US-UK Step-Down converter recommendation.

A quick Google of the schematics suggests it is internally adjustable, though it might not be diy-able unless you're adequately knowledgeable - but any reasonably skilled service technician may be able to do, or of course a Nakamichi agent. Probably better than buying a step-down transformer.

Bowers and wilkins (not the speakers, the old nakamichi service place on south coast) can advise.

They did a superb service on my Dragon (the  IEC master reference one, ground zero for tapes)

I think the 680zx has a mains voltage selector switch on the rear panel (some versions certainly did).

best

David

As Jon has recommended above,  you should first talk to Bowers and Wilkins.

I have a UK supplied Nakamichi ZX-9 that is fixed voltage and one that came from Germany that is multi-voltage (switchable at the rear), so likely that there are also 680ZX units either with or without switchable voltage, depending on the market.

Well, well. Just typical. The seller now says item is no longer available after I sent him payment. I was really looking forward to a new(ish) Naka since my CR3 gave up the ghost. Anyway, that will teach me not to jump the gun and get over exited.  Msybe it was destiny and not meant to be but I will persevere and try to find another one, a ZX9 or even a Dragon. 

Thanks everyone for the advice. It wasn't been wasted and  I do appreciate.

Tony

Tony

Sorry to hear about the sale falling threw.The 680  ZX had a great reputation.

Have you thought of a BX 300 E in good nick ?

I have a BX 300 E and it runs my other Nak a CR 7 E  pretty close.It's all the Nak you really need.Pitch control,3 heads,variable output,superb ergonomics you might be able to pick a good one up for less than £ 300.It also has a more reel to reel sound then the CR series.I also have a CR 2 E and it's superior to that model

The Dragon and ZX 9 are better but will cost alot more.

Funny enough I was listening to a recording of Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Toure and Ry Coolder last night recorded from vinyl with a Linn Ittok Troika on the BX 300E and it sounded beautiful, way better than the c.d played on my Nagra  c.d player.

ATB   Ian

Thank you Ian. I was really gutted as I paid just under £270.00 for it which was a steal considering that some lower specifications Nakas sell for almost twice that. Even if I had to have it serviced, it would still have been very good VFM. Anyway, no point lamenting water under the bridge.
I had not considered the 300BX as an option but will take a good look as it seems to be a pretty decent deck.
Although I do stream some of my music, I would always rather listen to my vinyl on the Sondek and tapes on my Revox B77 and Naka CR3. There is something "palpable" with analogue reproduction that one cannot achieve with a digital source.

Hope you're well.

Best regards,
Tony

Tony, the BX-300E is an excellent deck even if it does get short shrift from hardcore Nak fans for not being a "proper" Nak thanks to not having a Nakamichi mechanism (It uses a bought-in Sankyo mech like a number of other manufacturers).  Then again, even the mighty CR-7 uses a Sankyo mechanism, and in spite of a few known weaknesses such as the undersized idler, they perform very well.  The BX-300 was offered up as the ZX-5 in some markets, so that gives you some idea of where it stands.  Just beware of thrashed machines.  They were very popular and lots have changed hands numerous times.  Look for the best, beware the rest.

Another later Nak that I was very fond of was the Cassette Deck 1.5.  This had a rather interesting FR, with a plateau lift at the low end that gave it a really meaty sound.  I have some tapes recorded on my old 1.5 that still sound amazing - if a little larger than life at times.  These will usually turn up in excellent nick.  I know that I sold mine mint and boxed for a song back in about 2003 - big mistake.

Or how about a CR-5? Again a Sankyo era deck but what you get is a lot of the goodness of a CR-7 but without some of the frills and at a much lower price tag.  Nice deck that usually comes up in well looked after condition.

However, you already have a CR-3 - another excellent Sankyo Nak 3 header.  And there's nothing quite like a full Nak - i.e. one that uses the Nakamichi mechanism, so no surprise the lure of the 680.  To that end, if you hanker after a ZX-9 (and why not, it is in many ways the ultimate recording machine) but don't want to spend that much then consider a ZX-7.  Or how about the rather undervalued LX-5?  I think these are still supported by Bowers and Wilkins Nak service.  And then there's the 582Z - this was used by a number of reviewers and magazines as their tape test reference deck up until the arrival of the built-for-purpose ZX-9.  Heck, even a 482 is a lovely deck and sounds fab, although with all of these decks, beware the dreaded orange cap disease.  These later decks are lovely but a riskier proposition, mainly because they aren't fully supported for spares anymore.  Just look for the best machine you can find...

I have a Nakamichi 582 that has been in my loft for the last ten years. Perhaps I should get it down again!

best

David

Cassettes?  Hello . . . the 70's called and they want their technology back!  My old Nak is just plainly inferior to any quality digital recording technology now, especially wen played through the NDX.  Very interesting that there are still cassette fans out there!

Richard Dane posted:

Tony, the BX-300E is an excellent deck even if it does get short shrift from hardcore Nak fans for not being a "proper" Nak thanks to not having a Nakamichi mechanism (It uses a bought-in Sankyo mech like a number of other manufacturers).  Then again, even the mighty CR-7 uses a Sankyo mechanism, and in spite of a few known weaknesses such as the undersized idler, they perform very well.  The BX-300 was offered up as the ZX-5 in some markets, so that gives you some idea of where it stands.  Just beware of thrashed machines.  They were very popular and lots have changed hands numerous times.  Look for the best, beware the rest.

Another later Nak that I was very fond of was the Cassette Deck 1.5.  This had a rather interesting FR, with a plateau lift at the low end that gave it a really meaty sound.  I have some tapes recorded on my old 1.5 that still sound amazing - if a little larger than life at times.  These will usually turn up in excellent nick.  I know that I sold mine mint and boxed for a song back in about 2003 - big mistake.

Or how about a CR-5? Again a Sankyo era deck but what you get is a lot of the goodness of a CR-7 but without some of the frills and at a much lower price tag.  Nice deck that usually comes up in well looked after condition.

However, you already have a CR-3 - another excellent Sankyo Nak 3 header.  And there's nothing quite like a full Nak - i.e. one that uses the Nakamichi mechanism, so no surprise the lure of the 680.  To that end, if you hanker after a ZX-9 (and why not, it is in many ways the ultimate recording machine) but don't want to spend that much then consider a ZX-7.  Or how about the rather undervalued LX-5?  I think these are still supported by Bowers and Wilkins Nak service.  And then there's the 582Z - this was used by a number of reviewers and magazines as their tape test reference deck up until the arrival of the built-for-purpose ZX-9.  Heck, even a 482 is a lovely deck and sounds fab, although with all of these decks, beware the dreaded orange cap disease.  These later decks are lovely but a riskier proposition, mainly because they aren't fully supported for spares anymore.  Just look for the best machine you can find...

Richard, thanks for the excellent write up. Lots to consider there. Your passion, enthusiasm and knowledge is, as always, formidable!

I will thread carefully.

Many thanks. 

Tony

David Hendon posted:

I have a Nakamichi 582 that has been in my loft for the last ten years. Perhaps I should get it down again!

best

David

David,

Is that the one you had way back?

Yes get it down from the loft - is your Thorens still up there?

Regards,

Lindsay

Oh well - no accounting for taste - I'm the anti-Linn around here!!

Tony2011 posted:

Although I do stream some of my music, I would always rather listen to my vinyl on the Sondek and tapes on my Revox B77 and Naka CR3. There is something "palpable" with analogue reproduction that one cannot achieve with a digital source.

Hope you're well.

Best regards,
Tony

 

Good to here that Tony

.I am about 10 years behind with all this streaming business and latest DAC technology and much prefer listening to Radio or Vinyl and of cause tapes from those sources !

A friend who streams alot and runs a valve amp set up with big Focal speakers recently got his turntable working again.His system always sounds good but when he put a record on while I was doing a crossword and not aware what he was doing .It was Stephens Stills first solo album and it sounded so much better.Warmer,detailed.His streamer in comparison was just a bit lifeless or should that be souless !

Ok, I found and bought a 682ZX. I did a lot of reading comparing it to the 680 ZX. Is the only difference the manual azymuth on the 680(recording only) or there's more to it?  They seem identical spec wise. Does the 682 use the dreaded 4066 chip(used on the 680) that many people  recommend should be replaced? 

The 680zx had a half speed option - not really that useful, while the 682zx gained Dolby C (again, not that useful).  Not sure about the "dreaded 4066 chip".

Hi Richard, I did not see any major differences either. I read some comments that the chip affectted "sound quality". The chip, you probably already knew that, was widely used by some major manufactures with different outcomes.  I'll probably send it to B&W to have it fully serviced and see what they say. Did you have your ZX9 serviced by them or you did it yourself?

Both ZX-9s are still waiting to go to Bowers and Wilkins.  I was hoping to drop them off while passing at some point...

You've got two? Now that's being greedy, Richard.

Let me know when you doing yours and maybe we can send them off together and get a good deal