Phono Amps

Today I went to test a few phonostages. First I listened Pro-ject's phono box S, and it was very nice sounding indeed. Then I asked to put tube box S, but found out it wasnt that much better, as it's price was. Finally dealer connected brand new Phono box DS2 (with USB ADC as bonus) and even from cold start it sounded clearly better, especially in the bottom end. Sadly there were no Stageline stocked to try, so I picked DS2 at very reasonable price. I guess for 2M SIlver cartridge it will be more than enough... Don't know how long burn-in will take for max performance, but even after few hours it seems great

Bit the bullet on the real 3 --> motor upgrade ( old one was wobbling) new Rega Bias II on advice of The Sound Gallery in High Wycombe (also Naim dealers),  sound is awesome, better soundstage than ripped CD's 

So back to the future, any one still using a Nakamichi tape player, was also awesome in its day

Myron, I believe there are quite a few still using Nakamichi cassette decks on here.  I still use a ZX-9 (about to head off to Bowers & Wilkins for a much needed service), and have an LX-3, 482 and CR-3E elsewhere.  I was also given an original 700 Tri-tracer that looks good but not working properly, so will need investigation...

Richard Dane posted:

Myron, I believe there are quite a few still using Nakamichi cassette decks on here.  I still use a ZX-9 (about to head off to Bowers & Wilkins for a much needed service), and have an LX-3, 482 and CR-3E elsewhere.  I was also given an original 700 Tri-tracer that looks good but not working properly, so will need investigation...

Richard, I have always wondered why you don't have a Dragon in your "collection" as I'm sure you must have compared it with your ZX-9 at some point. Any particular reason?

MyronB posted:

Bit the bullet on the real 3 --> motor upgrade ( old one was wobbling) new Rega Bias II...

Good stuff. IKEA Lack for about £6 if you've got the Rega Planar 3 sitting on a heavy sideboard full of best china etc.

Chris

Tony, I've known a few Dragons.  They are wonderful decks for sure, and as a tool to get the best playback of any tape you care to offer up, probably unmatched except perhaps by a ZX-9 playing back its own recording.  But strangely I've never quite lusted after one in the same way as I did for the ZX-9 when i was younger. It is a technical tour de force though, the Dragon - the split head and NAAC system were amazing inventions - this not coming from a giant like Sony or Matsushita but from comparatively tiny Nakamichi - so focussed on performance, you have to love that.  

Similarly I never really lusted after a CR-7 - impressive in so many ways, but the sound was to my ears a bit too cool and cerebral compared to the earlier true Naks.  

No, it was always the ZX-9 that was my ultimate object of Nak lust - that page of my old 1984 Hifi Choice annual still has the folded corner and asterisk.  And don't forget it was the ZX9 that was Nakamichi's own reference recorder of choice, "super-tuned" so they said on the tin...

Thank you for the reply, Richard.  I know you have always been very passionate about tape decks and in particular the Nakas but never quite understood why you were so fond of the ZX9. Until now!

I'm currently "working" on a couple of basic decks ( Cr2 and and a 1.5- mainly belts changing, I hope!)  to learn a little more about these wonderful machines. I wouldn't dare touching anything like a ZX9 or Dragon, of course. 

Great to see the ZX9 going for a service at B&W. Paul and his team are really the best around.

Thanks again.

Richard Dane posted:

Tony, I've known a few Dragons. 

Erm, haven't we all?  

Sorry, couldn't resist .......... schoolboy humour, I know, but hey ho.

I just upgraded my Phono preamp to a Graham Slee accession and it is great. I have a LP-12/Ekos2/Trampolin2/Cirkus/Lingo2/Adikt and the combo sounds just great. My pre is a NAC-N 272

Dave, when I first typed it and re-read it, I smiled too.  So I left it...

Tony, the Cassette Deck 1 and 1.5 are probably my favourites of the later Naks. They sound particularly good for some reason (there's a bit of a lift in the bass that's not accurate but does sound nice) whereas their successors, the DR1 and DR2 somehow came over as thinner sounding and a bit hard and brittle.  I bought a 1.5 new and in a moment of madness (divorce) foolishly sold in around 2003 for a song, minty, boxed and still like new.  

Anyway, a bit of a thread diversion, so apologies to the OP, although you did ask about the Naks...

Yes,  Richard I heard good things about the 1.5 and its 3 heads. Looking forward to have it properly working. I do have a fully working Cassette Deck 2 at  moment it is a pretty nifty machine for such a basic deck. 

Any way, thanks again and let's leave the OP alone.

Cheers.

DUPREE posted:

I just upgraded my Phono preamp to a Graham Slee accession and it is great. I have a LP-12/Ekos2/Trampolin2/Cirkus/Lingo2/Adikt and the combo sounds just great. My pre is a NAC-N 272

Another vote for the GSP Accession.  As I commented on an earlier thread, at a later date one can add a step-up (either active or transformer) when upgrading to a low-output MC cartridge, with excellent results.  Indeed, there is a sizable contingent that prefers this two-stage approach.