The Nakamichi Dragon 3 Head Cassette Deck - The "Top Trump" Of Cassette Decks

[@Bduh2]

I am blessed that mine is still looking, working and sounding as if I just took it brand new out of the box yesterday but, in this case, yesterday was November 1993.

[@danielmarshall4587]

PRAISE BE

[@simonjones8111]

I used to sell Nakamichi decks in the late 70’s when they introduced the 58x , 48x, and 680, 670ZX’s and 1000ZXL, all good but the 1000ZXL was the GOAT of the time.

[@stewroo]

A good title for this video would have been "How to train your dragon."

[@DRRS777]

*three heads dragon ☝️🥳

[@jameslaidler2152]

Both of you! Out!

[@liweng5278]

I really missed NAKAMICHI. If they will reproduce again, I will definitely get one. Every piece is a classic

[@Navneetvaio]

Sadly they have been takennover by the chinese

[@patrickdekok7235]

For me personally is the "Top Trump of Cassette Decks the ReVox B710, 2 capstan motors, 2 spooling motors all mounted on aluminum support, no belts for transmission, long capstan shafts in bronze canisters, easy to build out all PCBs. I've had it for over 40 years now, bought new in 1983, replaced all capacitors and trimpots a year ago, then complete adjustment. Fantastic sound. Nothing like this is made anymore, those days are over. Greetings Patrick.

[@mikestackhouse9001]

Very well explained Tony. The Dragon is in a class by itself. You know, a lot of guys miss your "deep dives" into quality machines and various cassette types. I know you must be busy with RMR these days but it would be great to see a video once a month or even once every two months on a subject of your choosing. Best regards Tony!

[@renegonzalez6755]

I own a Nakamichi Dragon as of 2 weeks ago thanks to my local Goodwill store. I have used cassette decks since I was a kid in the 1980s but I had never calibrated a single deck myself. Thank you showing how to do such a procedure. In my opinion not only does it seem incredibly simple to do it also seems fun. Who wouldn't want to squeeze every bit of performance from a common type 1 cassette? I do.

[@shelxp]

you found a Dragon at a Goodwill store? Holy crap!

[@LordSandwichII]

You're so lucky! 😭Those things go for used car money! I need to do more thrift shopping...

[@MickMod]

@@LordSandwichII These decks usually go for 10-30% more than what I paid for my car, I guess it's a test of priorities in life

[@1fault]

cap

[@drewdam8871]

That was very interesting, I enjoyed the video a lot. I have a reason behind writing this as I own a BX300E. I think it has an 'E'. For many years I could not use it as it had a fault, it would drop out on one channel intermittently. The place where I bought it went out of business years ago, so the device remained in its box. The device went faulty when it was returned to Nakamichi, it was returned back to me with the fault. I am a patient chap and I hoped its day would come. A couple of years ago, I found a shop and they fixed it. The problem is no more. It works just fine, better than just fine, it is amazing. However, when I took the device into the shop, I also took along all of the paperwork which consisted of everything and more on the device, I thought it would help. But, when I collected the device after the repair, no paperwork was returned. The thing about these machines is when one switches from Tape to Source and then switch back again, there is absolutely no decernable change/difference to the signal, just the minute time step because of the distance between the playback head and the record head. Stunning equipment!

[@robertmcgee7083]

Remember seeing this deck in the post exchange catalog back in the 80s, was around 5K back then! Was a status symbol.

[@maxivillafane4273]

Audio Masterclass's David Mellor brought me here. Great video, sir. 21:11 I hoped Clutch would start playing... 😁

[@MrSabenada]

Brilliant video Tony! Thank you for explaining it so well how it all works.

[@kali8085]

Wow! Flood of memories. Own a Dragon along with an RX505 and the complete Nakamichi 7 system (Minus the CR-7 which I traded for the Dragon). My speakers were a pair of black B&W CM1 & CM2, then later I purchased a pair of Apogee Centaurs. The Nakamichi system was purchase in the late 80’s while I served in the USAF stationed in Japan in my early 20’s. It took over two years to save up for and acquire it all using my E-3 (junior rank) pay grade. I bought the speakers ($1200) first, them amp($1500), pre-amp ($1800) and so on. 3-4 months would go by while I saved up for the next piece. I finally was able to speed up the process when I took a part-time job teaching English off base on the weekends. It literally took a year before I even heard my stereo! Lol! The RX505 ($800) was my first tape deck and daily driver. OMS-7 CD ($1200) player, ST-7 tuner ($600) and CR-7 ($1,100). I think the CR-7 was the better deck over the Dragon to live with and record with, but the Dragon was a sacred piece of equipment. It was truly special and a joy to own. I enjoyed watching you prep the tape for recording and to see the auto azimuth adjust with the blinking light. Put a smile on my face. I lived in the dormitories on base at the time and was known as the “Nakamichi guy”. Lol! Thank you for your video.

[@notsorandumusername]

Great story and you really earned that precious set, well done!

[@Алексей-й6ж4г]

Я из того же теста что и вы . Купил драгон в Бельгии за 1050$ в 84 г.

[@mikesage9544]

Love your work Tony. My Dragon is in the UK. Compared to my B215 from Revox which I know you have also and my Studer version of the same the A721, the Nak is a handraulick feast as well as an ergonomic delight. The Swiss stuff sounds extremely good but is a nightmare to use in practice. The Dragon and or CR7 are very hard acts to beat in the sonic department. If you love tape and have the means, the reward for the ear is immense. It remains long after the purchase pain has subsided. I love them all as they are able to exploit and extract the last drop of life from a substance that is more akin to rust than anything else. Long may the revival continue! Bw Mike.

[@donk1822]

I love your logic regarding prices of flagship items making the Dragon a HiFi bargain, I have tried this philosophy on my wife but I'm not sure she's convinced. One major problem with many cassette decks was poor setting up at the factory. Even some top of the range models were carelessly calibrated. A bit like expecting a badly calibrated clock to keep accurate time. This was an area Nakamichi were careful to get right ensuring good performance. I recently had both my original condition cassette decks set up by Armstrong Audio repairs in Walthamstow. I discovered they were in perfect mechanical condition, which I would have expected, but badly set up, which I didn't. If you buy a top quality secondhand machine allow a few hundred quid to have it serviced and set up correctly. Cheaper machines than mine will cost less obviously. The Sony TC-K81 and Akai GX95/2 were fully stripped, overhauled and tweaked, cost me the above but the difference in performance on both is little short of incredible, so good in fact that I recently parted with my open reel. The Akai now makes recordings on chrome tape, without Dolby, that easily equal those made at 7 1/2ips on the open reel, the affordable speed ;). What more could you ask from a cassette machine. Sadly got to let the Sony go at some point to make way for another turntable. Gonna be hard having owned her for 40 years.

[@Carstuff111]

I got to hear a Nakamichi tape deck when I was a kid....and I STILL can not believe compact cassette tapes could sound so good. That said, a friend's Kenwood system was really good as well, and Pioneer....but truth be told into the early and mid 1990s, we had hit peak analog tape quality in the consumer market and people were moving on to CD and later that new m-pee-3 thing....I do miss the cassette days. Also, subscribing after this, my first video.

[@professorvoluck9311]

I purchased a couple high-end Sony Walkmans recently and with modern headphones sounds incredible! It doesn’t sound that much different than my hi res dap. Now I’m on the hunt for a Dragon.

[@burkejohnson4539]

@@professorvoluck9311 What did you get? A DD model? I have an ex600 showing up this week

[@professorvoluck9311]

@Burke Johnson My last purchase was an FX888 which comes with a backlit remote and charging dock. Sounds just as good as my DD. Good luck with yours.

[@cynical8330]

All the other cassette videos not by tech moan are trash. Thanks for the great content.

[@naota3k]

As someone who barely experienced cassettes (born in 1990), videos like these are such great troves of information of the amazing technologies my parents would have dreamed of. I've got myself a pretty decent retro-HiFi coming along now. Even managed to get back my pair of Technics MK1210s that were made in the 90s.

[@Eyerex]

One of the tape decks I would love to hear do it's thing, I would be happy to even just get to see one as don't think I've ever seen one in the wild

[@Caseytify]

😄😄😆🤣😂😂🤣🤣 You guys crack me up. I learned the secret a long time ago, when I was shopping for a new player. I had trouble deciding between an NAD and a Nakamichi bx-125. Eventually bought the Nak. It was a very nice audio boutique, and no pressure to buy was in evidence. I spent quite a lot of time there just shooting the breeze & learning things. I was floored when the manager told me which which tape player had the best sound, and it wasn't the Dragon, which they carried. It was a Mitsubishi HQ HiFi vcr. Ran about $600 ok in early 80s dollars. After I picked my jaw off the floor, he explained why. Tape speed. Any cassette deck plays .15" wide tape at 1 7/8 inches per second. A typical reel to reel plays .25" tape at 2-4 times that speed. Videotape, on the other hand, plays a .5" tape at 25 inches per second. A cassette just can't match that Dragon ~$3,000 - $7,000 . HQ HiFi vcr, brand new ~$100 - $150. Do the math. 😆

[@CassetteComeback]

I already did a video on VHS for audio. Shame you couldn't play hifi VHS in your car, or in a Walkman type device...

[@RWL2012]

What a machine - it has such a defined and fast-responding sound! Very well done video of it, and the track choice also works very well I think :)

[@robertgsmith5761]

Thank you for the informstion. I don't know why high quality cassette decks are no longer made.

[@CassetteComeback]

No demand coupled with the fact that if someone did, they'd be too expensive for the die hards.

[@totallyfrozen]

I had to pause the video at 0:50 to drool over your setup. Some keyboards I’ve been longing for are sitting in that room! ⭐️👍🏻

[@ravvyj]

Amazing sound quality!!

[@bienvenidosaldebateconmont285]

Adoro mi Dragon... recientemente volví a grabar un cassette y lo hizo con una calidad extraordinaria... gracias por tu video.

[@matthiasschneider6398]

I repaired my technics bx 747 for 160,- Euro now. One weak ago i ordered a tascam mk vii for my studio. I love this pieces for my dark cassettes

[@philcotswold5940]

Lucky enough to have owned one of these. Purchased it from a work colleague. When calibrated with a Maxell UDXL11 tape or similar quality. Recording CDs I could not detect any difference from the source to the recorded cassette. Amazing piece of technology.

[@ilianto]

Amazed at how good it sounds... Wow.

[@svpolarexpress]

The real reason for fine azimuth adjustment is to get high frequencies of the left and right channel in phase so that the stereo image sounds correct and certain frequencies aren’t completely or partially cancelled out coming ~180 degrees out of phase between the left and right speaker. The tape head can’t be possibly mechanically turned enough to spill over other tracks, IMO. The gap in the head is quite narrow.

[@hughjanus6975]

Interesting to think about

[@dwindeyer]

Of course it's not going to make a type 1 tape sound exactly like the source, but the degradation is graceful and extremely smooth.

[@mossesandrade5969]

Actually the Dragon brought up to spec will give 20 - 22 000 hz +-3db with ANY TAPE. You have a Nak need repairing you send it off to Willy Herman.

[@micheltremblay4774]

I have a Nakamichi Dragon that I bought new in 1985 that is near mint (around 1,000 hours of run time) and planning to sell it. I paid $3,800.00 CDN and I think I can get around $3,000.00 CDN for it. It is the BEST auto reverse cassette deck ever made. The auto azimuth feature is simply incredible and it brings the best out of any cassette you can throw at it, you hear the improvement in sound quality as it adjust the heads.

[@micheltremblay4774]

One of the many features of this deck is that it does not rely on the cassette felt pressure to push the tape on the heads, it lift it and uses a slight difference in capstant speed to hold the tape on the head at always the same pressure with cheap or high quality cassettes, new or old.

[@CassetteComeback]

Yeah, I never mentioned the pad lifter and it's is a great feature.

[@bennetjose666]

Do you want to Sell it ? Please call me

[@micheltremblay4774]

@@bennetjose666 Pickup only. Yes It is for sale

[@micheltremblay4774]

@@bennetjose666 I also have a TEAC X1000RBL that is for sale.

[@DanielvanKATWIJK]

I have an old-timer : Akai GXC-760D. This uses a Nakamichi mechanism, 3 head, double cabstand 3 motor system. It uses the Glass Xtal heads that are un-wearable. Have to do some maintenance on it but it's still OK. Have it sins the late 80's. There was a studio version of this deck that had 2 speed and Dolby A compression. Can't find anything on it (my dad had one when I was little, he was a sound engineer). This is a bit other gear but was top of the line in the id 70's. Has no metal setting but I tried and it is working. Not optimal. I think I will make the remote for it. This is well documented in the service manual and easy to make. Have lots of other projects so ...

[@rmle23]

The Revox B215S was a dragon killer in my opinion. Both they are the best cassette decks ever made, I personally prefer the Revox.

[@frankwhite2072]

Wow, the shown levels actually match what I'm hearing.

[@davewalker7126]

very nice review and general chat :) I've recently jacked in amateur radio - now thats a hobby that can bleed money, it makes collecting HIFI look inexpensive. I'm buying up faulty Nakamichi and learning to service and repair with a reasonable success rate so far. Fortunately a lot of the test equipment and workshop equipment is transferable to the new hobby.

[@MatrixAlphaCWX]

I played a Justin Bieber - Purpose Cassette in my 2006 mustang. And my friend was surprised when i popped out the cassette. Yes we ain't that old : P He was like all that bass was from that?????? He said it sounds amazing and clear and that the bass was a hell of a lot better than cd's. Had like a warmth to it in your ears. Record it from a high quality source and you'll get great recordings! If your making mixtapes on regular stereo's or the new Cassette players at Target/Walmart and not using Dolby B/C while recording. Turn Dolby off on your car or home stereo's. And it''ll be clear and boom. That's the main thing people get wrong. Hahaha yep. : )!

[@CassetteComeback]

Keep on fighting the cause!

[@MatrixAlphaCWX]

@@CassetteComeback Paramore just released riot on cassette. Ha. It’s catching on when big bands are all doing it. Silverstein, At the drive in, blink 182, taylor swift, Selena gomez, The weekend, machine gun Kelly are as-well. Metallica and Alice n chains just re-released some cassettes too.

[@GrubyTolek]

I might not have that same deck, but I do have those headphones. My all time favourite model for working on electronic music.

[@victorjohnson7512]

The ridiculous amount of money people are selling these for is insulting. Hipsters ruined everything...

[@savedemperor8024]

That's why is good to not bend over and not buy them until their prices drop greatly

[@samuelbrainsample]

supply and demand,.dude.

[@jackko21]

Agree about the hipster comment they suck

[@white.lodge.dale.cooper]

Dude, it's not hipsters ruining this. They don't have that kind of money. Period. It's aging baby boomers that now have extra cash laying around because their kids have left their nests.

[@maxpayne4315]

Why did you think it is hipster?

[@FLH3official]

I use the MDR 7506 for my studio work for decades, I used it before it was the "MDR 7506" but was the "MDR V7". (Actualy I still keep my old MDR V7 in a drawer, repaired with duck tape, pieces of wood and wire. I'm a sensible guy :-) ) I have other headphones obviously and I regularly swap between them and my monitor speakers during my work, but the MDR7506 is a real faithfull workhorse. It's an excellent choice.

[@johnsweeney8157]

I had a 3 head cassette player and recorder there good you can see the high bias recordings ive still got the technics hi fi stack 950 model still golg good, system 150 watts per channel output ,very powerful ,cant get anything like this now ,that was away back in the late eighties or early nineties ,

[@hamitolcay5978]

Had a ZX-9, which was considered a Dragon Killer.. I blind tested 15 people 30 years ago listening through my old AKG150 Headphones, using the Nak, a Dual 604 turntable with a Shure V5 type3 cartridge and a Technics CD Player. I recorded the album 'White Winds' from Andreas Wollenweider to a metal cassette with dolby C, from vinyl. I also had the same material on CD as well.. Short story: no one was able to hear any difference predictably; including myself! Once calibration is done on a high-end Nak, any cassette's sound is indistinguishable from the original material.

[@Sergioluna80s]

From what they say it is a very good deck, but the truth is the external appearance doesn't tell me anything, I even notice it is very overloaded, in truth if I had to invest in Nakamichi I would do it in a 680ZX which is absolutely beautiful, thanks for the very interesting review

[@Ginger30161]

I was in high school in the early 90s and had dreamed of getting a Nak. I could only afford a basic Sony deck. Though that deck still made a lot better mix tapes than the usual boombox or mini systems most of my friends used.

[@johnballantyne3458]

Great video, Tony. I love the cards you made! Great stuff! I also think you make a very good point about how the Dragon may be expensive, but compared to the highest end stuff for all other types of HiFi equipment, it's peanuts. Having said that, I personally don't think I want to drop two grand on a Dragon precisely because of the maintenance costs and difficulties you explained. Going into the 2020s it's only going to be harder to find people that are really qualified to work on these things. Therefore, I'd like to know what kind of decks you think offer a good balance between quality/performance and long-term reliability and serviceability. Cheers.

[@CassetteComeback]

Late Aiwa. Simple mech that even I can change the belts on. Simple modern electronics. Still great sound.

[@johnballantyne3458]

@@CassetteComeback thanks!

[@noahman27]

Great great video. Thanks man. Such Nostalgia!!! I still have my Nak deck from the mid 90s. It was a basic model, sounded great, never had an issue with it, but when MiniDisc format came out, I switched over and never went back. My favorite Cassette deck that I owned was a three head, dual motor Denon that counted in minutes and seconds. That was a very reliable terrific sounding deck. I don't remember what happened to it. It probably needed a repair at some point after I had already moved on to MiniDisc...I still have 4 MiniDisc home decks and several walkman type. All Sony. I used them in my mobile DJ business for years recording my shows and Radio station programs. It was such a great invention.

[@adaboy4z]

I have the RX-202. Put on new belts and idler tire it sounds great. People love the auto tape flip action! Sold my 580. Nakamichi for the win.

[@MrTruth111]

It is EXACTLY 400hz! I think you 'remember' the testtone of 440hz in your mind.

[@jimkata77]

According to the Spectroid app on my phone, that 400 Hz tone was actually 393 Hz.

[@Vandamme2014]

Congratulations… a very good Video 👍🏼 I remember my first love… it wasn’t a girl… it was the Nakamichi Dragon 😅 Anyway Nakamichi always built unique and awesome Tapedecks. Every single one a masterpiece but the Dragon did smashed them all. Btw: Can you tell me the name of the track you’ve recorded and played on the Dragon? It’s a very good tune 👍🏼 Thank you very much and many greetings from Austria 🇦🇹

[@G.B...]

Great video, as usual... except every time I see the formidable Dragon in your videos I get jealous again. 🙂

[@Throesofdefeat]

Through KZbin, it's impossible to truly hear this decks awesome power. Personally, I don't care about recording, I just want my tapes to sound beefy on some good speakers. Which is why I'm buying a refurbished and upgraded bx1.

[@dewarprovider7030]

Isn't it interesting to listen to hear 2010-2020 music from a cassette deck, where the source is FLAC, Mp3 or streaming ? Excessive loudness is mitigated, but the slight distortion due to its dynamics sounds is next to desireable. Even the latest tracks brings me back 20-30 years ago.

[@BenvanBroekhuijsen]

Wow I never knew cassettes could sound this great, well at least if you had the money for this. Well, I only have a hand full of cassettes that I need to digitize, I guess buying a Dragon would be a tad overkill for me :D

[@fox121066]

still's sound's good like it did when it came out back in 1982, but like you said a lot of hard work and needs a lot of love

[@fox121066]

the best thing I got for the time was the Revox A77 MkIV for the money back in the 80's

[@fox121066]

I did the Nakamichi cr-7a back in 2017

[@ampheat]

The Nakamichi sound is more than a slogan. It's a fact. All the way to their last DR series in the late 90s

[@shippy555]

With the azimuth adjustment being a mechanical one (as you showed a clip of an earlier video), how does the NACC adjust that? And surely, when it does, it would need to do it after putting in an already recorded tape. I find I'm having to adjust the azimuth (manually, in my case) when copying my old 30+ year old tapes to cd, as they were recorded in other machines now since long gone. I find the best way (by ear) is to adjust it in mono as a bad azimuth alignment tape sounds worse in mono. Usually hear a "swishing" sound with the eq changing. In stereo, it's not as noticable.

[@jamiecedro5947]

🎵🎼 Thank you for the video! Cheers 🎼🎵

[@dubson965]

what is a top tier playback cassette deck that is more reliable than the Nakamichi Dragon? I want HiFi Cassette play but I'm afraid to invest in a Dragon because like you said they're getting harder and more expensive to work on as time goes on. Great video, thank you

[@matthewshean1991]

Get any good answers? I’m on the hunt as well.

[@davidbutler8096]

Any 3 head Nakamichi would be a good choice...I really like my BX-300.

[@manns4]

Hi. Where would you categorize Yamaha KX-300/400/500 series decks? By my understanding these are simple and do what most listeners need. I myself own KX-480 these days and coming from 90's boom box era, am quite satisfied with the playback and recording sound quality. Where do these stack up in quality line up?

[@eduardoespino4886]

i love it. Great explanation. Nice sound!!

[@eduardoespino6474]

You new before I used to use couple of cassette decks akai from the 70s. Now I'm using a marantz 1820 mkII both stop working. Not very sure what it was . I thought probably is the bands because you can hear something rolling inside and now at the place where I leave it just to change the bands . Thinking that was the bands. After at least 3 months of waiting because of corona. They called and told me we cannot fix it the motor is broken . I'm take it and open it to look inside. Too see of something really happen to the motor. It's so strange. Those motors usually dont break that easy. I think. Maybe I'm wrong . In the worst case I would like to have some advice in my next cassette decks if a new one or old one is better and which model. I have always bought second hand models from 70s or beginnings of the 80s . I don't want to spend 1 thousand . But I would something with fair options for quality . I really like cassettes.

[@markushelle142]

I feel lucky to own 3 of them 😂

[@sandyclaws2936]

i’ve always thought, if the deck can make a good recording on the newer Maxell URs it can make a good recording on anything

[@Sadowsky46]

The machine of dreams 😮

[@TrungNguyen-ul8gm]

I should pick up that Nakamichi decade ago!

[@IcejjfishTbone]

I don’t know a lot about Audio and have been trying to get into it. Something tells me I should buy one of these is good condition before someone else does

[@scrunts666]

I have two of them, great machines.

[@anuarivanov6790]

Second your video and perfect speech in the end

[@cseresznyessandor237]

I admit that this is the best deck ever made but thePRICE IS A LEG AND ARM!

[@guywilliamson4074]

Hi Tony. A question if I may. I have read that the useable lifetime of a cassette is around 30 years or so, I have several tapes that no longer play properly and it’s not my deck (Teac Z6000) as they are jamming up due to age. Does this mean that eventually this will be the death of the hobby? What are your thoughts? 1990 is now 30 years or so… Tick tick. Will all tapes and decks end up useless due to this issue, and if so, when?

[@richardcrook2112]

I have a load of tapes from the early 80s that still play fine, if that's any reassurance.

[@burkejohnson4539]

new tapes are still manufactured to this day. Only type I ferrous and type II cobalt (no chrome), however

[@soggysadboi]

I have a brilliant pre-recorded tape from 1979 with no Dolby NR that has virtually no hiss to this day. To be fair, it is Japanese, but I believe care is more important than time as far as longevity is concerned

[@danielmarshall4587]

Lovely vid many thanks.

[@andreasg7834]

Great Cassette-Deck 👍👍👍

[@oscarrivers6949]

I love it! but I have a doubt, does this Nakamichi Dragón sounds better than my reel to reel Pioneer RT-2022?

[@samak12]

No it doesn't

[@juanfebresc]

Tony, nice video as usual; what is your opinion on Sony 3 head, Dolby S decks? I'm on a budget and cannot afford a dragon, but I'm curious about the ES series decks from Sony and I would like to, at some point, get back to my tapes. I used to have a Nak 700 II long time ago and really enjoyed those years of mixed tapes.

[@CassetteComeback]

Never had one. Their owners seem to like them, and the Aiwa I've had are superb. They seem to need maintenance now though if they haven't had their belts etc replaced at some point since new.

[@baracccc]

I have a Nakamichi Dragon, it works perfectly only in the normal mode, but in the reverse mode, it simply destroys the tapes.

[@lurkersmith810]

I nearly cried when I saw an abused and beat up Nakamichi Dragon at a swap meet. It looked like it had been tossed into a garage, the front buttons were all scratched up, knobs missing, and it was all scratched up, moisture damaged and rusted. All I could think of was some idiot grandkids that had no respect or knowledge of what this was, and what it was worth. Of course the seller at the swap meet knew and wanted way too much for the hunk of junk it had become. Let us all pray for the high end gear that ends up as rusted hulks of ignorance.

[@ehlerhog]

Want and NEED!! 🙏

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

solid deck

[@oxfamshop]

very informative

[@VAMIRACING]

id love to compare this machine against my Dual C830. They differ in price, how about sound?

[@ElderPinto254]

i bought this one for 20 euro and most happy man

[@teemuhokkanen]

Dead killing this video!

[@ACURAOCULTA]

Very nice

[@dieterleifeld6973]

Dragon was top. The best Tapedeck ever was Pioneer CT 95. Much better than all Nakas in Tests.

[@michaelcesar800]

US $12,548.99 used on ebay from japan

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Nice.

[@iamhelloway]

now back to my budget 70e boombox

[@thomasschafer7268]

Very nice Tapedeck. Where did you take New casettes?

[@Prodi1977]

My Nakamichi Cassette Deck 2 has stopped playing. Everything else works fine like rewind, fast forward and all other functions. Can anyone please help to fix it myself?

[@alexsicko]

not sure, but if you have the BX series, it could be idler and/or motor for reels

[@Prodi1977]

@@alexsicko Thanks, it was the motor, got it replaced and works fine now.👍

[@Prodi1977]

@Spooky Wurlitzer Thanks, it was the motor, got it replaced and works fine now.👍

[@ELISHACAEZ]

Can I drive drums through it and other sounds. Like should I grab this for my studio or should I look for something more colored?

[@CassetteComeback]

Get one of the tape emulsifying vsts

[@elijahmodnar1]

wouldnt you want to saturate the tape fully tho? as in say calibrate the type1 tape to +2-4db, type2 tape to +4-6db and metal tape to +8-10db? so it plays back louder on walkmans, and then you wont have to put the vol up as much on the walkman, so save battery ;) +12db is you really wanna push the type4 tapes

[@hifinphoto]

Your numbers are WAY too high.. No deck/tape combination will EVER saturate at +12db without distortion.

[@elijahmodnar1]

maxg/metalmaster?

[@burkejohnson4539]

... +10db is TEN TIMES the intensity. Check your numbers. Also that bit about saving battery is rubbish.

[@elijahmodnar1]

clearly you dont know how recording level effects playback volume

[@fromHeaven2LA]

I have a Nakamichi RX-202 do I need a receiver to set it up or can I just connect it to some Kali Audio LP 6 powered speakers?

[@CassetteComeback]

If you just wanted to listen and the speakers are amplified you could just connect them to the headphone out of the deck...

[@fromHeaven2LA]

@Spooky Wurlitzer I just want to play cassettes, thanks for the feedback.

[@fromHeaven2LA]

@@CassetteComeback thank you 🙏🏾

[@andydelle4509]

Which do you prefer on the Dragon, Dolby B or C or no Dolby?

[@CassetteComeback]

I never use NR on any deck

[@nutsackmania]

NR sucks

[@andydelle4509]

@@nutsackmania Agreed, but the professional Dolby A and newer Dolby SR are pretty good. But then a good ATR at 15ips does not need any NR.

[@andrewlodarski2452]

I don't think your explanation of azimuth is all correct. As I understand, the problem is the angle of the head gap in relation to the tape/track. If it is more than 0, it leads to cancellation in reading the shortest magnetic field changes stored to the tape. So it results in loss of high frequencies. This should happen way before the head moves too far out of the track as you've shown. But correct me, if i'm wrong.

[@robbybaker2332]

i have a nacamichi mr1 cassette deck whats the difference in the sound quality? compared to a $1000 mr 1 cassette deck?

[@gordonshumway7465]

About 3 or 4.

[@9210-k8v]

Dragon was best in 80’s popular pre-recorded tapes, and having NAAC stood out. As a recorder, there are many decks that do just as good or better than the Dragon. In 2022, you’re no longer swapping tapes in multiple decks, or bringing them to friends or parties. So one deck properly serviced, will do just fine. Even a WM-D6C is all one needs, and it’s “portable” to boot. Even the best of tape decks, with the best tape, the reality is a lowly $25 CD player will best it in any contest.

[@colinglass1342]

THIS IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF. THE ULTIMATE CASSETTE DECK THE KING OF ALL CASSETTE DECKS. WISH I HAD ONE what hi fi magazine

[@janvisser1963]

I love my Aiwa's ❤❤❤ i never dreamt of a Naka.

[@mycosys]

Thats not what azimuth does. Its about the alignment of the magnetic field on the tape perpendicular to the direction of travel for the maximum induced field

[@AsianFlew]

Ah, my first "crush" that was not a girl, the Dragon.

[@herrtrigger7220]

Nak had 5 decks that cost more new and at least 5 decks from other makers sound as good if not better. Nak MR-1 records better and some say sounds better. Without the cool name 'Dragon' it would not be talked about nearly as much. The other top tier decks didn't have cool names. Would people buy Mcintosh amps if they didn't have the blue lit VU meters? Doubtful. This video will open some eyes, great job.

[@janchristensen9858]

May i ask where you Got this top trump card games with cassette tapes ?

[@stighenningjohansen]

Pf, its ok, but it is not a Tandberg or Revox ,checked my Tandberg 3034 after ten years, 11 - 26,65 khz after ten years of service. -15db, Maxell UD XL II

[@CassetteComeback]

😆

[@thegroove2000]

What about nagra?.