How good was the Nakamichi Dragon?

[CRJCapt]

Well, since I started this thread, I've done this..............




And then I did this..............



And this................



It's bad......................

[jdandy]

Chris.......You have been busy.

That Nakamichi CR7A is a beauty. I wish I had not sold mine.

[CRJCapt]

[AudioGremlin]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Chris.......You have been busy.

That Nakamichi CR7A is a beauty. I wish I had not sold mine.

Me too..

[Pampero]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

As an owner of multiple 2002s and early 3 series Bimmers and an audio retailer starting from my days in college, I would suggest that the 2002 was long out of production (1976) by the time the Dragon arrived in 80's. In fact the 3 series was in its second incarnation (E30) and its base price had crossed the $13k mark in the US before the Dragon was released.

The current ReVox of the Dragon era was a mid run B77 not an A77. The A77, like the 2002, was discoed in the late 70's (1977). Price on the B77 was closer to $2k than $1k, but dependent on version ordered.

Not saying your concept of values is off, but the reference points for comparables are a bit askew.

However you elect to look at it, there are three decades between the Dragon and today. However, I have to admit I was thinking of the 1000 when I wrote my blurb. Those were sold within my time frame and were the progenitors. If you will grant me that, the rest will fall into line. That the Dragon cost twice as much 5 years later only supports how expensive a redux of this approach would be.

To be clear, I never owned any of these series as I was involved with live recording. Cassette has always been of less value to my interests. The only Nakamichi I have ever owned was an MR2.

Regardless, I think my point is fair enough. The 1000 was the flagship of Nakamichi at that time if I recall, but to be clear and to sledge hammer my point, it makes small matter as I seriously doubt they will be coming back.

Any new high performance tape machines regardless of format, if or when they appear at all, will be affordable only to the truly committed. BTW, I bought a new 2002 in 1976 for $5500, perhaps one of the worst years for the car which I nonetheless kept for 13 years.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Pampero

However you elect to look at it, there are three decades between the Dragon and today. However, I have to admit I was thinking of the 1000 when I wrote my blurb as those were sold concurrently within my tike frame and were the progenitors. To be clear, I never owned any of those series as I was involved with live recording. Cassette has always been of less value to my interests.

Regardless, I think my point is well made.. BTW, I bought a new 2002 in 1976 for $5500, perhaps one of the worst years for the car which I nonetheless kept for 13 years. The 1000 was the flagship of Nakamichi at that time if I recall, but to be clear and to sledge hammer my point, it makes small matter as they won't be coming back. The concept is plain enough.

Your last comment is the one that has meaningful bearing in respect to my reply as any new high performance tape machines regardless of format, if or when they appear at all, will be affordable only to the truly committed. Same for the Revox machinery. It might interest you to know that the A77 and B77 were sold alongside each other for a number of years.

I did clearly acknowledge was that your point was well made even if based on incorrect comparables. What I said was "Not saying your concept of values is off, but the reference points for comparables are a bit askew." And they are - and not by a small amount. Nobody said anything was coming back.

The point is reinforced by the response. $5500 for an 02 with square tailights no less is simply irrelevant when using that entry level BMW as the comparison point. The 02 was disco'ed the better part of a decade before the Dragon was introduced.

What might interest me? What do you think I was doing at the time? The A77 was long gone - thank God - the brakes absolutely sucked. As for live recordings, many people were doing them at the time. Our gear of choice included the Stellavox SP-7 and the Levinson ML5 (Studer A80 transport with Levinson electronics) and various Schoeps and B&Ks, again well before a Dragon. But again, not the point.

Nostalgia is a funny thing.

[CRJCapt]

Not coming back you say. I wonder.

The music business can't give away digital.

Word around the campfire is that Chad from Acoustic Sounds is looking at this "Tape" thing.

And then there's this...................

Project R2R

And this...............

Star Wars - Episode IV - A New Hope

And this............................

http://tapeproject.com/product/creed...the-poor-boys/

You know how many people told me vinyl would never come back?

[Pampero]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

I did clearly acknowledge was that your point was well made even if based on incorrect comparables. What I said was "Not saying your concept of values is off, but the reference points for comparables are a bit askew." And they are - and not by a small amount. Nobody said anything was coming back.

The point is reinforced by the response. $5500 for an 02 with square tailights no less is simply irrelevant when using that entry level BMW as the comparison point. The 02 was disco'ed the better part of a decade before the Dragon was introduced.

What might interest me? What do you think I was doing at the time? The A77 was long gone - thank God - the brakes absolutely sucked. As for live recordings, many people were doing them at the time. Our gear of choice included the Stellavox SP-7 and the Levinson ML5 (Studer A80 transport with Levinson electronics) and various Schoeps and B&Ks, again well before a Dragon. But again, not the point.

Nostalgia is a funny thing.

You are not going to be charitable and grant me my confusion between the Nak 1000 (And the later Dragon) that was the flagship when the 2002 and A77 were current? I don't know what you were doing then, I was working for Otari at the time. Naturally, I'd agree with you about the A77. Also, low in headroom and without the needed professional interfaces. As I said, cassette references were not remotely my focus.

Be charitable now! Within your time frame, someone looking for a top Revox might have been interested in the PR99 in any case and still could have been better served if their interest was in a studio workhorse. The A80 was and remains in a different class of course.
I am now perhaps informed that your interest was in two track recording as a professional? Maybe we've met already. Ever attend an AES convention during all those decades?

I'm going to point out again that the thrust of my post was to underscore that any flagship recorder today will of necessity be a five figure affair. Had I said "320i" (and $7000) instead of 2002 this conversation might have been obviated, yet the thrust would remain the same.

I already commented on the desirability of the '76 2002, but thanks for underscoring it so gently.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Pampero

You are not going to be charitable and grant me my confusion between the Nak 1000 (And the later Dragon) that was the flagship when the 2002 and A77 were current? I don't know what you were doing then, I was working for Otari at the time. Naturally, I'd agree with you about the A77. Also, low in headroom and without the needed professional interfaces. As I said, cassette references were not my primary focus.
Be charitable now! Within your time frame, someone looking for a top Revox might have been interested in the PR99 in any case. The A80 was and remains in a different class of course.

"Within your time frame.." I guess I asked for that didn't I?

On many things we agree.

And certainly the 1000 in all its iterations is the true landmark and Nakamichi icon.

Like you, I had little use for cassettes in home except to make tapes for the car. However, finding an elegant mounting place for a Nakamichi 250 in the BMWs of the day was no easy task.

[CRJCapt]

We all know that the dollar has been debased, the money is worthless now, it doesn't buy anything of real value, banks run the world, and if you try and do anything about it they will nail you to a a cross or send you to Dallas as an example to others to not mess with the their money.

Anyone with an internet connection knows this already...