I’m 70 and I’m running a CR-1A I found 3 years ago. Been recording tapes and cassettes since the 1960’s. Had a late 70’s Pioneer beast for decades that got misplaced in the CD years. I don’t consider CR-1A a beginner’s machine just because it’s simple - but elegant.
Nakamichi was the cassette guru. Before I got my CR1A I had a friend with a high end 3 head deck from another well regarded brand make me tapes (to play on my budget deck and Walkman). When I finally earned enough for a CR1A and started making my own tapes, I realized that all the tapes I now made on the Nak sounded nicer to me than those made with my friends much more expensive 3 head (separate record and play) deck. A few years later another friend got a deck with Dolby HX Pro which supposedly helps high frequency response, but it was well below the sound quality of the CR1A. Naks are just mystical. They literally are fine tuned. I mean it costs hundreds of dollars or more to recondition/ calibrate a Holy Grail Nakamichi ZX7, ZX9, or Dragon.
I agree. Nakamichi decks in my experience stand head and shoulders above similarly priced decks. And, their high end decks offer the means of fine tuning the deck's performance to match the characteristics of an individual tape (azimuth, bias, level). Even the 1975 era Nakamichi 600 sounds excellent when maintenance is current.
Interesting. I've got a CR-2 and really enjoy listening to it. I went on a bit of a cassette deck research/buying spree a few years ago, and one of the things I learned was that the azimuth of a deck's head (which is basically alignment) can vary from deck to deck. If you're not playing a tape that was recorded on a deck whose heads were similarly aligned, it won't sound as good as it would if both decks had their azimuth calibrated equally. tl;dr - a tape recorded on deck A might sound better on deck A than on the (superior) deck B, and vice versa, simply because their heads aren't setup quite the same. I can't help notice that this makes two different models of deck rather difficult to compare, unless you have the skills and equipment to calibrate their azimuth settings before you start! I hear you though, and can imagine that your experience is down to the Nak just sounding better. I've been listening to some 35 year old AD90 tapes of BBC radio recordings on mine recently, and they sound really good. :-)
I got my CR-1A from a long gone record store in Boulder, CO 10 years ago for $125 and was sold in completely working condition. I still have it and it's only needed to be repaired once for an electrical issue. These decks are outstanding for newbies, and even those that are looking for another deck. I've been on the hunt for more, but these decks are becoming rarer and rarer as the years go by. Nakamichi don't putz around and are easily one of the best if not the best to have built excellent tape decks from their first to their last.
Save up a bit more and get the CR-3A instead. With confidence monitoring you make the best tapes you can. I love tapes from cassette to reel to reel, have since I was 5 years old. Getting it right is so satisfying. Nothing like it. I have 3 head machines currently from Nakamichi, Aiwa, JVC, Technics and Akai/Diatone. All give me musical enjoyment. These are so fun to use. 2 head machines from Tandberg under restoration still, and Technics, actually 2 of them. I had some from Harman Kardon and TEAC/TASCAM. Pioneer And a few others. The sound of tape is usually my go to when just letting the music do it without involving my computer or SD recorder playback.
Good vlog , I found a Cr-1a in a thrift store for 10 dollars the screw gear motor was frozen i sprayed some deoxit in it and wiggled the gear and it broke free and started working again. It has recorded most of my mixed tapes until I found 3 head Yamaha k-1020 for 19 dollars at a thrift store it needed an idler wheel and belt now that is my best deck.
Great video! However, i would recommend taking another look at the tape type selector switches which are "absolutely important for playback" and not just recording. Ideally, one would not play a type 2 or type 4 tape back on type 1 setting and vice versa. Also that little 120/70 equalization button is important to recording and playback. Typically type 1 is recorded and played back on 120 microseconds of equalization. Type 2 and type 4 on 70 microseconds. If you get those settings mixed up they can cause problems with high frequencies of your recordings especially if those tapes are played back on other decks.
I happen to have the CR-2 manual in front of me, from which I quote "In playback, the Tape Selector has no effect and can be set to any position." I keep forgetting this myself (and I grew up in the tape era, so really should know better). On the Eq switch, they say "This switch serves to select the proper equalization for each tape in recording and playback. In regular use, normal-type tapes should be used at the 120 µs position and chrome-type and metal tapes at the 70 µs position. As the Eq and Tape Selectors are separate on Nakamichi cassette decks, different combinations to suit special requirements aree also possible. (-> page 7)" On page 7 they explain that if you record to normal tape at 70 µs you reduce noise by about 4dB, but the high frequency maximum output level will decrease slightly. "This may be preferable for example for recording classical music which usually contains relatively little high-frequency energy but demands high signal-to-noise ratio." Then they say "Using a chrome-type or metal tape at 120 µs causes a slightly higher noise level, but upper range MOL also increases. This is suitable for example for jazz or rock, where average levels are high and strong high-frequency peaks are often encountered." Here's a key detail: "In both cases, it is essential to use the same position in playback to ensure flat frequency response." So I'm thinking a) I need to pay more attention to where my Eq switch is, and b) they designed it this way not because it was "basic", but to give the user an extra level of control. It doesn't feel very "beginner" oriented to me, this is a quality deck for people who are more into sound quality than they are just inserting a tape and hitting play…
I owned several cassette decks over the years but my fovorite was my Harman Kardon CD 291. It had a frequency response of 20hz - 21khz and a great signal to noise ratio. When it died I felt like I lost a loved one.
Before I got my CR1A, I had a good friend who'd make me tapes with his 3 head HK deck. It actually may have been a CD 291 (that rings a bell. I later owned an HK turntable and int. amp.....great stuff). After I finally earned enough for a new CR1A and started making tapes with it, I realized %100 of the tapes I made with it sounded nicer to me than those off my friend's high end Harmon Kardon. Another friend a few years later got a deck with Dolby HX Pro that wasn't even close to the Nak. Nutty as it may sound, I'd say Naks are magic.
@@garyives1218 Nakamichi was the best. I still have my Harman Kardon PM 650 from 1983. I installed a Sabaj A10h headphone amp as a remote volume control in the tape 1 loop.
@@gixxerboy555 The ZX-7 (or for that matter, the ZX-9) are wonderful albeit very temperamental machines. Very difficult to professionally calibrate and even more difficult to service. Parts are exceedingly difficult to come by. Look after yours - it's a legend.
I would also put the Nak LX-3 up there, if you can find one, it shouldn’t be that much more. I have an LX-5, and it sounds super, good if you’re also into recording. The auto-reverse decks are a nightmare to support, so much more to go wrong. And the Dragon, bring your wallet. Any of these, be prepared to have them serviced every now and then, if you can find someone to do that.
I have no opinions about the CR2. The 505 had the auto reverse feature without moving the heads & affecting the sound, keeping things aligned in a better way. Back in the day, Nakamichi’s were among the elite cassette player/ recorders. I used the more budget models in my work as a music minister.
Found your video very helpful. I have a bunch of cassettes that I recorded myself from CD's in the early 1990's from a Denon 3 head cassette deck. I still have the cassettes but regrettably not the Denon cassette deck. I have always admired Nak cassette decks but couldn't afford one and will seriously look into the CR-1A in todays vintage audio market. There was a certain charm about using a quality cassette deck to record your favorite songs. The demise of physical media is unfortunate but not surprising.
Thanks for the kind words. These Nak decks can be a little hit or miss if they haven't been used a lot over the years, but I really enjoy their sound and eventually upgraded to a BX-300 and CR-3A! My sons are now using my CR-1A at their apartment in college, lol.
Ive been wanting a Nak forever and finally going for a CR-2e that's been fully serviced & calibrated by a pro and in excellent cosmetic condition..Fingers crossed I've made the right decision..😁👍
I have a CR-2. Congrats on that choice, they're lovely. I'd recommend checking out the owners manual, in particular the tips on page 7 about setting the tape type and Eq switches.
Hi dear Forever Analog : Just alow me plz to explain what MPX is for : Ok MPX is only when recording tapes from FM radio stations especially stereo and also using a Dolby B / C / or S and the reason is because the pilot signal from the radio stations which is at 19KHz or 20 gets distorted by the Dolby so we need to engage the MPX in order to prevent this distortion , and it's only for the recording not for the playback .
As someone who recorded cassette tapes for approx. 35 years (1972 - 2007) using type II until Metal tape was introduced in 1980, tape type is critical to sound quality along with using a high end tape deck (preferably 3 head). In all my years I never purchased a prerecorded tape because of poor sound quality compared to a tape you can make from vinyl or CD. I don't understand why subpar sound quality is considered great sound by some.
When decks came out and all of the leading tech was being poured into the new format essentially all the original decks only had ...well ..one deck . By the time the dual decks came out the tech had already been shifted to CDs and tape decks got cheap The dual deck idea was really just one last squeeto make a few more bucks. In other words.. about any single deck unit is quality...
If you don’t use Dolby, you don’t know what it does or why you are introducing unneeded hiss into the music. Of course, some people like a bump in noise and distortion. You are also doing people a big disservice if you don’t tell them about the importance of cleaning the record head and demagnetizing the heads. Both are crucial to a great recording.
Personally l prefer a the older Nakamichi BX2 or BX125 which k would recommend as a starter Nakamichi deck. The sound quality is better, deep bass and overall more pleasing sound signature.
I had a CR3A, amazing deck! If I thought I could get quality cassettes I would pick one up. Where are vintage guys sourcing good quality cassette tapes to record on?
I still find them in thrift stores and estate sales. I don’t mind buying a used type II tape someone recorded on if it doesn’t look too gross and record over it lol. I have a CR-3A now and love it too.
You can still get great blank cassette tapes; of the ones still being commonly sold, the Maxells are slightly better than the Sonys, and the TDKs are better than the Maxells. There are also still a lot of New Old Stock tapes (NOS, old cassettes that are still new and sealed) and so far I haven’t had any bad experience with them (except for some broken jewel cases, but that’s not really a problem and you can get a huge pack of empty cases for a very low price.
@@ForeverAnalog indeed..the sound is "out of this world"..(so warm..crystal clear and detailed..:) even on a type-1 tape..I also just purchased a mint ..,"Technics RS-M270x" for only..50€ ..(also built like a tank..and with DBX)..I was really surprised by the good sound of this 'old' (42y) Direct Drive-2 header with SX (Sendust head)...(you should really try one..)and btw..I've never used Dolby neither..thanx ;)
I am considering getting back into cassette and was offered a CR-2 - have to view and agree on a price - subject to condition - I think it's going to be circa €200 - do you have any advice on the CR-2 thanks in advance - Paul
@@gixxerboy555 Oh very nice. I grew up with a RS-M235X in the family hi-fi, from around 1983. It was great. I recall that dbx was very impressive, but never used as none of my personal equipment could play it back! I've been listening to some 35 year old recordings (on TDK AD-90's) that it made off the radio on my CR-2 recently, and they sound seriously good. That old RS-M235X is currently in for servicing, and I'm hoping it'll be back in service soon…
bias adjustment don´t have nothing to do with 3 head decks ,bias control is available in midle range decks with two heads ,in that deck you have 120 and 70 micro-seconds one for ferric tapes other for metal and chrome tapes(blank ones ,if already recorded one could try 70 wich is equalisation) and if not using it ,the recording might sound bad, when you select type I or 70 mseconds you´re calibrating the deck for the tape and to use less sound when the brand says it can be recorded higher the result is hiss
I picked one of these up and it worked like magic for the first week. Today I discovered it won't play/ff/rw. It seems that the head won't engage. Do you have any experience with this?
That's the classic "dead spot in the motor" syndrome working it's magic. There are videos on RUclips on how to disassemble and clean, but it's not a fun process unfortunately.
I spent a few months teaching myself how to repair the dual decks, mostly by replacing belts, only to have them quickly break again. Ugh. So I just gave up and started looking for great sounding single decks like this one!
@@ForeverAnalog sorry, but i own around 32 decks because i sold 17 in the last two years and i wouldn´t recomend a nakamichi to anybody ,i was the fool that bought a entire nakamichi system when having more resources but i started with the dragon in 82 having already a 74 model and the ZX-7 ,later they told me that the problems with the deck were repaired by the brand and still for sale in 92 (even later) i bought it again(also the cheapest from several brands i use) with a turntable with the same designation, a cd player a stasis power amplifier and a pre-amplifier also some cerwin vega speakers ,today i have nothing of those(sorry but the stasis power amplifier is still okay) ,but i´m using my 70´s equipment with perfect working condition ,even a CT-F2121 is working and a CT-F1000 ,thousands thrown to the garbage with nakamichi material and even the red menbrane of the woofer on my cerwin-vega speakers started to wrotten while my HPM-150 still work today in perfect condition(original woofer ,no wrotten menbrane) ,only restored recentelly but they sounded good before and after being restored , the receiver i´m using never did nothing to it either than cleaning and it´s a 76 model from pioneer the SX-838, regards
I don't know much about tape decks But I found one of these at the Thrift Store 5 years ago..I admit to being somewhat of a hoarder. I saw this one and one called "NAD" whatever that means. Just saw you video and went to plug them in and they work reallly well and really quiet. too. I usually run tapes through my Bose unit. This seems interesting 🤔
Im still into my HiFi and have been thinking about investing in a cassette deck and yes the Dragon is way out of my pay-grade - I was offered a CR-2 -- and have to view and agree money on it -- might be circa €200 - any experience or opinions about the CR-2 and what would be a good price on one - depending on condition - Greetings from Ireland
The CR-2 is nice, even though it's just a two head deck (which is why they aren't quite as expensive) - I think you'll really enjoy the sound - the price isn't horrible, but I would ask if they've ever replaced the belts or the idler tire and if not, know that's something you'll probably have to invest in doing later down the road. The parts aren't too costly, but if they haven't changed those out, you could probably talk them down a bit on price.
@@ForeverAnalog It can be repaired, but it won't last long without changing the motor; I can't find a motor like that. But I have another Nak, and an Akai direct drive both working.
True. I think my context for this video is the CR-1A is a budget deck compared to the Dragon, CR-7 etc. People see those prices and assume they can’t afford Nak but they can!
@@ForeverAnalog yes if completelly destroyd or the lowest reference in diferent series ,i´ve seen people on youtube saying they bought cheap an expensive nakamichi and working
they were cheap when new ,i had a dragon in mid 80´s because i couldn´t aford a pioneer or a akai that are brands that i have components since the 70´s and still work perfect with regular maintenace but nakamich has good decks but the dragon is far from one of them ,in my opinion the CR-7 was a great deck also a model from 74 but don´t know the reference, it still works today
it´s too expensive, a pioneer from the 90´s is cheaper and works perfect with great quality in sound ,nakamichi decks when with problems that always appear it´s almost impossible to find a good technician, so almost every deck is good but avoid nakamichi and i had 3 nakamichi decks bought new have one from my father from 1974 that seems to be the best till today, but to listen pre-recorded cassettes the pioneer as it´s flex function that it makes old cassettes sound good, you are the reverse from the rest of the world ,as an example i have two pioneers from the 70´s that work perfect today with the change of belts but the nakamichi´s are long gone, and the prices you refer maybe on secret ebay ,even all destroyd they ask more than you say, well cambridge audio , really bad amplifiers and i´m not saying but several friends who bought them and now are using 70´s pioneer receivers that work better and have better sound, and that deck is not bad but maybe 300€ or dollars if aceptable 90% working would clean the will of having a cassette deck from anyone
It wasn’t a “beginner deck“ when I purchased mine in 1988. To my recollection, all the Nakamichi stuff was fairly high-end.
Yeah. For anyone just getting into cassettes today, it’s a great deck rather than the cheap dual decks from Sony etc that are a pain to repair.
Agree , not a beginners deck , and definitely not what beginners are looking for , to buy.
I’m 70 and I’m running a CR-1A I found 3 years ago. Been recording tapes and cassettes since the 1960’s. Had a late 70’s Pioneer beast for decades that got misplaced in the CD years. I don’t consider CR-1A a beginner’s machine just because it’s simple - but elegant.
I love mine!
Nakamichi was the cassette guru. Before I got my CR1A I had a friend with a high end 3 head deck from another well regarded brand make me tapes (to play on my budget deck and Walkman). When I finally earned enough for a CR1A and started making my own tapes, I realized that all the tapes I now made on the Nak sounded nicer to me than those made with my friends much more expensive 3 head (separate record and play) deck. A few years later another friend got a deck with Dolby HX Pro which supposedly helps high frequency response, but it was well below the sound quality of the CR1A. Naks are just mystical. They literally are fine tuned. I mean it costs hundreds of dollars or more to recondition/ calibrate a Holy Grail Nakamichi ZX7, ZX9, or Dragon.
I agree. Nakamichi decks in my experience stand head and shoulders above similarly priced decks. And, their high end decks offer the means of fine tuning the deck's performance to match the characteristics of an individual tape (azimuth, bias, level). Even the 1975 era Nakamichi 600 sounds excellent when maintenance is current.
Interesting. I've got a CR-2 and really enjoy listening to it.
I went on a bit of a cassette deck research/buying spree a few years ago, and one of the things I learned was that the azimuth of a deck's head (which is basically alignment) can vary from deck to deck. If you're not playing a tape that was recorded on a deck whose heads were similarly aligned, it won't sound as good as it would if both decks had their azimuth calibrated equally.
tl;dr - a tape recorded on deck A might sound better on deck A than on the (superior) deck B, and vice versa, simply because their heads aren't setup quite the same.
I can't help notice that this makes two different models of deck rather difficult to compare, unless you have the skills and equipment to calibrate their azimuth settings before you start!
I hear you though, and can imagine that your experience is down to the Nak just sounding better. I've been listening to some 35 year old AD90 tapes of BBC radio recordings on mine recently, and they sound really good. :-)
I got my CR-1A from a long gone record store in Boulder, CO 10 years ago for $125 and was sold in completely working condition. I still have it and it's only needed to be repaired once for an electrical issue. These decks are outstanding for newbies, and even those that are looking for another deck. I've been on the hunt for more, but these decks are becoming rarer and rarer as the years go by. Nakamichi don't putz around and are easily one of the best if not the best to have built excellent tape decks from their first to their last.
Agreed. I love mine. I have another Nak deck that I plan on reviewing too!
Save up a bit more and get the CR-3A instead. With confidence monitoring you make the best tapes you can. I love tapes from cassette to reel to reel, have since I was 5 years old. Getting it right is so satisfying. Nothing like it. I have 3 head machines currently from Nakamichi, Aiwa, JVC, Technics and Akai/Diatone. All give me musical enjoyment. These are so fun to use. 2 head machines from Tandberg under restoration still, and Technics, actually 2 of them. I had some from Harman Kardon and TEAC/TASCAM. Pioneer And a few others. The sound of tape is usually my go to when just letting the music do it without involving my computer or SD recorder playback.
Yeah I hope to pick up a 3A at some point!
Good vlog , I found a Cr-1a in a thrift store for 10 dollars the screw gear motor was frozen i sprayed some deoxit in it and wiggled the gear and it broke free and started working again. It has recorded most of my mixed tapes until I found 3 head Yamaha k-1020 for 19 dollars at a thrift store it needed an idler wheel and belt now that is my best deck.
Awesome find for just $10!
Just got mine, it's so dope! I'm blown away by the quality of the recording!
Awesome. Enjoy! 🙌🏻
Great video! However, i would recommend taking another look at the tape type selector switches which are "absolutely important for playback" and not just recording. Ideally, one would not play a type 2 or type 4 tape back on type 1 setting and vice versa. Also that little 120/70 equalization button is important to recording and playback. Typically type 1 is recorded and played back on 120 microseconds of equalization. Type 2 and type 4 on 70 microseconds. If you get those settings mixed up they can cause problems with high frequencies of your recordings especially if those tapes are played back on other decks.
Will do, thanks!
totally right for a begginer maybe not the best
tape type changes the bias, which only affects the record head.
the tape type does not matter on playback, but the EQ absolutely does.
I happen to have the CR-2 manual in front of me, from which I quote "In playback, the Tape Selector has no effect and can be set to any position."
I keep forgetting this myself (and I grew up in the tape era, so really should know better).
On the Eq switch, they say "This switch serves to select the proper equalization for each tape in recording and playback. In regular use, normal-type tapes should be used at the 120 µs position and chrome-type and metal tapes at the 70 µs position. As the Eq and Tape Selectors are separate on Nakamichi cassette decks, different combinations to suit special requirements aree also possible. (-> page 7)"
On page 7 they explain that if you record to normal tape at 70 µs you reduce noise by about 4dB, but the high frequency maximum output level will decrease slightly. "This may be preferable for example for recording classical music which usually contains relatively little high-frequency energy but demands high signal-to-noise ratio."
Then they say "Using a chrome-type or metal tape at 120 µs causes a slightly higher noise level, but upper range MOL also increases. This is suitable for example for jazz or rock, where average levels are high and strong high-frequency peaks are often encountered."
Here's a key detail: "In both cases, it is essential to use the same position in playback to ensure flat frequency response."
So I'm thinking a) I need to pay more attention to where my Eq switch is, and b) they designed it this way not because it was "basic", but to give the user an extra level of control. It doesn't feel very "beginner" oriented to me, this is a quality deck for people who are more into sound quality than they are just inserting a tape and hitting play…
I owned several cassette decks over the years but my fovorite was my Harman Kardon CD 291. It had a frequency response of 20hz - 21khz and a great signal to noise ratio. When it died I felt like I lost a loved one.
I had a HK die on me too, sad day indeed!
my Nakamichi ZX-7 is also 20hz to 21khz..
Before I got my CR1A, I had a good friend who'd make me tapes with his 3 head HK deck. It actually may have been a CD 291 (that rings a bell. I later owned an HK turntable and int. amp.....great stuff). After I finally earned enough for a new CR1A and started making tapes with it, I realized %100 of the tapes I made with it sounded nicer to me than those off my friend's high end Harmon Kardon. Another friend a few years later got a deck with Dolby HX Pro that wasn't even close to the Nak. Nutty as it may sound, I'd say Naks are magic.
@@garyives1218 Nakamichi was the best. I still have my Harman Kardon PM 650 from 1983. I installed a Sabaj A10h headphone amp as a remote volume control in the tape 1 loop.
@@gixxerboy555 The ZX-7 (or for that matter, the ZX-9) are wonderful albeit very temperamental machines. Very difficult to professionally calibrate and even more difficult to service.
Parts are exceedingly difficult to come by.
Look after yours - it's a legend.
I would also put the Nak LX-3 up there, if you can find one, it shouldn’t be that much more. I have an LX-5, and it sounds super, good if you’re also into recording.
The auto-reverse decks are a nightmare to support, so much more to go wrong. And the Dragon, bring your wallet.
Any of these, be prepared to have them serviced every now and then, if you can find someone to do that.
Yes. Agree to everything you mention!
Longtime Nakamichi user…. Excellent tape decks!!!
I always wanted the auto reverse RX - 505, that turns the tape and not a record head.
Agreed!
i bought that deck only to see the cassette rotate, and the only auto-reverse deck that works perfect
Would you have any opinion about the CR-2 model >> Regards from Ireland
I have no opinions about the CR2. The 505 had the auto reverse feature without moving the heads & affecting the sound, keeping things aligned in a better way. Back in the day, Nakamichi’s were among the elite cassette player/ recorders. I used the more budget models in my work as a music minister.
Found your video very helpful. I have a bunch of cassettes that I recorded myself from CD's in the early 1990's from a Denon 3 head cassette deck. I still have the cassettes but regrettably not the Denon cassette deck. I have always admired Nak cassette decks but couldn't afford one and will seriously look into the CR-1A in todays vintage audio market. There was a certain charm about using a quality cassette deck to record your favorite songs. The demise of physical media is unfortunate but not surprising.
Thanks for the kind words. These Nak decks can be a little hit or miss if they haven't been used a lot over the years, but I really enjoy their sound and eventually upgraded to a BX-300 and CR-3A! My sons are now using my CR-1A at their apartment in college, lol.
Ive been wanting a Nak forever and finally going for a CR-2e that's been fully serviced & calibrated by a pro and in excellent cosmetic condition..Fingers crossed I've made the right decision..😁👍
I think you will really enjoy it! Congrats!
I have a CR-2. Congrats on that choice, they're lovely. I'd recommend checking out the owners manual, in particular the tips on page 7 about setting the tape type and Eq switches.
BX1/BX2 - BX-100/BX-125/BX-150 are also good entry level decks from Nakamichi
Yep. I’m going to record a video about my BX 100 soon!
Hi dear Forever Analog : Just alow me plz to explain what MPX is for :
Ok MPX is only when recording tapes from FM radio stations especially stereo and also using a Dolby B / C / or S and the reason is because the pilot signal from the radio stations which is at 19KHz or 20 gets distorted by the Dolby so we need to engage the MPX in order to prevent this distortion , and it's only for the recording not for the playback .
That makes sense. Thank you!
@@ForeverAnalog No problem you are much welcome
bonne vidéo, prochainement je reçois un CR 1E (modelé européen du CR 1A ) Il me tarde , il complètera mon REVOX B77 reel to reel
had a bx 300e in the 80's superb deck
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
As someone who recorded cassette tapes for approx. 35 years (1972 - 2007) using type II until Metal tape was introduced in 1980, tape type is critical to sound quality along with using a high end tape deck (preferably 3 head). In all my years I never purchased a prerecorded tape because of poor sound quality compared to a tape you can make from vinyl or CD. I don't understand why subpar sound quality is considered great sound by some.
When decks came out and all of the leading tech was being poured into the new format essentially all the original decks only had ...well ..one deck .
By the time the dual decks came out the tech had already been shifted to CDs and tape decks got cheap
The dual deck idea was really just one last squeeto make a few more bucks.
In other words.. about any single deck unit is quality...
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video!
Thank you!
You may already know this but your CR-1A was manufactured in Q3, 1987. FYI.
I just picked up a BX-300
@@ForeverAnalog G'donya! I think the BX-300 is one of the best bang/buck decks in the Nakamichi lineup.
@@rickeads6160 loving it so far. Gonna try to get a video about it released soon
i have the Nakamichi DR-3 who was renom to be the best 2 head tape cassette
If you don’t use Dolby, you don’t know what it does or why you are introducing unneeded hiss into the music. Of course, some people like a bump in noise and distortion. You are also doing people a big disservice if you don’t tell them about the importance of cleaning the record head and demagnetizing the heads. Both are crucial to a great recording.
Personally l prefer a the older Nakamichi BX2 or BX125 which k would recommend as a starter Nakamichi deck. The sound quality is better, deep bass and overall more pleasing sound signature.
Aiwa adf 1000! 18 years!
Awesome!
I had a CR3A, amazing deck! If I thought I could get quality cassettes I would pick one up. Where are vintage guys sourcing good quality cassette tapes to record on?
I still find them in thrift stores and estate sales. I don’t mind buying a used type II tape someone recorded on if it doesn’t look too gross and record over it lol. I have a CR-3A now and love it too.
You can still get great blank cassette tapes; of the ones still being commonly sold, the Maxells are slightly better than the Sonys, and the TDKs are better than the Maxells. There are also still a lot of New Old Stock tapes (NOS, old cassettes that are still new and sealed) and so far I haven’t had any bad experience with them (except for some broken jewel cases, but that’s not really a problem and you can get a huge pack of empty cases for a very low price.
Hi nice video..thanx..I own a Nakamichi CR-1 , CR-2 , CR-4 , DR-1 , Cassette Deck 1 , 1.5 and the 2..and also the awesome Nakamichi ZX-7..cheers bro..
Thank you! The zx-7 is awesome!
@@ForeverAnalog indeed..the sound is "out of this world"..(so warm..crystal clear and detailed..:) even on a type-1 tape..I also just purchased a mint ..,"Technics RS-M270x" for only..50€ ..(also built like a tank..and with DBX)..I was really surprised by the good sound of this 'old' (42y) Direct Drive-2 header with SX (Sendust head)...(you should really try one..)and btw..I've never used Dolby neither..thanx ;)
I am considering getting back into cassette and was offered a CR-2 - have to view and agree on a price - subject to condition - I think it's going to be circa €200 - do you have any advice on the CR-2 thanks in advance - Paul
@@gixxerboy555 Oh very nice. I grew up with a RS-M235X in the family hi-fi, from around 1983. It was great. I recall that dbx was very impressive, but never used as none of my personal equipment could play it back!
I've been listening to some 35 year old recordings (on TDK AD-90's) that it made off the radio on my CR-2 recently, and they sound seriously good.
That old RS-M235X is currently in for servicing, and I'm hoping it'll be back in service soon…
They offer me a model like that in very good condition for USD $550, they think the price is reasonable
bias adjustment don´t have nothing to do with 3 head decks ,bias control is available in midle range decks with two heads ,in that deck you have 120 and 70 micro-seconds one for ferric tapes other for metal and chrome tapes(blank ones ,if already recorded one could try 70 wich is equalisation) and if not using it ,the recording might sound bad, when you select type I or 70 mseconds you´re calibrating the deck for the tape and to use less sound when the brand says it can be recorded higher the result is hiss
I picked one of these up and it worked like magic for the first week. Today I discovered it won't play/ff/rw. It seems that the head won't engage. Do you have any experience with this?
That's the classic "dead spot in the motor" syndrome working it's magic. There are videos on RUclips on how to disassemble and clean, but it's not a fun process unfortunately.
Great video as always! I have two similar dual decks, a denon and a kenwood.... they're both broke 😄
I spent a few months teaching myself how to repair the dual decks, mostly by replacing belts, only to have them quickly break again. Ugh. So I just gave up and started looking for great sounding single decks like this one!
@@ForeverAnalog Going to take your advice with my next one and go single deck. Ty!
@@ForeverAnalog sorry, but i own around 32 decks because i sold 17 in the last two years and i wouldn´t recomend a nakamichi to anybody ,i was the fool that bought a entire nakamichi system when having more resources but i started with the dragon in 82 having already a 74 model and the ZX-7 ,later they told me that the problems with the deck were repaired by the brand and still for sale in 92 (even later) i bought it again(also the cheapest from several brands i use) with a turntable with the same designation, a cd player a stasis power amplifier and a pre-amplifier also some cerwin vega speakers ,today i have nothing of those(sorry but the stasis power amplifier is still okay) ,but i´m using my 70´s equipment with perfect working condition ,even a CT-F2121 is working and a CT-F1000 ,thousands thrown to the garbage with nakamichi material and even the red menbrane of the woofer on my cerwin-vega speakers started to wrotten while my HPM-150 still work today in perfect condition(original woofer ,no wrotten menbrane) ,only restored recentelly but they sounded good before and after being restored , the receiver i´m using never did nothing to it either than cleaning and it´s a 76 model from pioneer the SX-838, regards
Which tape deck do you suggest for listening purpose. I'm not much into recording. 😊
I love the sound of this deck!
you can't stack these with other equipment?
I don't know much about tape decks But I found one of these at the Thrift Store 5 years ago..I admit to being somewhat of a hoarder. I saw this one and one called "NAD" whatever that means. Just saw you video and went to plug them in and they work reallly well and really quiet. too. I usually run tapes through my Bose unit. This seems interesting 🤔
Awesome that you found at the thrift store, congrats!!!
Im still into my HiFi and have been thinking about investing in a cassette deck and yes the Dragon is way out of my pay-grade - I was offered a CR-2 -- and have to view and agree money on it -- might be circa €200 - any experience or opinions about the CR-2 and what would be a good price on one - depending on condition - Greetings from Ireland
The CR-2 is nice, even though it's just a two head deck (which is why they aren't quite as expensive) - I think you'll really enjoy the sound - the price isn't horrible, but I would ask if they've ever replaced the belts or the idler tire and if not, know that's something you'll probably have to invest in doing later down the road. The parts aren't too costly, but if they haven't changed those out, you could probably talk them down a bit on price.
I have a CR 1 that suffers from "dead spot" problem at one motor and it is unusable.
It’s so annoying. Sorry to hear it
@@ForeverAnalog It can be repaired, but it won't last long without changing the motor; I can't find a motor like that. But I have another Nak, and an Akai direct drive both working.
Why are you stacking those units??
sorry ,but some colect stamps or money ,i colect hi-fi devices ,it´s a family thing it started in the late 40´s with my grandfather, regards
i almost forget either than hi-fi devices i colect cars ,are my two hobby´s or hobbies(don´t know wich is correct)
..yeah man... Don't stack them ( tearing up)
lol don’t worry I already sold the amp 😂
Nakamichi is never budgeted deck
True. I think my context for this video is the CR-1A is a budget deck compared to the Dragon, CR-7 etc. People see those prices and assume they can’t afford Nak but they can!
@@ForeverAnalog yes if completelly destroyd or the lowest reference in diferent series ,i´ve seen people on youtube saying they bought cheap an expensive nakamichi and working
they were cheap when new ,i had a dragon in mid 80´s because i couldn´t aford a pioneer or a akai that are brands that i have components since the 70´s and still work perfect with regular maintenace but nakamich has good decks but the dragon is far from one of them ,in my opinion the CR-7 was a great deck also a model from 74 but don´t know the reference, it still works today
it´s too expensive, a pioneer from the 90´s is cheaper and works perfect with great quality in sound ,nakamichi decks when with problems that always appear it´s almost impossible to find a good technician, so almost every deck is good but avoid nakamichi and i had 3 nakamichi decks bought new have one from my father from 1974 that seems to be the best till today, but to listen pre-recorded cassettes the pioneer as it´s flex function that it makes old cassettes sound good, you are the reverse from the rest of the world ,as an example i have two pioneers from the 70´s that work perfect today with the change of belts but the nakamichi´s are long gone, and the prices you refer maybe on secret ebay ,even all destroyd they ask more than you say, well cambridge audio , really bad amplifiers and i´m not saying but several friends who bought them and now are using 70´s pioneer receivers that work better and have better sound, and that deck is not bad but maybe 300€ or dollars if aceptable 90% working would clean the will of having a cassette deck from anyone