Nakamichi Dragon- Wow!

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Raylinds, Feb 16, 2020.

  1. clhboa

    clhboa Forum Resident

    Thought I would give an update. I sent it back to Willy. He was very concerned that I was unhappy. After going over it he said it was all in spec and there was nothing wrong. After getting it back I figured I would cut my losses and sell it. Figured I would give it one last chance before selling. Very happy this time around! Sounds great!!! I've been using it regularly for a few months now. It's a keeper.

    I told Willy that I was now happy. Not sure what the difference was (Willy didn't either) but it sounds way better to me now.
     
    ssmith3046 likes this.
  2. rpd

    rpd Senior Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    Not surprised. He’s the best
     
  3. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    I never had an RX-202. I was imagining its a very good sounding deck too especially done by an expert like Willy. I have several nakamichi deck even a BX-1 already sounded so nice especially after completely serviced and properly aligned. I love the sound of the tapes recorded on BX-300 but when it comes to playback, I just use a 2-head.
     
    timind likes this.
  4. clhboa

    clhboa Forum Resident

    I changed over the cables I was using with the RX-202. Made all the difference in the world. Sounds terrific now. It is currently back at Willy Herman's for work on an unrelated issue that it developed.
     
    Classic Car Guy likes this.
  5. KLM

    KLM Senior Member

    This thread inspired me to take a look at the Nak I have downstairs but haven’t used in about 15 years. It’s the RX 505, three heads, lots of level adjustments and the great auto reverse function that stops the cassette, pushes it out and then flips it around and returns it back into place. Made a lot of tapes and loved using it in college. Might have to break out some of the tapes to see if it plays. It’s in excellent cosmetic condition and I’m not sure if I want to keep or sell it.
     
  6. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    That is one of the more desirable Naks IMO. The odds are that the mechanism will require servicing before functioning though...
     
    jusbe likes this.
  7. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Glad you got it rolling again. I can imagine the que time in waiting for a deck work with Willy. he told me atleast 5 months ahead...
    I have to keep my deck running too atleast one a week especially the on in the living room which I just normally listen to on weekends and holidays. But my recording machine always runs atleast every other day....
    In this way its not gonna freeze up. Talk about freezing up. One of my BX-300 did a few months ago and I'm working on it as we speak...
     
  8. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Theres plenty of them right now for a chunk of change..
     
  9. Drew769

    Drew769 Buyer of s*** I never knew I lacked

    Location:
    NJ
    Where does the LX-5 fit into the hierarchy of Nakamichi decks?
     
  10. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Almost all of the Nakamichi are excellent in playbacks. Just a matter of recording equipment.
    Its up there on the upper mid-fi
     
  11. ssmith3046

    ssmith3046 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arizona desert
    Too big a chunk for me these days. I'd have to go back to work to afford one these days and I'd rather stay retired and goof off every day :)
     
    G E and Bill Mac like this.
  12. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    when I did the inflation calculator of 1986 to 2022.. wooowh. its $6,200....:biglaugh:
    It was like you paid a 6 year old (from new) Toyota Celica at that time. Is that correct?
     
  13. Chazro

    Chazro Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Palm Bch, Fl.
    One of my biggest audio regrets was selling my BX-300 years ago!
     
    jusbe, Cyclone Ranger and ssmith3046 like this.
  14. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    There are still BX-300 out there. Last year, I just kept on recording every night whatever I want till I notice I hardly even listen to other format anymore. From last year alone I probably made 200+ of 90 minutes tapes using the BX-300. It just sound awesome...
     
    timind and TarnishedEars like this.
  15. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    That's an excellent machine. These can still be found in good shape today if you search for them.
     
    jusbe likes this.
  16. BMWCCA

    BMWCCA Forum Resident

    Location:
    Central Virginia
    The Dragon I bought new decades ago in in the capable hands of Perry in VA right now. Figured I'd better have it gone through and the rubber bits replaced before that's no longer an option. I hand-delivered it out of an abundance of caution. This is the first time it has ever been serviced.
     
    timind, cnolanh, jusbe and 3 others like this.
  17. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    Perry is a great tape tech. Your dragon is in good hands. Personally while I'm not a bad (amateur) tech, Dragons are feature too-complex of a mechanism for me to be willing to dig-into the transport.
     
    jusbe likes this.
  18. BMWCCA

    BMWCCA Forum Resident

    Location:
    Central Virginia
    No better time to have it serviced than while it's still working!
     
    jusbe, TarnishedEars and macster like this.
  19. Cyclone Ranger

    Cyclone Ranger New old stock

    Location:
    Best Coast USA
    Ditto. :(
     
  20. macster

    macster Forum Resident

    Location:
    San Diego, Ca. USA
    I believe it has a Classic mechanism, even if it doesn't it's highly desirable (by me at least).

    M~
     
  21. macster

    macster Forum Resident

    Location:
    San Diego, Ca. USA
    Agreed, you made a point that some of us miss. I with you 100% on this, my fully functional Dragon will be put into it's road case for a trip to Willy's in a few months.

    M~
     
    ssmith3046 likes this.
  22. fish

    fish Senior Member

    Location:
    NYS, USA
    Thats so cool! I almost bought one of them back in the 90's. Went for the cheaper Denon HXPro and made hundreds of mixes on SAX-90's and MA-X's. Sounded very much like the vinyl or digital but the Nakamichi Dragon was a near perfect copy, was always very impressed with it. They were expensive! And I was spending money on digital, the Denon Dual Linear converters-they where the best back then and not cheap either. :rolleyes:
    Mix-Tapes are back in style, like bowties. I think they call them playlists ;) but you cant hand it to someone to listen too.
     
  23. KLM

    KLM Senior Member

    Any recommendations on where to get my Nak (RX505) serviced in and around the Maryland area?
     
  24. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    another good sounding decks with modern upgrades.
     
  25. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    hope still running fine..
     

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