BTW I just did a freq resp check on my ZX-7 and it is amazing: 40-14k +/- 2dB for test tape, and 40-22k +/-2dB for rec/PB cycle (Type2). Both at -24dB. 😄 I did a check on the levels and now the ZX-7 is working beautifully. I still need to refurbish the mechanism but I'll do that next year. Hope ya'll still with me then!
Hi, thanks for taking the time to measure ask these values and report back! I have bought a Nakamichi 582 and I have been told by a technician that changing capacitors for the sake of it was silly and out of proportions if the deck works fine, which surprised me, and note your account!
they can measure ok and still crackle and pop great job as well. I have two lx5 machines where the orange caps are fine . There was a run around 1981 and 1982 from the maunufacture of the caps where some of them shorted out and others went south for the winter
ok, didn't know that. I think we all agree that they should be replaced no matter what. Shame it's such a drama to change them. I own about 7 Naks now and not looking forward to swapping the oranges to peaches in the future. BTW, we go north for the winter, 🙂 Perhaps the oranges are trying to meet up in Ecuador to get a suntan and turn brown ! 😀
Moggy, thanks so much. Regarding your own ZX-7. When the BIAS oscillator blew up in smoke back then, did you have to replace transistors or resistors too or was it just 1 or 2 damaged capacitors?
I was planning on buying this NAK next week. Does it make sense (from the head and NOT the heart!) to spend hard-earned money on a deck that requires regular maintenance and upkeep? Since I don't do much recordings now, is it advisable to go in for it? Incidentally, if I do buy it, it will be a huge jump up from my present NAK CR2E.
Always hard to answer this one. I don't think they need "regular" service. However they are long in the tooth (as all the naks are) and if you want a really long life then it's best to have it "serviced" if not already done, they are about 40 years old. (1981-84) There are 4 main things to consider 1 EL caps they may be ok (I have not changed mine, yet) 2 Orange caps. I've definitely found some OG caps to fail in other machines. The update kit from 1000zxl on ebay seemed to be a good investment but you need a reliable technician to change them, some are in an awkward position. Have they been done on yours? If the ZX-7 works ok then I suppose you could delay the cap exchange until something happens, that could be a ways off. The other ZX7 that I changed caps on the owner reckons it sounds better. 3 Heads ok? Hard to see but it should be obvious if they are badly worn. Otherwise probably ok. 4 Mechanism needs a service....oiling and greasing, rubber belts and idler replaced, reel motor checked and oiled. If never done then this is possibly the most important point of these 4. .. I have never tried a CR2 (1988-90). I assume it's a 2 head type with a little adjustment of bias if necesaary. (I have a CR5 which sounds pretty good). The ZX-7 has the ability to adjust for recording 'almost' any tape type. (The typical argument is the ZX-7/9 are best for recording and the CR7 and Dragon are best for playback, yeah that's nitpicking.) I imagine the the CR2 is a worthy deck for casual use. I just checked and it has a bias tune knob so you can ensure best recording with different tape types. Levels would be by experience. It's no slouch at 20-20kHz response. As far as actual audio quality I don't know. I can say the ZX7 sounds quite awesome. It would be good if you could try out the ZX7 and compare it against the CR2. If you don't do a lot of recording or playback then perhaps the CR2 with a "service" might be enough. Up to you. 😀🙂😒😏😄
Thank you for the video, it's very helpful for me. I bought this deck from Yahoo auction. I want to buy the necessary capacitors in advance. Could you write a list of these capacitors and their parameters. And also what is better to change (elna, nichikon or?)
I simply bought a kit of caps from youtuber "1000ZXL" in the UK. He's done the work of sourcing the parts. Life's too short for this black duck. No EL caps were replaced in this episode.
BTW I just did a freq resp check on my ZX-7 and it is amazing:
40-14k +/- 2dB for test tape, and
40-22k +/-2dB for rec/PB cycle (Type2). Both at -24dB. 😄
I did a check on the levels and now the ZX-7 is working beautifully. I still need to refurbish the mechanism but I'll do that next year. Hope ya'll still with me then!
Hi, thanks for taking the time to measure ask these values and report back! I have bought a Nakamichi 582 and I have been told by a technician that changing capacitors for the sake of it was silly and out of proportions if the deck works fine, which surprised me, and note your account!
they can measure ok and still crackle and pop great job as well. I have two lx5 machines where the orange caps are fine . There was a run around 1981 and 1982 from the maunufacture of the caps where some of them shorted out and others went south for the winter
ok, didn't know that. I think we all agree that they should be replaced no matter what.
Shame it's such a drama to change them. I own about 7 Naks now and not looking forward to swapping the oranges to peaches in the future.
BTW, we go north for the winter, 🙂 Perhaps the oranges are trying to meet up in Ecuador to get a suntan and turn brown ! 😀
Moggy, thanks so much. Regarding your own ZX-7. When the BIAS oscillator blew up in smoke back then, did you have to replace transistors or resistors too or was it just 1 or 2 damaged capacitors?
sorry can't remember but certainly a cap or 2.
I was planning on buying this NAK next week.
Does it make sense (from the head and NOT the heart!) to spend hard-earned money on a deck that requires regular maintenance and upkeep?
Since I don't do much recordings now, is it advisable to go in for it?
Incidentally, if I do buy it, it will be a huge jump up from my present NAK CR2E.
Always hard to answer this one.
I don't think they need "regular" service. However they are long in the tooth (as all the naks are) and if you want a really long life then it's best to have it "serviced" if not already done, they are about 40 years old. (1981-84)
There are 4 main things to consider
1 EL caps they may be ok (I have not changed mine, yet)
2 Orange caps. I've definitely found some OG caps to fail in other machines. The update kit from 1000zxl on ebay seemed to be a good investment but you need a reliable technician to change them, some are in an awkward position. Have they been done on yours? If the ZX-7 works ok then I suppose you could delay the cap exchange until something happens, that could be a ways off. The other ZX7 that I changed caps on the owner reckons it sounds better.
3 Heads ok? Hard to see but it should be obvious if they are badly worn. Otherwise probably ok.
4 Mechanism needs a service....oiling and greasing, rubber belts and idler replaced, reel motor checked and oiled.
If never done then this is possibly the most important point of these 4.
..
I have never tried a CR2 (1988-90). I assume it's a 2 head type with a little adjustment of bias if necesaary.
(I have a CR5 which sounds pretty good).
The ZX-7 has the ability to adjust for recording 'almost' any tape type.
(The typical argument is the ZX-7/9 are best for recording and the CR7 and Dragon are best for playback, yeah that's nitpicking.)
I imagine the the CR2 is a worthy deck for casual use.
I just checked and it has a bias tune knob so you can ensure best recording with different tape types. Levels would be by experience.
It's no slouch at 20-20kHz response. As far as actual audio quality I don't know. I can say the ZX7 sounds quite awesome.
It would be good if you could try out the ZX7 and compare it against the CR2.
If you don't do a lot of recording or playback then perhaps the CR2 with a "service" might be enough.
Up to you. 😀🙂😒😏😄
@@MoggysHiFiAntics Thank you.
Thank you for the video, it's very helpful for me. I bought this deck from Yahoo auction. I want to buy the necessary capacitors in advance. Could you write a list of these capacitors and their parameters. And also what is better to change (elna, nichikon or?)
I simply bought a kit of caps from youtuber "1000ZXL" in the UK. He's done the work of sourcing the parts. Life's too short for this black duck.
No EL caps were replaced in this episode.