just put it back to center.
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Offline Jonas Karlsson

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2011, 11:37:29 AM »
Hi everyone!

So I finally got my hands on a Nakamichi Dragon cassettedeck. And it's sweeeet!

It's not been used much over the years, although it's been used from time to time.

The NAAC works just fine, but from time to time the speed slows down and I'm not able to use the autoreverse-function. It seems it hasn't got the "power" to play it the other way.

What causes these slowdown of the tapespeed? It's NOT wear and tear since it looks excellent (the power-switch text is not even worn out) and it looks nice and clean on the inside.

Is there any cleaning that can be done to prevent this, cause it only happens from time to time, not all the time.

Thankful for any type of answer....

/Jonas Karlsson, Sweden

Offline Brian Skalinder

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2011, 12:40:56 PM »
If you change it for a specific tape, how did you put it back to true?

I've always just put it back where it was, either by noting the screw rotation when aligning for a specific tape, or using a tone I've recorded onto tape prior to adjusting for a specific cassette.
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Offline jlykos

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2011, 08:58:41 AM »
I may be late to the party here, but I really like the Sony ES decks as well.  If you can't find a Nak, they are probably the next best thing.
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Offline andromedanwarmachine

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2011, 03:17:43 AM »
I'll tell you how you go "back to true"; you use an alignment/setup tape.

I recently got hold of a setup MiniDisc! (although the calibration process is not physical in this case)

And you play the test tracks on the cassette to establish the middle ground. I think Canford Audio would still have them...
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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2011, 11:35:21 AM »
I'll tell you how you go "back to true"; you use an alignment/setup tape.

yes, and an oscilloscope. Doing it by ear or by sight is not accurate although arguably close enough.
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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2011, 03:00:06 PM »
which head are you adjusting?
If its the record head - leave it alone. You can adjust the playback head all you want.
Is anyone really still recording to cassette? I ran one for a leave behind copy, about 6+ years ago, but that was the last for me.

Offline andromedanwarmachine

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #14 on: June 16, 2011, 06:06:58 AM »
No, I don't think anyone still uses it as a primary gathering tool; but for many (myself included) there is a legacy of the format waiting to be transferred...

I bought my DR3 for transferring after ceasing to use cassette as a collection format just so I could make the best of what I'd got over the years.

To be honest I think we are all discussing this here as it's quite interesting; we are in the era of beyond the renaissance of tape; there's not going to be any breakthrough technology for cassettes now and as such it's amusing to make the best of what you can find!

There's still a skillset in there!

I'd buy a Dragon if I had the spare resource; great piece of gear!
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Offline ifthir

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #15 on: June 28, 2011, 12:31:28 AM »
Hi everyone!

So I finally got my hands on a Nakamichi Dragon cassettedeck. And it's sweeeet!

It's not been used much over the years, although it's been used from time to time.

The NAAC works just fine, but from time to time the speed slows down and I'm not able to use the autoreverse-function. It seems it hasn't got the "power" to play it the other way.

What causes these slowdown of the tapespeed? It's NOT wear and tear since it looks excellent (the power-switch text is not even worn out) and it looks nice and clean on the inside.

Is there any cleaning that can be done to prevent this, cause it only happens from time to time, not all the time.

Thankful for any type of answer....

/Jonas Karlsson, Sweden

I absolutely do not currently have this issue with my Dragon. You may wish to have it serviced that sounds odd.

Offline andromedanwarmachine

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Offline kenirob

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #17 on: July 02, 2011, 02:28:20 PM »
Hey man I repair old tape decks all the time, the units probably in need of new drive belts
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Offline andromedanwarmachine

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #18 on: July 13, 2011, 05:48:13 AM »
hey Kenirob,

do you see alot of old Nakamich gear...?

JimP
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Offline tungarbulb

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2011, 09:54:11 PM »
While it doesn't have easily-adjustable azimuth adjustment, one could do worse than one of these:http://audioklassiks.de/wordpress/?p=12

Offline andromedanwarmachine

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Re: Nakamichi Cassette Decks
« Reply #20 on: July 27, 2011, 08:50:13 AM »
ha that's tremendous!

(why isn't the tape counter incrementing though!!?)
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