Nakamichi

The company that made cassette tape a serious format

History

Nakamichi Corporation was founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1948 by Etsuro Nakamichi as a research company focused on electronic and acoustic engineering. The company initially produced portable radios and other consumer electronics before revolutionizing cassette recording.

Nakamichi's breakthrough came with the development of discrete three-head cassette decks. Unlike combination erase/record heads used in most decks, Nakamichi used separate, optimized heads for erase, record, and playback—similar to professional reel-to-reel machines.

The 1000 (1973) was Nakamichi's first discrete three-head deck, establishing the template for all future Nakamichi products. The ability to monitor recordings off the tape during recording (via the separate playback head) was revolutionary.

The Dragon (1982) became Nakamichi's most famous product—the world's first cassette deck with automatic azimuth correction (NAAC). This system continuously adjusted the tape head angle to optimize high-frequency response, compensating for tape alignment variations.

The 1000ZXL (1980s) represented the pinnacle of Nakamichi's engineering—a statement product that elevated cassette to a legitimate audiophile format. With dual capstans, extensive calibration options, and exceptional build quality, the 1000ZXL remains legendary.

Key Facts

Legendary Products

Nakamichi Dragon (1982)

The most famous cassette deck in history. The Dragon's NAAC (Nakamichi Auto Azimuth Correction) system continuously adjusted head alignment for optimal sound. It remains the ultimate cassette deck for many enthusiasts.

Nakamichi 1000ZXL (1980s)

The pinnacle of Nakamichi's engineering. The 1000ZXL featured dual capstans, discrete three heads, extensive calibration, and build quality rivaling professional reel-to-reels. A statement product that cost as much as a car.

Nakamichi 1000 (1973)

The first discrete three-head cassette deck. The 1000 established Nakamichi's reputation and proved that cassette could be a serious recording medium.

Nakamichi 550 (1970s)

A portable cassette recorder that brought Nakamichi quality to field recording. The 550 was popular among journalists and musicians for its compact size and excellent sound.

Sound Signature

The first time you hear a properly calibrated Nakamichi deck playing a well-recorded tape, something shifts in your understanding of what cassette can do. The high-frequency extension is the most immediately striking quality — cymbals shimmer with a clarity that approaches open-reel performance, and the air around acoustic instruments is preserved in a way that lesser decks simply erase. The discrete three-head design means the playback head is optimized purely for reproduction, with no compromises for double duty as a recording head.

The noise floor on Nakamichi decks is remarkably low. With a quality Type II or metal tape, the background is black and silent in a way that redefines expectations for the format. This lets quiet passages and subtle details emerge that would be buried in hiss on a conventional deck. The Dragon's NAAC system takes this further by continuously adjusting azimuth alignment, ensuring that every tape — regardless of which deck recorded it — plays back with optimal high-frequency response.

Beyond the technical achievements, Nakamichi decks have a musicality and coherence that transcends specifications. Recordings made on a 1000ZXL and played back on the same machine have a fullness, a dynamic range, and a tonal richness that can genuinely make you forget you are listening to cassette tape. That is the Nakamichi achievement in a sentence.

Collecting Nakamichi

The Dragon is the holy grail of cassette collecting — a fully functional, calibrated example commands $2,000 to $4,000, with pristine units occasionally exceeding $5,000. The 1000ZXL sits even higher, trading between $3,000 and $7,000 as the ultimate statement piece. The original 1000 from 1973 is historically significant and priced accordingly at $1,500 to $3,000. For collectors who want the Nakamichi experience without the flagship price, the BX-300 and CR-7A offer discrete three-head performance typically between $500 and $1,200.

The critical factor in any Nakamichi purchase is mechanical condition. These are precision tape transports, and a non-functional deck is an expensive paperweight — qualified Nakamichi technicians are scarce, and parts for the more complex models are increasingly difficult to source. Verify that the transport operates smoothly, that the heads show acceptable wear (a loupe helps), and that belts have been recently replaced. For the Dragon specifically, confirm that the NAAC mechanism is functioning — it is the defining feature, and a Dragon without working auto-azimuth loses much of its value and purpose. A deck that has been professionally serviced with documentation is worth a meaningful premium over an untested estate find.

Competitors & Comparisons

Nakamichi vs Revox: Both high-end; different formats

Nakamichi vs Tandberg: Similar quality; different approaches

Nakamichi vs consumer decks: Nakamichi in different league

Amplifiers

• 620 — Nakamichi 620 tuner-preamplifier (1978). Part of Nakamichi's Recording Director Series separates. Frequency response 20Hz-20kHz ±0.5dB.
• Amplifier1 — The Nakamichi Amplifier 1 is an integrated amplifier built around the company's Harmonic Time Alignment (HTA) theory, developed by Steve Kalison at
• Amplifier2 — Nakamichi Amplifier2 — an obscure late-1980s amplifier with minimal surviving documentation. Known only from a 1989 HI-FI-Stereo listing: 12V max output, ±0.3 dB RIAA, $498.
• AVP-1 (2014) — Documentation on the Nakamichi AVP-1 is thin, and what survives comes mostly from a single owner's account and a sparse spec-sheet entry. It was an AV
• CA-5 — Nakamichi CA-5 preamp, mid-1980s separates companion to the PA-5 amp. MM/MC phono, ±0.5dB RIAA, defeatable tone controls. Little formally documented.
• CA-7 — The Nakamichi CA-7 is a control amplifier — Nakamichi's term for a preamplifier — from the company's 1980s era. It was the control center of Nakamichi's
• IA-1 — Nakamichi IA-1 integrated amplifier — a little-documented A/V model with built-in Dolby Digital decoder and 5.1-channel design, covered briefly by Audio magazine in 1997.
• IA-2 — The Nakamichi IA-2 is a Class A solid-state integrated amplifier from the 1980s, and it’s a less common find than the brand’s famous cassette decks
• IA-4s — The Nakamichi IA-4s is an integrated amplifier released in 1994 at a Japanese retail price of ¥34,800. It's an unusual piece within Nakamichi's catalog —
• PA-5 — Nakamichi PA-5 stereo power amplifier — dual-mono class A design, 2x100W into 8Ω, 0.005% THD, 17.1 kg flagship from Nakamichi's 1980s separates line.
• PA-50 — The Nakamichi PA-50 is a stereo power amplifier from the company's late-1980s separates push. The Vintage Knob identifies it as the "little sister" of the
• PA-50CE — Nakamichi PA-50CE (1988) — 150W+150W STASIS stereo power amplifier, Custom Edition of the PA-50 with 70A output current and 21.5kg build.
• PA-70 — Nakamichi PA-70 integrated amplifier (1982-1985). Dual-monaural construction, 50-60W/ch, praised phono stage. Part of Nakamichi's early-80s separates push.
• PA-70CE — Nakamichi PA-70CE (1988) — 225W/ch STASIS power amplifier, Custom Edition of the PA-70. ¥420,000 at launch, 28.5kg, 36 power transistors, 700VA toroidal transformer.
• PA-7II (1989–1993) — Nakamichi PA-7II (1989–1993) stereo power amplifier, 225W/ch into 8Ω, STASIS design licensed from Threshold. List price $1,635.

Car Audio

• TP-1200 — The Nakamichi TP-1200 is a car audio tuner/preamplifier from the 1990s — a top-of-the-line, high-end mobile unit that Nakamichi produced during their

Cassette Decks

• 250 — Little is documented about the Nakamichi 250. It was a portable stereo cassette deck produced from around 1977 into the 1980s — exact years are not firmly.
• 420 — Nakamichi 420 power amplifier, circa 1977. Compact separate component, part of the 410/420/430 trio. Little documented beyond period ads.
• 500 — Nakamichi 500 (1971–1976): Nakamichi's first cassette deck and one of the earliest three-head portables, with built-in mics and speakers.
• 600II — The Nakamichi 600II is a two-head, single-cassette deck from the late 1970s, and what documentation survives paints it as a straightforward, no-frills
• 660ZX — Nakamichi 660ZX — discrete-head cassette deck with Auto Azimuth Alignment; a precision machine with a service manual that demands gauges, tapes, and patience.
• 670ZX (c. 1979–1980) — Nakamichi 670ZX (c.1979–80): 3-head auto-reverse cassette deck with Auto Azimuth, crystal P-8L head, 0.04% wow & flutter, ¥188,000 new.
• 680 — Nakamichi 680 cassette deck circa 1980 – the world's first consumer half-speed recorder with auto azimuth, RAMM, and discrete three heads.
• 682ZX (1980–1982) — Nakamichi 682ZX (1980–1982) — a discrete 3-head cassette deck with PLL servo transport, auto-calibration, and Dolby C. A sleeper favorite among Nakamichi collectors.
• 700II (1976–1979) — The Nakamichi 700II (1976–1979) is a 3-head cassette deck with Crystalloy Super Head, dual-capstan transport, and teak cabinet — Nakamichi's elegant engineering monster.
• BX-300 (1984–1987) — Nakamichi BX-300 (1984–1987) — the lowest-priced three-head Nakamichi deck, with discrete heads, dual capstans, Dolby B/C, and 20 Hz–20 kHz response on metal tape.
• Cassette Deck 1 — Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 (CD-1): Nakamichi's first budget two-head deck from 1979, with a laminated Sendust head and dual-motor direct-drive transport.
• Cassette Deck 1 Limited — Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 Limited (1991) — a 3-head cassette deck with Dolby B/C, 20Hz-21kHz response, and Asymmetrical Dual Capstans. Little else is documented.
• CassetteDeck1 — Little is documented about the Nakamichi CassetteDeck1 — a name that doesn't appear in the company's usual model nomenclature, which makes it something of
• CR-20 — Nakamichi CR-20 three-head cassette deck (1980-1983). Closed-loop dual capstan transport, Crystalloy head, Dolby B/C. Positioned between CR-10 and CR-30/40.
• CR-30 — Nakamichi CR-30 (1988–1989): three-head cassette deck, the last full-featured CR series model with discrete Crystalloy heads and closed-loop dual capstan transport.
• CR-40 — Nakamichi CR-40 cassette deck. Thin documentation; known specs include 4.8 cm/s tape speed, 20Hz-20kHz response, 0.045% WRMS wow & flutter.
• CR-5A — Nakamichi CR-5A cassette deck from 1986–1987. Three-head, three-motor dual-capstan transport. HiFi/Stereo Review tested it in 1986.
• CR-7 (1971) — The Nakamichi CR-7 (1986–1993) is the last high-end cassette deck to push analog tape to its technical limits, featuring discrete heads, dual capstans.
• DR-1 — The Nakamichi DR-1 is a three-head stereo cassette deck produced from 1985 to 1988, introduced at a retail price of US$570. It was also offered as the
• DR-10 — Nakamichi DR-10 (1989) — the affordable 2-head cassette deck that brought Nakamichi engineering to budget buyers. 0.08% wow & flutter, Dolby B/C, 4.4 kg of honest tape recording.
• DR-2 — Nakamichi DR-2 (1987–1990) — the entry-level 2-head Sendust deck that sold by the thousands and still sounds remarkably good with fresh belts.
• DR-8 — Little is documented about the Nakamichi DR-8. What the record shows: it was a cassette deck from Nakamichi's extensive lineup, and the one specification
• MR-1b — Nakamichi MR-1b cassette deck — the affordable three-head dual-capstan deck sharing the CRT-3 transport with the 480/580/680 series, praised in Stereo Review tests.
• RX 303 — A unidirectional auto-reverse stereo cassette deck produced from 1984 to 1986, designed to bring high-fidelity recording performance to automatic tape.
• TD-300 — Nakamichi TD-300 car stereo tuner/cassette (1985-1988). Little-documented Mobile Sauna model with single-capstan drive. Covers production dates.
• TD-560 — Nakamichi TD-560 car stereo head unit with full-logic auto-reverse cassette, Crystalloy play head, wireless remote, and tuner, circa 1989-1990.
• ZX-7 — A high-end stereo cassette deck with manual calibration and discrete three-head design. Includes full specifications and production years.
• zxl-1000 — Nakamichi 1000ZXL (1980s) cassette deck: 19kg, dual capstan, 0.6-micron gap, A.B.L.E. calibration, 20Hz–25kHz response — the analog apex

Cassette Decks

• 1000ZXL (1985) — The Nakamichi 1000ZXL Limited (1979–1984) was the first microprocessor-controlled cassette deck, featuring ABLE calibration, RAMM tracking.
• 1000ZXL-LIMITED (1985) — An elite limited-edition cassette deck from Nakamichi, representing the pinnacle of analog tape technology with unmatched engineering and precision.
• 480 (1975) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the 480 set new standards in tape transport precision and audio fidelity.
• 481 (1978) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the 481 set new standards for tape alignment and playback accuracy.
• 481Z (1985) — A high-end cassette calibration deck from Nakamichi, designed for precision tape alignment and reference playback. Includes full specifications.
• 482 (1974) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the 482 set new standards in tape transport precision and audio fidelity.
• 482Z (1982) — Nakamichi 482Z (1982) — 3-head auto-reverse cassette deck with dual direct-drive capstans, Dolby B/C, and metal tape support. $400–$700 used.
• 580 (1975) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the 580 set new standards in tape transport precision and audio fidelity.
• 580M (1978–1982) — Nakamichi 580M (1978–1982): a 2-head cassette deck with closed-loop double capstan, PLL servo motor, and ZX metal bias — mid-line in name, flagship in build.
• 581 (1975) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the 581 set new standards in tape transport precision and audio fidelity.
• 581Z (1981) — Nakamichi 581Z (1981) – a short-lived but serious cassette deck with discrete three-head system, Dolby C, and metal tape support.
• 582 (1982) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the 582 combined advanced mechanics with audiophile-grade sound reproduction.
• 582Z (1982) — Nakamichi 582Z (1982) — 3-head dual-capstan cassette deck with Dolby C, 50 dB meters, and built-in 400 Hz/15 kHz oscillators. Sells $400–$700 serviced.
• 680ZX — Nakamichi 680ZX cassette deck — half-speed recording flat to 15 kHz, Auto Azimuth Alignment, and twelve front-panel calibration trims.
• 681ZX (1983) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi featuring advanced tape transport and Dolby HX Pro for professional-grade audio reproduction.
• 700ZXE (1987) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the 700ZXE featured advanced auto-calibration and precision mechanics for reference-quality analog tape playback.
• 700ZXL (1985) — The Nakamichi 700ZXL, a rare and advanced cassette calibration deck designed for professional alignment and mastering applications.
• BX-100 (1981) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi known for advanced bias and calibration systems, targeting professional and audiophile users.
• BX-150 (1984–1985) — Nakamichi BX-150 (1984–1985) — the top of Nakamichi's basic range: 2-head deck, Sendust laminate core head, single-capstan transport, 5.5kg chassis. Market and service notes.
• CR-4 (1989) — Nakamichi CR-4 (1989): three-head cassette deck, 20 Hz–21 kHz, 0.024% wow/flutter, manual 15 kHz calibration, discrete Class A recording stage. Collector notes.
• CR-5 (1973) — A high-end cassette recorder from the early 1970s, the Nakamichi CR-5 marked the brand's early commitment to precision engineering and professional-grade tape transport design.
• CR-7B (1972) — A high-end cassette recorder from Nakamichi's golden era, known for precision engineering and exceptional tape performance.
• LX-5 (1983) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the LX-5 brought advanced auto-reverse technology and exceptional build quality to audiophiles seeking top-tier tape performance.
• RX-202 (1979) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, known for precision engineering and advanced tape transport design.
• RX-505 (1983) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi renowned for its three-head design,. Dolby HX Pro, and exceptional tape calibration system.
• TD-1200II (1984) — Nakamichi TD-1200II (1985) — one of only three cassette decks with auto azimuth correction, and the only one built for cars.
• ZX-5 (1985) — The Nakamichi ZX-5 (1984–1987) was the brand's entry-level three-head cassette deck, offering discrete heads and precision transport at a lower price.
• ZX-9 (1980) — A high-end cassette deck from Nakamichi's golden era, the ZX-9 showcased advanced tape transport engineering and precision mechanics.

Cd Players

• CD-3 — Nakamichi CD-3 CD player, circa 1990. 18-bit PCM, Sony KSS-210A laser. Little documented; known belt issues. Service manual exists.
• CD-4 — Little is documented about the Nakamichi CD-4. What the record shows: it was a standalone CD player, and the surviving information amounts to a short list
• CDC-101 — Nakamichi CDC-101 car CD changer, 10-disc magazine, optical output for outboard DAC, 115 dB S/N. With production years. With production years.
• CDPlayer2 — Nakamichi CDPlayer2, the MusicBank multi-disc CD player. Thin documentation; a HiFI-Stereo test report measured speed error and noted top-cover sensitivity.
• CDPlayer3 — Nakamichi CDPlayer3 — early CD player from Nakamichi's standard series, designed to match the C-3 cassette deck and P-3 amplifier. Specs documented; production years unknown.
• CDPlayer4 — Little is documented about the Nakamichi CD Player 4. What the record shows: a single-disc CD player from Nakamichi, built around a 1-bit DAC with 8x
• DVD-10 — Writing about the Nakamichi DVD-10 means writing about two different machines that share a name. One is a DIY project that circulated in forums around
• DVD-15 — The Nakamichi DVD-15, released in 2000 at ¥135,000, was the company's ambitious entry into the DVD changer market — a 5-disc unit built around Nakamichi's
• MB-10 — The Nakamichi MB-10 is a curious entry in the company’s cassette deck lineage — a budget model that nonetheless carries some conflicting documentation. It
• MB-2 — Nakamichi MB-2 three-head cassette deck with CPX heads, Dolby B/C and dbx, 2 motors. Little-documented auto-reverse deck from Nakamichi's 1980s era.
• MB-3s — Nakamichi MB-3s cassette deck from the Music Bank series, circa 1988. Three-head, two-motor transport, Dolby B/C. Documented specs and one owner account; no formal reviews found.
• MB-4s — The Nakamichi MB-4s is a curious entry in the company's cassette deck lineup — curious because the name collides with Nakamichi's own MusicBank CD changer
• OMS-20 — Nakamichi OMS-20 CD player — little documented separately from OMS-20A/OMS-20A II; related model specs, years, and prices noted.
• OMS-40 — The Nakamichi OMS-40 was the company's serious early stab at a standalone CD player, priced at ¥138,000 around 1986. What documentation survives — and
• OMS-50II — The Nakamichi OMS-50II is a CD player from around 1986, positioned as a cost-reduced version of the company’s higher-end OMS-70II — the simplification
• OMS-70II — Nakamichi OMS-70II CD player (1986–1989) — Nakamichi's glitch-free 4x oversampling design with photocoupler isolation, Bessel filtering, and floated zinc die-cast transport.

Microphone

• MC-1000 — Nakamichi MC-1000 moving-coil cartridge — beryllium cantilever, direct-coupled coils, and a mid-1970s step-up requirement. A collector's pickup.

Noise Reduction

• NR-200 — The Nakamichi NR-200 is a standalone stereo noise reduction unit — not a tape deck, but an outboard processor designed to sit between a cassette recorder

Portables

• Dragon 11.4.6 — Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 home surround system: world's first 11.4.6ch, quad subs, Omni-Motion, 15 amps. Thin documentation; modern flagship.
• Shockwafe 9.2.4 — Nakamichi Shockwafe 9.2.4 — 2022 Dolby Atmos soundbar system with dual 10-inch wireless subs, four satellites, eARC and SSE MAX. Documentation is thin.

Power Amplifiers

• PA-304 — Nakamichi PA-304 car audio power amplifier. Very little documented. Period references suggest it was a late-80s/early-90s mobile hi-fi amp with extended frequency response.

Preamplifiers

• 410 — Nakamichi 410 portable cassette player — a rare, premium portable with Quartz PLL speed control, 0.04% WRMS wow/flutter, and Dolby NR. Little-documented and highly collectible.
• 610 — Nakamichi 610 cassette deck (1976) — three-head, dual capstan drive flagship with off-tape monitoring, reviewed in Audio magazine at around $1,100.
• CA-50II (c. 1987) — Nakamichi CA-50II (c.1987) — Japanese 100V control amplifier with selectable MC gain, adjustable MC loading, twin-mono copper-plated build.
• CA-70 — The Nakamichi CA-70 is a full-function control amplifier — Nakamichi's term for a preamplifier — built during the company's ambitious mid-to-late 1980s
• CA-7A — Nakamichi CA-7A all-analog control amplifier, part of the Series-7 system with phono stage using Toshiba JFETs, motorized volume, and system remote control.

Receivers

• 730 — Nakamichi 730 stereo receiver — fingertip-sensor controls, 1978. Thin documentation; known specs from a period Audio test report.
• AV-1 (1999) — Nakamichi AV-1 (1988) — Nakamichi's first A/V receiver, 2x100W into 8 ohms, Dolby Pro Logic, S-VHS inputs, DM 1.798.
• AV-10 — Little is documented about the Nakamichi AV-10. What the record shows: it was an AV receiver, identified as such by the model prefix and by its listing in
• AV-2 (1999) — Little is documented about the Nakamichi AV-2. What the record shows: it was an A/V surround receiver — a category the company pursued alongside its
• R-1 — Nakamichi R-1 cassette deck (1980s) — three-head NADAC transport, dual-capstan closed-loop, sendust heads, 0.025% WRMS wow & flutter, $1,050 in 1986.
• SR-2A — Nakamichi SR-2A stereo receiver from the mid-1980s. Little documented; known for STASIS amplifier circuitry shared with the SR-3A. Listed at $359 in 1987.
• SR-3A — Nakamichi SR-3A AM/FM receiver with STASIS power amp, Isolated-Ground power supply, and video monitor switching. Tested by HiFi/Stereo in 1986.
• SR-40 — Nakamichi SR-40 (1980–1982): a tuner with stereo tape monitoring from Nakamichi's 400/500-series separates era, conceptually based on the Nakamichi 430.
• SR-4A — Nakamichi SR-4A stereo receiver (1987–1988). Little documented; listed at $659 in HiFi-Stereo (May 1987). Mid-range model between SR-2A and SR-3A.
• TA-20 — Nakamichi TA-20 (1982–1984) — 65W/ch integrated tuner amplifier with quartz-PLL FM, DC-coupled amp design, and a phono stage that rivals separates.
• TA-30 — Nakamichi TA-30 — an obscure late-1970s model with only fragmentary period press references surviving.

Recorders

• 1000-DAT — Little is documented about the Nakamichi 1000-DAT beyond its period press coverage, but that coverage is significant: the 1000-DAT was Nakamichi's

Speakers

• BX-2 (1983) — The Nakamichi BX-2 (1980–1983) is a 2-head cassette deck praised for its clean sound, robust transport, and precise engineering—offering high-fidelity performance without flash.
• CR-3 (1971) — Nakamichi CR-3 three-head cassette deck — discrete heads, dual-capstan transport, Dolby B/C, Bias Tune, line inputs only. $750 in 1988.
• MR-1 (1983) — A groundbreaking reel-to-reel tape recorder from Nakamichi, representing the pinnacle of analog tape fidelity and engineering precision.
• MR-2 (1976) — Nakamichi MR-2 (1986–1994): a pro-grade 2-head cassette deck with balanced I/O and durable build—watch for pitch control failures.

Tape Decks

• 1000-II (1974) — A groundbreaking open-reel tape deck that set new standards for high-fidelity audio reproduction in the 1970s. This page has detailed specs.

Tuners

• 430 — Nakamichi 430 (1977-1979) stereo receiver, 30W/ch into 8 ohms at 0.08% THD, part of Nakamichi's compact separates trio with the 410 preamp and 420 amp.
• 630 — Nakamichi 630 preamplifier/tuner, c. 1976. Part of the 600 Series separates; shares topology with the 620. Designed with Nippon Gakki (Yamaha). Sources conflict on whether it is a preamp or integrated…
• ST-70 — Nakamichi ST-70 tuner — FM/AM specs known, but production years, price, and design details undocumented. A thin but honest record.
• T-100 (1978) — Nakamichi T-100 (1978) audio analyzer — oscillator, pink noise, dual plasma meter, wow/flutter and distortion in one compact box. Original price $800.

Turntables

• DRAGON-CT — Nakamichi Dragon-CT cassette deck (c. 1982–1985): the first Nakamichi deck with NAAC auto azimuth correction, sharing the original Dragon's transport. A legendary but maintenance-intensive flagship.

Unknown

• DMP-100 — Nakamichi DMP-100 EIAJ digital processor — a consumer-grade black box that studios wired into their racks for 14/16-bit digital recording with any VCR.

Other Models

• 1000MB — Nakamichi 1000MB seven-disc MusicBank CD changer for the 1000 car system — 18-bit dual DACs, $2,200 list, and a converter reviewers told buyers to bypass.
• 1000p — Nakamichi 1000p — part of the flagship 1000 Digital Recording System, a DAT-based deck with 48/44.1/32 kHz sampling. Documentation is thin; what's known comes from late-80s/early-90s period reviews.
• 1000TD — Nakamichi 1000TD: the $2,800 cassette head unit of Nakamichi's Project 1000 car system. Stunning tape performance, no faceplate, no auto-reverse.
• 400 — Nakamichi 400 portable cassette recorder, 1973-1975. Rare professional portable with Dolby B, built-in speakers, $675 in 1973. Thin documentation; 2-head design.
• 480Z — A 2-head cassette deck from Nakamichi’s 400-series, released in 1981, featuring Dolby C noise reduction and precision tape transport.
• 700 — Nakamichi 700 cassette deck — the company's first commercial cassette deck, a three-head pioneer that helped legitimize the format for audiophiles.
• BX-3 — Nakamichi BX-3 (1979) — Japanese-market dual-capstan cassette deck with quartz-locked direct drive, Sendust head, Dolby B/C. Little-documented BX-series model.
• CA-101 — Nakamichi CA-101 car control amplifier (1990): two-chassis mobile preamp, $595, 10 Hz–50 kHz, 0.002% THD.
• CA-5AII — Nakamichi CA-5AII stereo preamplifier — MC phono stage with dealer-adjustable 100-ohm loading, low-feedback design praised by HiFI-Stereo in 1988.
• CA-5EII — Nakamichi CA-5EII control amplifier — 220V European version of the CA-5II family, with internal MM/MC phono stage and wired remote.
• CA-5II — Nakamichi CA-5II control amplifier — factory-set 100-ohm MC load impedance, dealer-only resistor swap, regional variants CA-5AII/CA-5EII/CA-50II.
• CDP-3 — Nakamichi CDP-3 CD player — Burr-Brown PCM 1702 DACs, PMD100 HDCD decoding, balanced outputs, decoupled transport. A quietly serious late-90s player.
• CM-300 — Nakamichi CM-300 true condenser mic — interchangeable cardioid/omni capsules, AA battery or 48V phantom power, XLR out. A vintage sleeper.
• CM-50 — Nakamichi CM-50 — a studio autolocator/synchroniser companion to the CM250, built for frame-accurate tape transport control in 1980s pro facilities.
• CM-700 — Nakamichi CM-700 studio electret microphone — 16mm element, cardioid/omni capsules, 15dB pad, $150 in 1978. A versatile working mic, not a collector trophy.
• CM250 — Nakamichi CM250 synchroniser — two-part SMPTE-compatible audio/video sync unit with 80-char LCD, 30-cue storage on Mk II.
• CR-3A — Nakamichi CR-3A cassette deck, Nakamichi's affordable three-head model from 1988, with dual-capstan transport and Dolby B/C. Priced at $750.
• CR-3E — Nakamichi CR-3E: European-market discrete 3-head, double-capstan cassette deck from the CR-3/CR-4 family. Architecture and EEC spec documented; specs thin.
• CR-4A — Nakamichi CR-4A cassette deck (1989–1991), 2-head dual-capstan transport, Dolby B/C. Reviewed by Audio magazine at $995 with transparent sound.
• CR-7E — Nakamichi CR-7E flagship three-head cassette deck (1985–1993) with auto azimuth alignment, closed-loop dual capstan transport, and Dolby B/C.
• DAC-101 — Nakamichi DAC-101 car D/A converter ($495, 1990): 8x oversampling, 105 dB S/N, measured 0.002% THD through it.
• DAC-3 — Nakamichi DAC-3 — an unresolved catalog entry. No verified specs, years, or reviews on file; the Audio Research DAC3 is a different product entirely.
• EQ-1 — The Nakamichi EQ-1 is something of a rarity in the company's lineup — a standalone graphic equalizer from 1986, and apparently the only EQ unit Nakamichi
• IA-1z — Nakamichi IA-1z five-channel integrated amp with Dolby Digital, Precision Resistor Array volume, rated 100Wpc stereo — tested far higher.
• NR-100 — Nakamichi NR-100 Dolby C processor (1982, $230) — a purpose-built add-on for the 700ZXL and 1000ZXL decks that extended HF headroom to 20.6 kHz.
• PA-300 — Nakamichi PA-300 (1983) — Nakamichi's first car amplifier: 70W/ch, sub-0.003% distortion, $340 in 1983. The power half of the TD-1200 mobile system.
• PA-7AII — Nakamichi PA-7AII power amplifier — a PA-7II-family variant documented in its own service manual, with 32 output transistors and model-specific parts.
• PA-7EII — Nakamichi PA-7EII power amplifier — an obscure, thinly documented model. Manuals exist; specs, years, and price do not.
• RM-200 — Nakamichi RM-200 wired remote control — transport-only, 5-meter cable, optional accessory for BX-300 and 700 ZXL cassette decks.
• RM-300 — Nakamichi RM-300 wired remote for the 700 ZXL cassette deck. Five-meter cable, RAMM and transport control, optional accessory.
• st-7 — A high-performance FM/AM tuner with digital synthesis and Schott NR noise reduction, built for audiophiles seeking precise reception and low distortion.
• Tandberg — No documented product combining Nakamichi and Tandberg exists in the research record; this entry may stem from a mislabel of two separate brands.
• TD-1000 — Nakamichi TD-1000 three-head single-capstan cassette deck, c. 1982-1985. Nakamichi's top-of-the-line early-80s deck with auto calibration and 0.02% WRMS wow and flutter.
• TD-400 — The TD-400 was a car stereo tuner/cassette deck from Nakamichi, part of a small line of mobile audio components the company produced in the mid-1980s. It
• TD-500 — Nakamichi TD-500 cassette deck, mid-1980s. Little documented; listed at $499 in 1985, described as nearly identical to the TD-700.
• TD-700 — Nakamichi TD-700 mobile cassette deck (1984–1987), a dual-capstan three-head car tuner/deck with Dolby B/C/dbx.
• TD-800 — Nakamichi TD-800 car cassette deck with tuner. Little documented; Audio (Sept 1984) praised its FM performance. Specs: 3 heads, 2 motors, 70dB S/N with Dolby C.
• TD1200 — The Nakamichi TD1200 is a frustrating one to pin down. The name appears in period advertising as a car stereo tuner/tape deck — High Fidelity (July 1983
• TX-1000 — Nakamichi TX-1000 — the computing turntable that re-centers off-center LPs to ±0.02 mm, solving record wow at the source.