Not as good as YOU WANT IT to be...| Nakamichi DRAGON 11.4.6 Review

[@LoKnows]

Get yours here: amzn.to/3T0bULJ 🐲

[@matttafakt]

The new Nakamichi 12" sub looks identical to the Rel s/812s .. which is a pretty badass sub.

[@RedLeo-pf9yo]

Yeah, once I saw Andrew Robinson tell the truth about the dragon, I realize the other 50 KZbinrs that I saw were all just brown noses to Nakamichi Dragon. I want to thank you for your honest review and not kissing booty. I am going to wait for reviews for the $9000 upgraded dragon. And if it’s at least 80% good with the reviews, then I’m going to order the top option of the dragon. I will just lower my expectation so I won’t be so upset with it. I spend a lot more than $10,000 on surround system. Even though the dragon might see pricey people. To me it’s still a very good deal.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

@@RedLeo-pf9yo Might it be worth waiting to see what Sonos can offer with the Arc and Sub Gen 3 replacements due out any month now?

[@darealestwon]

I felt this was a really thoughtful , sensible , and insightful video, especially in the aftermath of what happened between Andrew Robinson and never enough tech. You covered the strongpoints and the limitations equally.

[@LoKnows]

Honest Take: I do love my dragon!! Does it offer insane audio separation? Not really. Is this the best "soundbar home theater system" available? By far.

[@bluered3228]

This is the key. It's a soundbar system, and in that realm, it absolutely dominates. I've been into home theater for over 30 years. Can it compete with my $100k home theater sound system? Nope. Does it blow me away in my master bedroom where my wife won't let me drill holes on the walls and ceiling to put speakers everywhere? Yes. No question. Bottom line, if you can do separates, including in-ceiling speakers etc, then do it. If you have limited space, limited budget, or have to do a bar, you owe it to yourself to check out the dragon.

[@billmulvihill8452]

@@bluered3228 And get practically no low bass out of the soundbar.🤔

[@bluered3228]

@@billmulvihill8452 What is your definition of low bass? I'm telling you it shakes the hell out of my bedroom. Are you going to get infrasonics out of a soundbar? Of course not. I will be buying a pair of the new subs to add on just for fun but it's really already way over the top IMO, especially given how cheap it is. Give it a try. You can always send it back. I accidentally ordered 2 and they took back the second one no questions asked. I just had to take it back to UPS.

[@LoKnows]

@@bluered3228 WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!! Lets not just brush over what you just said. $100K home theater???!!!!

[@bluered3228]

@@LoKnows lol. Paradigm persona speakers, mcintosh amps and trinnov 16 processor. Add on the 97 inch G2 and wiring and you're there.

[@techsamurai11]

Great review and you're quite honest about it. It does sound like a movie theater without the bass of course but I really want people that don't own a Dragon to understand that this is not always a great thing. Personally, I would avoid the Dragon for a few reasons. 1. Any soundbar plays deeper - the Q990C was rated at 28.7hz by Rtings. The Shockwafe with dual sub was measured at 48hz by Rtings - should have gone with one. The Dragon doesn't seem to do better. I'm not a bass head but if I'm forced to have 2 subs in my room, I'd want them to play bass, not top out at 40-50hz like a tower speaker. 2. Home theater sound is superior to Cinema Sound - the Dragon has a Cinema sound but it doesn't look like it's possible to switch to Home Theater. 3. Ear damage - prolonged listening at higher volumes to compensate for bad design will damage your ears over time and will cost you the ability to enjoy sound. 4. Inability to turn down subs without impacting soundbar sound. 5. Expensive and large without much to show for that extra size and cost. 6. Oops, I forgot - no room correction which could be #1 depending on who you ask. As for the 4 new subs, they cost twice as much as the soundbar + the 2 subs and they are proprietary and useless if the soundbar fails. At that price differential, the $1,800 Ambeo and Sonos Arc would be no brainers. Just buy a 83 inch LG G4 with the savings.

[@warmfreeze]

i still think $1500 is the cut off price for soundbars.. anything over $1500 and you are not getting your moneys worth without going to an AVR.

[@mordimeshita1754]

​@@warmfreezeI don't think that a 2000 dollar receiver that gives only 40 watts for channel and only 600 watts total can do the job is bullshit

[@warmfreeze]

@@mordimeshita1754 how many watts do you think you ACTUALLY need? LOL! tell me you know nothing about audio/electricity without telling me you know nothing.

[@mordimeshita1754]

@@warmfreeze you don't understand what I say I say the amplifier say 11 speaker may 120 wot RMS for channel but they have only total 600 wot L had to do problem is get hot end compression the sound not so good on 1000$ amplifier and you need good speaker to 1000$ but if it's strong with 90w+ dBspl in 1 mater is not working good with the speaker because you need to 4 volume to 40% in the speaker and more because it's wake amplifier and not sound good you need to know what amplifier is not limit your speaker and not get hot

[@warmfreeze]

@@mordimeshita1754 you realize that wattage doesn't make the audio sound better right? a lot of audiophile amps only put out 10w-50w.. your argument makes no sense because you don't understand speaker efficiency. you can easily make a set of klipsch RP-800 speakers blow your ears off with only 25w/ channel..

[@EarlHarris-d3d]

I rec’d the Dragon in late May. This is the 1st review that essentially captures my feelings on the product. However I do feel STRONGLY that I was lied to at worst or misled at best about the specs and abilities of the system. AND then asked to pony up another $1,500 to $6,000 to get what I thought I was buying in a 11.4.6 system. NFW will Nakamichi get another dime of my money EVER AGAIN! As an alternative I have figured out how to add (2) SVS PB1000 Subs to my system giving me the system that should have been! I like my system a lot now! That said, had I known then what I know now, I would have made a different choice! I hope people vote with their wallet and not let companies get away with charging their customers to fix THEIR mistakes. The 20% introductory price discount (of a $1,500/sub) that was supposed to be forum only special offer is an ABSOLUTE slap in the face.

[@brosmile9388]

Fake News...

[@Noldy34]

Do you mind sharing how you hooked up your SVS subs with your Dragon?

[@diabolicghetto9724]

I love my dragon in my small 2nd floor apartment my neighbors love it too 😅

[@hb-hr1nh]

I turn up volume on my 990c soundbar to 10 out of 100 my wife comes in my movie watching room and says "sounds like World War 2" whats going on! Was wanting a Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 and almost pulled the trigger and bought one, but I ended up getting the 990c soundbar and a new C2 LG OLED because my theater room is small with a low ceiling. So the 990c was more than a enough for the size of my room.

[@reuveng1960]

I have the 990D and I hear the same complain. Volume 10 is too loud for her...

[@Necrohermit]

How low is your ceiling and how big is the room?

[@newyork1988]

If you got the Dragon it would have been World War 3…😂

[@Kidcam2104]

Andrew Robinson got everybody making their own dragon videos now 😂

[@LoKnows]

Ride it until the wheels fall off! 🤣But I've been wanting to make my own for a while.

[@stakkzip6638]

You ain’t lying. Mans a whole year behind and now the modular 12 coming out and wants the algos to bless him

[@m4nc1n1]

No these where just a matter of time. When this came out and i saw the price i knew this would happen. I don’t care how much you pay for a soundbar or how big you make it, at the end of the day it’s still a soundbar

[@michael-4k4000]

Yeah that sounds about right....

[@californiaballer]

As an owner of Samsung Q990C I’m surprised you thought it was lacking in power. I run my soundbar @ around 20-25 max (out of 100). Even at those levels I have grumbling from my wife on the other side of the house. I do not even dare to run Q990C at anything beyond 30 because sound is quickly becoming deafening. And Q990C sub, when placed properly in the room is authoritative, making action movie experience truly theater like. Too bad, Dragon is not the ultimate solution you were looking for. Just don’t buy into their ‘magical new subs’ - it’s an investment that would never pay for itself.

[@LoKnows]

It's hard to describe it, there is a difference between power and brute force. I'm telling you the Q990C really satisfied me, but I think my own wandering diminished the Q990c to an unfair level, while at the same time, putting the Dragon at an unrealistic level. The Dragon is a stronger system. Do people NEED a stronger system? Totally up to them.

[@californiaballer]

@@LoKnows I hear you. Every time I think to myself that maybe there is something better out there, I put on some Dolby Atmos music on Apple TV just to remind myself why I fell in love with Q990.

[@tonemack2981]

I have the Q990D and the audio separation, and spacing is really good. As far as bass, I felt like it was lacking at times, especially with music. In most reviews and Samsung diagrams, you noticed how the sub is positioned on the floor to the right of the TV. I've tried this and also tried the left side. I noticed the difference between the 2 positions. But I found that placing the sub behind the seating position between the 2 surround speakers with the woofer protector facing away from the seating position is best. It absolutely fills the room evenly with booming bass, so much so that I had to adjust the bass level downward as well as the woofer in the app.

[@gregmoisan5629]

I can see where people like and dislike the dragon. Every room is different. I prefer a really good pair of powered speakers or Stereo amp with a good pair of Stereo Speakers paired with a Sub compared to a soundbar system. The atmos effect is awesome at first but then i just don't notice it anymore. I have a Bose Smartbar 600 with two Base module 500s and the surround cubes wich kind of suck. I thought the lower mids and mid bass were lacking. I'm happier with my SVS Prime Wireless hooked up to the WiimM Ultra and with a 10" Magnolia Sonance Sub. Bottoming out subwoofers is the worst feeling. Your problem with the Subs may be poor placement. Not every system is for everyone or every room. I've been into home theatre since 1993 and have had crap and good results. Good review on your experience.

[@MO-tp8lh]

Great review. Your experience mirrors mine almost exactly but I was coming from the Sonos Arc. I noticed almost immediately that my two Sonos subs were better than the Dragon dual subs but everything else coming from the soundbar was an improvement with the Dragon. Maybe it’s just me but when I play Spider-Man into the spider verse 4k Blu-ray , it becomes super obvious that the dragon has some issues with the low end. The new subs are so expensive! I’ll repurpose this system at some point and think about a traditional AV system.

[@LoKnows]

I’m with you, I’ll run the Dragon to the ground, but my next system will definitely be an AV system too.

[@marcharshaw8184]

Kudos to you sir, I now subscribe because of your scary close to Andrew Robinsons review. This is what we need more than anything, Honesty !!!

[@MrBjorn6]

I love your honest and i love my dragon. It sounds incredible to me and all my guests

[@LoKnows]

Thanks! It does sound great, right!! I always have my friends sit in the middle (money position) and play a demo for them. Trying to break down the sub-issue to them is pointless.

[@MrBjorn6]

​@@LoKnowsAs it is with most people like me. You have to have extremely high standards to have problems with the dragon with DTS X lossless audio or Atmos. Ready Player One, Ambulance, Beekeeper, Dune1 and Dune 2, The greatest showman , and Baby driver will impress 95% of people on the original dragon

[@sirjynx3041]

Sounds like maybe the Bravia Quad is the right choice for you

[@hackztor]

sony needs to let you add another sub with that system. people say one of the best fur sound all around. some mention issues with it so hopefully overtime can be improved.

[@TokeBoisen]

The sound from the subs you are describing sounds more like port noise than bottoming out. Possibly it could be the sound of the sub's limiter engaging to avoid the driver destroying itself. The only actual measurements of the dragon seem to indicate they go nowhere fast below 40 Hz

[@LoKnows]

Thanks, will definitely look into that.

[@usmankhalid990]

Just discovered your channel through this video and I really enjoyed your take on the Dragon experience. It itched the curiosity I had when first hearing about the Dragon. Thank you for sharing. Hope Nakamichi is able to send you the 12" subs for testing so you can save some cash and decide after experiencing them whether they're worth the price. Anyhow, I look forward to more tech reviews and would love to hear your take on versus videos between the Dragon and a traditional home theater should you choose to go that route. Cheers!

[@LoKnows]

Thanks for the feedback!! It would be nice to get to test the subs 😬

[@reuveng1960]

"The king is naked"... The price of $3500 us dollars and the Nakamichi marketing are creating very high expectations. There is no excuse for this poor bass performance and to add more salt to the wound, Nakamichi are offering new subs for $1200. Hilarious...

[@michael-4k4000]

Nice review Sir! Have the Q990C and yes its an amazing SB, but it doesn't hit hard. However, its so simple to use and its a fun system. This is why the Sony A9/ Quad is so cool, it gives you the bubble of sound, however you lose a center channel. I've run phantom center with my main system which includes tower speakers and a receiver. It works very good, but their is always an advantage to a center channel.

[@Runsteady]

Nice and balanced review! You hit it on the nail in regards to all the weaknesses. It seems like Naka is offering a $300 discount for early subwoofer expansion buyers. I’m honesty tempted to buy it despite feeling Naka didn’t deliver on their 20hz advertisement. I think it would add that extra Umph I wished the subs had. Are you selling the Dragon stands by any chance? I currently hacked a third party stand but would love to get the authentic stand for a more reasonable price than their retail costs. anyway, thanks again for the excellent review!

[@LoKnows]

You used the perfect word, TEMPTED! Naka tempted me the 1st time and I caved in, I'm struggling about being tempted a 2nd time, even though they are making it tough. Sorry, bro, keeping the stands. I think a lot of my issues are the placement, so I'm holding on to them just in case.

[@techsamurai11]

If I were looking for a soundbar, I would seriously consider the Q990C for $1,000 since it plays lower and delivers some surround sound and has room correction. Room Correction is almost more important than the system choice. If you're looking for a system that does it all without a sub, the Sennheiser Ambeo Max is the only one capable of bass without a subwoofer. Sennheiser also has another smaller system with a sub but the Max is their flagship. And finally there's the 800lb gorilla - the Sonos Arc which is very modular and does it all. Most people are very impressed with the Sonos Sub especially at its price point.

[@user-su3yu1py3m]

Great video and honest response on how you felt about the Dragon. I had high hopes when this launched as it solves the issue of having to run wires throughout your home in order to acheive Dolby Atmos. But the more and more I have seen and watched videos of the Dragon they have clearly missed the mark on what they touted when this was coming. Not having Wifi or any room crrection or calibration just is a miss on there mark. When you are going to launch a lengedary name like the Dragon it better live up to what the products used to be like back in the day when Nakamichi was around. Now they want you to spend $1,500 each for 12" subs is outrageous....... When they are asking you to spend over 3k for a soundbar and that is what it is you should have the ablity to add your own subs at that point. I have an SVS Pro 2000 and now way these new 12's sound better than SVS or hit as hard. They need to stop camparing it to 5k separate system as it stands no chance against one of these systems.

[@brosmile9388]

I have a new Sony AVR and it has room correction. I still had to get a measuring tape and measure from the speakers to the sofa. Why do you guys make a big deal about this for Nakamichi?

[@chibbyylol]

prob because for the sony avr it'd probably make a difference

[@davebuccino4626]

Great review. I am experiencing exactly what you are describing and I feel the same way.

[@MrUpscaleman]

Mike Gonet. He was that guy in high school who always did upper body and never leg day. We called him the Human Y.

[@CloudSurfer13]

+1 like for Tim the toolman reference + imitation. Great review!

[@shawnorjiakor]

I would rather get active speakers before any soundbar regardless of price. Great honest review, good sir. Sorry about the bittersweet experience.

[@Snackdance]

Great content, worth a sub. Curious: what are the crossover settings?

[@WThaynew]

I liked this because it's just a review from a guy that just wants to listen to great sound. I recently upgraded from the Samsung Q990B to the Q990D, before I pressed the button and made the purchase I watched so many reviews. If I listened to the expert reviews with all their technical know how, I probably wouldn't have gone for it. But I did and I'm not disappointed., the Q990D is a real upgrade on the Q990B. I guess what I'm trying to say is, sometimes the experts disappear up their own bottoms with all the technical jargon. It's difficult to try and find a review that just gives you basics. That's why I like this guy, he talks the language of the average guy on the street.

[@LoKnows]

Thanks!! That’s what I wanted to get across.

[@Dionesus]

Sorry if i missed this innthe review but how did you feel about the mid range of the system? In two reviews, they stated that it was a little weak.

[@LoKnows]

I'll be honest with you. I couldn't tell you what that means. Did the audio sound thin? No. Did it sound full? Sometimes. At times my brain was expecting low sounds to be present during higher than bass sections. Hope that makes sense.

[@nolaxtreme]

So for an apartment would you recommend the sonos?. I want a solid Atmos experience but not to scare my neighbors lol

[@ProteusActual]

Yep! I wish i had this review before I bought it. I like it, but it has to be turned up pretty loud before it really starts to shine. The base is lacking for 4 drivers in 2 boxes. I went back to my Sonos ARC and 2 subs. Its a great system but is more suitable for very large spaces.

[@RossSeverson]

I also really want 2 more satellite speakers for the front of the room to make the soundstage wider for the size of our projector screen, but they claim the channels are maxed out. Is this true?

[@LoKnows]

I have no idea, but if they can go from 2 physical subs to all sudden four. I think it’s possible.

[@RossSeverson]

@@LoKnows Your fingertips to the tech gods' ears

[@bobbubevski2719]

awesome real world experience review, thank you

[@scruffy8861]

Hardcore audiophiles are doing separates with a dedicated center speaker.

[@LoKnows]

I want to be so hardcore, that the Dragon IS the center channel.

[@scruffy8861]

@@LoKnows I prefer a Revel Voice2 myself.

[@techsamurai11]

@@scruffy8861 Nakamichi would probably call that a sub given its low frequency extension 😂

[@user-hf8ie8mf3n]

I truly feel for dragon early adopters. No words. Good vid. 👍🤪🏳️‍🌈

[@charlesking678]

That price is bordering a traditional setup. $1500 per sub is way too much. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm willing to bet their $1500 sub can't run with a base model svs or rel.

[@LoKnows]

$1500 is crazy way too much

[@matttafakt]

i'm pretty sure the new 12" Nakamichi Sub is a rel s/812s

[@brosmile9388]

I don't agree about you being a beta tester. They are a company on the move. We aren't used to a company actively talking to customers and quickly making both software and hardware updates. We aren't used to the level of top notch customer service. Some folks I know won't buy the first year of an all new designed automobile for the same reason. I've never heard of someone that bought a new design model car a beta tester though.

[@Powerpickle68]

It's like being promised by hype a Clydesdale only to receive a pony.

[@FNGyoutuber]

I do believe the JBL BAR 1300 is the best soundbar for my 30 sqm-living room, and it is cheaper than this Nakamichi Dragon

[@andrehalim469]

No soundbar beats separates.

[@augustusx82]

Andrew created a monster with his dragon review. It’s the flood gates opening now. It’s like when one woman is like, “i was inappropriately hit on by this famous CEO or politician”..then one week later 20 other people come forward with the same claim after like 20 years of silence…. Next thing you know someone releases a “tell all book”……..Thus are “dragon sucks” videos after a year of “it’s the best system ever” reviews…all the victims are coming forward..Andrew inspired them to be brave. Now all we gotta do is wait for the Dragon “tell-all” book

[@blazinreviews2393]

Prefer my Sony HT-A9

[@AtlantaJonny]

Good video

[@cordcuttercam]

Will you be checking out the new 12 inch subs ?

[@LoKnows]

I probably, will. Realistically, will have to start with 1 sub first.

[@tamarindo732]

Andrew is going to cry in the car now 😂😂😂😂

[@user-oq6sc1qm4j]

The Nakamichi sound bars are overpiced hype I fell for the hype a few years back was disappointed with the sound returned it and got the samsung soundbar they have the best overall sound quality soundbar on the markret.

[@helmutnamwandi6815]

We will wait for another review to come make a video defending Nakamichi. 🤣😅

[@karthikr177]

Seems like lot of people are out to slay their own dragon😂😂😂

[@billmulvihill8452]

Why didn’t you listen to music? You spend that kind of money on it and you don’t even try to listen to music on it? Not a thorough review of it then. Should I spend another 4,000 for a music system in that room? I don’t think so! Next time please add a music opinion on any soundbar system!

[@d1nicoya]

Over price sound bar that’s it!

[@HARLEYMLM1966]

Boring

[@warmfreeze]

as much as they say its not a sounbar.. its a soundbar... with the soundstage of a soundbar... a $4000 soundbar. any $2500 9 channel AVR and atmos speakers combo you get on amazon will sound 100x better. in fact i think they klipsch atmos setup with dual 12" subs and onkyo 9 channel AVR is on sale for $2000 on amazon right now.. LOL

[@mordimeshita1754]

Onkyo is a dead company they not the real company they sell it from the company of pioneer another company onkyo is problem of HDMI to get hot and is dead and they want half the price to fix it nobody buy it and the prices go down and down

[@warmfreeze]

@@mordimeshita1754 did you read anything i said, or just cherry pick only that part specifically?