Nakamichi CassetteDeck1 (1978–1980)
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 an oddity even among Nakamichi's more obscure decks. What the record shows is a straightforward two-head, single-motor stereo cassette deck produced in the late 1970s, likely an entry-level or mid-range offering given its modest feature set.
The available specs paint a picture of a competent but unassuming machine: frequency response rated at 30Hz–18kHz (±3dB), wow and flutter of 0.09%, and a 3-band display of some kind (the source simply lists "BAND: 3-band," which may refer to a three-band spectrum analyzer or similar indicator). It measured 420 × 147 × 250 mm and weighed 5.5 kg — a reasonably compact footprint for the era. Notably, none of the database entries mention Dolby noise reduction, which would have been unusual for a Nakamichi of this period, though the absence of information shouldn't be taken as confirmation it lacked the feature.
HiFI-Stereo (May 1992, p.41) tested a model it called the "CassetteDeck1.5," which appears to be a related or successor variant; that review focused on an asymmetric dual-capstan transport design intended to avoid common resonance frequencies between the two capstan systems — a characteristically Nakamichi engineering solution, though it should not be assumed the original CassetteDeck1 shared that mechanism.
Beyond its listing in period equipment directories, almost nothing else is recorded about this model. No original price, no owner impressions, no service history. For collectors, the CassetteDeck1 remains a footnote in Nakamichi's otherwise well-documented catalog — a name that surfaces in database entries but rarely in enthusiast discussions.
- Type: Stereo cassette deck
- Production: 1978–1980
- Frequency range: 30Hz–18kHz (±3dB)
- Wow & flutter: 0.09%
- Motors: 1
- Heads: 2
- Dimensions: 420 × 147 × 250 mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 5.5 kg
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