Nakamichi CR-1A Dual Head Cassette Deck - Fully Tested

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General:
Nice reliable machine from the later days of Nakamichi production. More reliable than most which tend to need service every decade.

This CR-1A arrived to us in perfect working condition. We cleaned the heads, potentiometers, and made a test tape to confirm performance.

Nice affordable alternative to our Dragons and CR-7A's.

More from Nakamichi:
The CR-1 cassette deck incorporates many aspects of the sophisticated technology developed for Nakamichi's upper range models.  In a simple and compact package, this deck delivers sound quality that rivals many of its peers. 
Specifications are guaranteed, as each deck is painstakingly adjusted at the factory. Outstanding basic recording and playback performance is complemented by attractive design and exceptional ease of use."

Brand Background:
Nakamichi was founded in 1948 by Mr. Etsuro Nakamichi, starting from a small research institute in Tokyo, Japan that provided R&D for major brands, government entities, universities and organizations.

Since then, it has established itself as a trusted creator of high-quality audio products, such as the Nakamichi 1000, the world's first 3-Head cassette deck.
Nakamichi's product lines are driven by an intense scientific curiosity, the passion for audio, and commitment to uncompromising quality and performance.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
RCA inputs and outputs

General Sound:
Accurate to the recording

Cosmetic Condition:
7/10 = Good. One or two minor scratches. Well Maintained.. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab.

Included:
Just the unit and power cord.

Packing:
Will be packed using our highly developed in-house process and custom packing materials.Reviews:
Click Here

Specs:
2-head single compact cassette deck

Heads:
1 x record/playback
1 x erase

Motor:
1 x reel
1 x capstan
1 x mechanism

Tape Type:
Type I, CrO2 (II), Metal (IV)

Noise Reduction:
Dolby, B, C

Frequency Response:
20Hz to 20kHz (Metal tape)

Signal to Noise Ratio:
70dB (dolby C)

Wow and Flutter:
0.06%

Total Harmonic Distortion:
1.0%

Input:
50mV (line)

Output:
0.5V (line)

Dimensions:
16.93" x 3.94" x 10.43" (430 x 100 x 265mm)

Weight:
12 lbs.

Approximate Age:
1988

Link to Manual:
Click Here

Recommended Cables:

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best 

Testing Process:

First steps are performed to determine if the unit is a candidate for our full restoration process or if its just in need of a light service.

We first do a basic functionality test to ensure proper playback fast forward and rewind. We look for smooth operation of the motors, transport engagement and associated rolling parts.  

We then do an internal physical inspection to ensure the belts and rubber consumable parts are up to spec.  

Internal components are checked to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage particularly in the power supply section. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR. 

A light service will involve replacement of belts and rollers, external cleaning of heads, mechanism and boards and basic record and playback tests.  

A full restoration will often include disassembly of the drive system and replacement of all consumable and wearable parts including pinch rollers, belts, brakes, bearings. We then clean lubricate and re-assembly the drive and perform basic mechanical alignment to ensure proper tape path and head alignment. 

Final calibration will involved adjustment of playback erase and record heads and optimization of the bias for a specific tape type. We do this with the aid of a Soundtech 1510A tape deck analyzer and a Nakamichi T100 unit and reference calibration tapes.  

Final listening tests are done while monitoring with our reference Grado HP1 headphones and a variety of factory and custom reference recordings. We find that there is no better system for critical listening on tapes than the headphones specially when comparing a live feed to a recorded feed.