PART 2 of 2: One Cassette Deck to Rule Them All, The Nakamichi 1000ZXL! Deep Dive...

[@rzwilli]

Gorgeous unit ! I had a Nakamichi 500. A simpler and more spartan deck but I see how it shares a few traits like the sliders, mic and line inputs and 3 head system. Amazing walk through!

[@alanh8863]

Great video. I have the 1000ZXL Limited. I love it. The Nakamichi heads, ABLE system and preamp circuitry is what gives the 1000ZXL its big sound. It's a compact cassette deck that thinks it's a reel to reel.

[@paulpavlou9294]

Thanks for the walkthrough, I found it very interest as an owner and user of a Nakamichi 600 2 head tape deck from the same era. The 600 is more basic on the outside but much more difficult to work on as the circuit boards are not as accessible as in the 1000. I love the Nakamichi and still use my 610 Preamplifier and 600 tape deck in my office system, which I’ve had since the late 1970’s. I’m using a modern power amp with a pair of JBL L100 Century Speakers with them. The tape deck has had only one major service but needs another. There is no where here in Australia that do restoration work or take the care that you do. Love your work Paul.

[@ScottGrammer]

The 600 is a pain in the butt to service! Just finished one a few weeks ago. Worst problem it has was the interconnects between boards.

[@paulpavlou9294]

@@ScottGrammer Hi Scott, yes I know what you mean. I hit the interconnects between the boards and the pots hard with “DeoxIT D5 spray which makes a big difference. The lights for both the meters gone but I couldn’t get to them or figure out how what bulbs I were needed to repair them myself.

[@ScottGrammer]

@@paulpavlou9294 As I recall, I ended up using 3mm LED's with resistors to replace the factory bulbs. You might have to tinker with the resistors a bit, otherwise the LED's will be too bright. Use warm white LED's. As for how to get to them, you can find the service manual on vinylengine, and it will help you with that.

[@dilbyjones]

Appreciate the walkthrough

[@AllboroLCD]

Quite a bit of kit indeed! You can definitely tell they tried all they can to make the unit as serviceable as possible. Fantastic job patching up the wood case Fernando! My bet's you must have re-veneered the side piece there. Cant even tell there was ever any blemishing/gouging at all!

[@SkyFiAudio]

Thanks so much! Actually that wood case CAME that way. Shocking I know.

[@franzkoviakalak6981]

The Vintage Knob is amazing. The "Invisibilia" pages of yore were a treasure trove of incredible unobtainium, prototypes and super-low production oddities. One day it just mysteriously disappeared, and its haunted me since.

[@jonathanlake6053]

It screams QUALITY.

[@nicmost3044]

Lovely Machine. Had one Johannesburg South Africa. Now I only have CD, Minidisks, DCC, CC and vinyl Record players.. RE

[@marks1427]

Have you ever seen a Nak Tri Tracer Studio Z? It was a prototype when I saw one, directly from Nak rep when I sold audio in NYC. Balanced mic / line inputs for pro work. ???...

[@didierattaix4463]

I have both a Nakamichi 1000ZXL and a Revox B77. Both have been fully revised 2 years ago. The sound quality of the Nakamichi is much better than the Revox one...

[@gamingmusicandjokesandabit1240]

0:00 Why did the computer in the cassette deck fail? Because there wasn't enough RAMM

[@danlivni2097]

That Nak tape deck was built

[@SkyFiAudio]

We agree.

[@nicmost3044]

I also had a Dragon, THE early one. It was stolen in Cape Town South Africa..

[@movingpixeldeeler]

Not clear how that blue ribbon works for the azimuth...?

[@hifirulezzz]

There is a flat steel wire inside it which pulls the record head block.

[@waltercarpenito1737]

Monster deck - does it make COFFEE?? looks like it

[@hifirulezzz]

are you guys have spare new heads for that guy?

[@SkyFiAudio]

Sorry we don't sell parts but check out our website for some resources that might.

[@RetroPanic]

Still think a Revox B710 or B215 With it’s 4 Motors and super servicability , is More adorable and has less Hasle because there are no belts and gears

[@PedjoGT]

All Revox fails in this days due capstans shaft wear

[@olaniyi570]

Too bad it didn't have Dolby C build in.

[@ScottGrammer]

Dolby C did not exist then.

[@ccllvn]

@@ScottGrammer and that's what's wrong with it

[@joemalone3099]

ENGINEERING MARVEL FROM THE JAPANEESE ELECTRONICS GOLDEN ERA...

[@phuongnamtran4633]

I can only look at her. It's probably impossible to own her. Sad

[@dilbyjones]

Grail