With an 11-year production run that ended in 1993, the Nakamichi Dragon epitomized cassette-deck technology, and to many enthusiasts, it was considered the Holy Grail of what could be accomplished at 1 7/8 i.p.s. A three-head deck with discrete heads for recording, playback and erase, it used Nakamichi’s NAAC auto azimuth correction to optimize playback azimuth on any tape played. While some other Nakamichi models used an adjustable record azimuth, the Dragon concentrated on the playback domain. This resulted in a Nakamichi deck that could play back tapes recorded on other manufacturers’ machines as well as doing a great job with pre-recorded tapes.
In the past, cassette decks have left me cold, trading convenience for ultimate sonic performance. But the Dragon is in a class of its own. I truly wish I had sprung for one when they were introduced instead of buying the CD player that my local HiFi dealer convinced me was the wave of the future.
Even though music servers have all but made the mix tape obsolete, there is still something special about planning out a few custom tapes that you create yourself. If this sounds like fun to you, watch eBay for the Nakamichi you desire (I highly suggest a Dragon) and give Willy a call. You’ll be glad you did. -Jeff Dorgay
Brand: Nakamichi
Model Name/Number: Dragon
Price (RRP): £6000
Choice Hifi Price: £3995
Product Information:
The Dragon’s wow and flutter announced by Nakamichi – 0.019% weighted RMS and 0.04% weighted peak – were twice as low as those of Nakamichi 1000ZXL and, for a while, the lowest on the market. Independent tests confirmed the manufacturer’s figures; according to Stereo Review, test results revealed the performance of the equipment that recorded the test tape rather than that of the Dragon. In the late 1980s ASC, Onkyo, Studer and TEAC reached a similar level of wow and flutter but the Dragon’s achievement was still the best in industry. Long-term speed stability of the Dragon was exemplary but that was typical for quartz-controlled transports. The Dragon’s absolute speed error (+0.2–+0.5%) was typical for the industry and presented no audible distraction.
According to Stereo Review‘s measurements, the Dragon’s dynamic range for Type I, II and IV tapes equaled 54, 56.5 and 59 decibels (dB) respectively. These were record-high figures for cassette machines, beating the Tandberg 3014 and the Revox B215 in comparative tests by 4-5 dB. The Dragon’s replay audio path generated far less treble noise; tape hiss reproduced with the Dragon appeared subjectively quieter and euphonic. Maximum output levels (MOL) of the Dragon were also the best in class, marginally better than those of the Tandberg but almost 4 dB better than those of the Revox.
The lower boundary of the Dragon’s frequency response, measured to within ±3 dB, extends to 11–12 Hz. Nakamichi said the special shape of their heads substantially reduced the contour effect, effectively suppressing low-frequency headbump (poletip resonance). This is only true for the replay head. The combined recording and replay frequency response, according to independent testers, exhibits a comb-like resonant pattern. The lowest and most prominent peak or headbump, which lies at around 15 Hz, can be suppressed with a user-defeatable subsonic filter.
The upper boundary for low-level (-20 dB) signals extends to 22–24 kHz depending on tape type. This is much lower than the record set by the Nakamichi 1000ZXL (26–28 kHz), and is typical for all flagship models of the 1980s. The significance of this parameter was often overstated by hi-fi enthusiasts; professionals did not rate it as important because any professional deck easily exceeded the 20 kHz mark. More important was the high-level frequency response, which is largely limited by the tape and tape-head interaction. Here, the Dragon demonstrated very good performance, marginally better than Tandberg and significantly better than the Revox with Type I and Type IV (but not Type II) tapes.
Age: 25 Years
Condition: 9/10
Voltage: 220/240/50Hz
Finish/Colour: Black
Packaging? No
Accessories? Yes
Item Location: In Stock
Status: Second Hand
to enquire about this product!
