#21
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A champion...
The real beauty of the Dragon was the NAAC (Nakamichi automatic azimuth correction) system. This kept the azimuth of the playback head continuously aligned to the tape axis without the use of test tones. The system used the music itself as its reference, through an ingenious (and rather complex) system of phase comparators and miniature servo motors that continuously adjusted the position of the playback head during playback for optimum azimuth. Thus the Dragon had a kind of crystalline clarity in the upper frequencies seldom found in cassette playback. Another beauty of it was that the system would work despite any irregularities in the cassette housing (the cheap prerecorded cassettes were very prone to this) or even the direction of tape travel. Thus the auto-reverse Dragon could play in forward or reverse with equally high quality results. The NAAC system overcame many problems with the cassette format, allowing prerecorded tapes (or tapes made on someone else's equipment) to be played back with outstanding results.
The downside of all of this engineering was it made for a very complex component, and not everyone would (or will) service them. Overall, however, the Nakamichi Dragon was a real fire-breathing champion.
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Pete No. 35 Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop |
#22
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Quote:
For example, frequency response for tape decks was measured well below 0 dB, and was measured at a lower recording level for cassette than for reel. So you can't compare those numbers directly to each other. At its 1 7/8 ips tape speed, cassette couldn't reach high frequencies as well as reel - if only for that reason. It was a challenge to get up to 16 or 17 kHz on cassette, while reels could easily go above 20 kHz. And cassettes had virtually no headroom compared to a good reel machine. Don't get me wrong - a well-made cassette on a fine machine could sound very, very good. But even the best cassette decks couldn't catch the better reel machines, ime. |
#23
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I bought a new Nakamichi CR-7A in 1988 for $1500.00. In those days there was no discounting Nakamichi. During it's production run Nakamichi made a change in the way the tape spools operated. I shipped my deck to Electronic Service Labs (Nakamichi Service Center) and had the upgrade installed. The CR-7A performed flawlessly for years and made excellent recordings with its discreet 3-head setup. I preferred it to the Dragon because I was not interested in reverse play or the complexity of the Dragon's auto tracking azimuth system. Nakamichi was head and shoulders above other manufacturers in recording and playback quality for many reasons, like manufacturing their own tape heads, and their amazing Nakamichi asymmetrical resonance-free double capstan silent mechanism.
I kept my Nakamichi CR-7A until 2007. At that time it was in need of service to the drive system and occasionally wanted to stop on its own. I contacted ESL to get an estimate on a full service to the deck and was quoted $650.00. I decided to sell the deck instead. It was a fine cassette machine. If one can be found that has had the spool upgrade installed and is in good working order you will be impressed with its performance. I made custom solid walnut side panels for my Nakamichi CR-7A. Here it is sitting on top of my McIntosh 4300V receiver.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#24
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Quote:
Sony EL-7 on thevintageknob.org http://www.preservationsound.com/wp-...et_Feb1977.pdf |
#25
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Jasper.......It is a true shame the Elcaset format didn't take off. Using 1/4" tape running at 3-3/4 ips put that format in a different league. Had the industry as a whole expended the same developmental effort into the Elcaset as was focused on the cassette, that format would still be viable today. Cassette ruled the roost when Elcaset was introduced and no one wanted to make the shift to the new format. It's a pity.
I believe an updated version of this TEAC AL-700 would sell well today if the format was maximized and sold today.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 06-06-2016 at 05:43 PM. |
#26
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I'm with you there Dan....[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl4ttaXv220[/ame]
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#27
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I compared the sound quality of my Revox B77 to the Nakamichi CR7E and I actually preferred the CR7E. The FR of the Nak was 18hz - 21Khz with metal tape. I too was unsure so I borrowed another B77 to check but the result was the same.
The CR7 was universally accepted as being sonically better than the Dragon, it certainly wasn't lacking in dynamic range either. It amazes me just how Nakamichi achieved such results from a mere cassette but achieve it they did. |
#28
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It would have been interesting to see what NAK could have done with a Dolby S deck. Too bad they pulled out of the cassette business before S decks came out.
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#29
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Quote:
I still have one Nakamichi cassette deck, the model BX-300 that's now in the studio control room, and a Sony K890ES in the living room system.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 06-06-2016 at 11:10 PM. |
#30
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One of the first memories I have as a budding audiophile in junior high was reading about the Nakamichi Dragon in Stereo Review. I daydreamed of owning one. Sadly I never owned one. I did own a Nakamichi Dragon car stereo for a short time , then I traded it for the newest thing, an Alpine CD player. Been chasing the audio bug since.
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