Nakamichi MR-1 cassette recorder

[thomh]

Does anybody have any hands-on experience with this model?
The one I am being offered was used in studio production for about a years time in the early 90s and since then been in storage. Looks great. Since the price is negotiable what would be a good price for this unit?

Thanks.
Thom

[Jamie Tate]

I have one of these. I think it's one of the best sounding playback cassette decks I've ever heard.

There are supposedly some issues with the record EQ. Some people say tapes only sound good when played back on Nakamichi decks but I've never found that to be true. Rumors say they fixed the "problem" on newer models. I question if the problem ever existed.

I think it's an amazing sounding deck. I'd buy it.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by yesman
Some people say tapes only sound good when played back on Nakamichi decks but I've never found that to be true. Rumors say they fixed the "problem" on newer models. I question if the problem ever existed.


Hi Jamie,

I'm one of those weirdos who strongly believe that there are compatability issues w/ Naks............ bet you're not surprised! :D

-Jeffrey

[Jamie Tate]

Maybe I have one of the new models. I've played back tapes on all kinds of machines and never heard the bottom or top end drop off. Is that what it sounds like?

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by yesman
Maybe I have one of the new models. I've played back tapes on all kinds of machines and never heard the bottom or top end drop off. Is that what it sounds like?

Hi Jamie,

Yes, my many experiences are w/ the better Nak decks (take your gloves off, damnit :D ) that were made in the 80's. If ya playback a tape recorded on another deck there are some issues and if ya playback a Nak recorded tape on another deck there are even more issues. It's a calibration thing and is real easy to detect in the highs (well, at least for us amateurs :p) but appears to also cause smaller issues in lower frequencies.

-Jeffrey

[sgraham]

Originally posted by yesman
There are supposedly some issues with the record EQ. I question if the problem ever existed.
Hi Jamie,

Whether you call it a "problem" or not, it's a documented fact (only don't ask me for the documents - I don't remember where I saw them). Nak. took a more clinically correct approach to things resulting in a slightly different EQ curve from the rest of the world that took a more pragmatic approach. As I recall it only affected the very high frequencies, so may not be that much of an issue.

[thomh]

Originally posted by yesman
I have one of these. I think it's one of the best sounding playback cassette decks I've ever heard.

There are supposedly some issues with the record EQ. Some people say tapes only sound good when played back on Nakamichi decks but I've never found that to be true. Rumors say they fixed the "problem" on newer models. I question if the problem ever existed.

I think it's an amazing sounding deck. I'd buy it.

Excellent. I'll see if I can get a fair price for it. If my memory serves me correctly this model first hit the market in the mid 80s. The seller purchased his in the early 90s. So this might be a later model. Is there a serial number of something similar that distinguishes these newer models?

Thanks.
Thom

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by sgraham
... it's a documented fact (only don't ask me for the documents - I don't remember where I saw them). Nak. took a more clinically correct approach to things resulting in a slightly different EQ curve from the rest of the world that took a more pragmatic approach. As I recall it only affected the very high frequencies, so may not be that much of an issue.

There you go. The rumors were true. Thanks Steve.

It still makes an excellent playback unit as the EQ would only affect the record side.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by yesman

It still makes an excellent playback unit as the EQ would only affect the record side.

Hi Jamie,

Nak's make excellent recording decks provided you also use 'em for playback.

IMO, the best playback unit is the deck the tape was made on. I've played lotsa Sony D5 recordings on Naks and they just don't calibrate as well as playing 'em back on the same D5.

Just my opinion,
Jeffrey

[aashton]

Originally posted by thomh


Excellent. I'll see if I can get a fair price for it. If my memory serves me correctly this model first hit the market in the mid 80s. The seller purchased his in the early 90s. So this might be a later model. Is there a serial number of something similar that distinguishes these newer models?

According to http://www.naks.com/ they were only produced for one year in 1985 and tend to sell for between $150 to $200

All the best - Andrew

[John Carsell]

Originally posted by Jeffrey


Hi Jamie,

I'm one of those weirdos who strongly believe that there are compatability issues w/ Naks............ bet you're not surprised! :D

-Jeffrey

Well I'm not surprised. :laugh:

Hey Jeffrey, I'm with 'ya one this topic.

Back in the late '70's when I was DJ-ing at the local nightclub in town, their set up included a fancy NAK cassette deck.

So I tought well I'll make some dubs of stuff I don't have and they oughta sound great. Afterall this was a Nakamichi. So grabbing the finest Maxell blank tape I could buy, I loaded it up and got 90 minutes of tunes. I left work that night and popped the tape into my Pioneer car deck and eeechh!! Sounded like total mud, kinda like when you didn't clean the tape heads for a year. Took it home, same deal. I wasn't 'til quite awhile late I read about the compatbility issues with Nak's v.s. other brands.

A learning experience I guess.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by John Carsell


Well I'm not surprised. :laugh:

Sounded like total mud

Hi John!

Damn you're good..... first ya got me then ya got Mud all in one post! :laugh: :D :laugh:

-Jeffrey

[michael w]

For more on Nakamichi compatibility problems...

http://www.sonicsense.com/nakfaq42.htm#naknonnk


cheerio