Nakamichi PA-50CE (1988)
The Nakamichi PA-50CE is a stereo power amplifier released in 1988, announced as a custom edition of the standard PA-50. It was priced at ¥250,000 in Japan. "Custom Edition" is stamped on the front panel. Each unit was sound-checked at the factory against a B&W 801 monitor speaker before it shipped.
The amp uses the STASIS method. A pure Class A stage keeps operation linear, and a Class AB current-mirror bootstrap section supplies current to the speakers, driving them in parallel with no overall negative feedback. A total of 24 power transistors handle current delivery. The output terminals tie directly to gold-plated copper bus bars to equalize impedance paths. The power supply uses a 470 VA toroidal transformer and 47,000 µF filter capacitors, both exclusive to the Custom Edition.
It is built heavy. A skeleton chassis mounts the transformer and capacitors on a thick spine running front to back, with steel angle framing around it. All steel parts get a thick electrodeposition coating to reduce resonance, and the top cover is 3 mm aluminum. The heat sink is a single fully integrated unit, meant to keep temperature uniform across the power transistors. Internal wiring is Nakamichi's oxygen-free copper single-wire cable, and the AC cord is oxygen-free copper too. The AC cable, power switch and inrush current limiter are isolated from the audio section. Output terminals come in two types - standard binding posts and brass machined large vise types - both gold-plated and suitable for bi-wiring.
Rated output is 150W + 150W into 8Ω (20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD 0.05%), with a signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB or more. Maximum output current is 70A per channel. Power consumption reaches up to 650W. The unit measures 435 × 157 × 421 mm (W×H×D) and weighs approximately 21.5 kg. It is a 100V Japanese-market unit, so outside Japan it needs a step-down converter.
Documentation on this model is thin. No period reviews, production run details or user accounts have surfaced in the available record. Recent listings on the secondary market show asking prices around $1,460 - $2,253, but that alone can't establish consistent collector pricing.
Known specifications:
- Rated output: 150W + 150W (8Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, THD 0.05%)
- Signal-to-noise: 120 dB or more (IHF, A-weighted, input shorted)
- Maximum output current: 70A per channel
- Power consumption: up to 650W
- Dimensions: 435 × 157 × 421 mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: approx. 21.5 kg
- Original price: ¥250,000 (1988, Japan)
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