Nakamichi represents the best in cassette machine design, the "Rolls Royce" of cassette taperecorders.
The Japanese word is 優秀 meaning excellence.
This model was the last to be produced by Nakamichi, during the period 1999 - 2002. The DR8 is designed to be easy to use, extremely quiet operation and with superb audio quality.
This machine was designed as an entry level machine to the "rarified air" of Nakamichi cassette technology, with the performance of the DR8 being as good as many competitors three head cassette decks
CASSETTE GENERAL INFORMATION
Before playing ANY cassette tape, always "repack" the cassette by running fast forward to the end and then rewind to the beginning of the tape a couple of times - ALWAYS.
We have found, after using cassette systems for many years, that it is often the TAPE that has issues, not a machine - the cassette shell is pretty "average" at best and once the cassettes get old, they can be quite troublesome.
Obvious symptoms of a failing cassette are "squeeking" and sometimes the tape cannot smoothly move through the tape transport - if the Nakamichi DR8 detects a tape friction issue, it will simply stop immediately to prevent damage to the tape through stretching.
See my page about reel to reel and cassette tape media here: https://www.time-tunnel.com.au/pages/magnetic-tape-information.html
Nakamichi Cassette Recorder/Player
Model: DR8
Champagne Gold finish
1999 - 2002
Basic technical information:
2 Head
20hz to 20Khz (3dB points)
Wow/Flutter less than 0.06%
Signal to Noise:
Dolby C - 70dB
Dolby B - 64dB
Tape types: I II IV
Features: Auto Repeat, Auto Record, soft touch button transport controls, clear and easy to read display (orange), recording fine bias adjustment, recording channel balance, recording level control
Easy cleaning with a slide up/off cassette door giving fantastic access for inspection and cleaning the heads and pinch roller/capstan
Dimensions (packed): 460mm Wide x 150mm High x 350mm Deep
Weight: Heavy @ 7Kg
COSMETIC CONDITION:
One owner since 2004 - us
Very good to excellent - a couple of very minor top case scratches.
Front panel is very clean and all labelling is in excellent condition
Display elements all work correctly
TESTING:
Ex our audio post production facilities - primarily for playback only. Many metal bands and special interest audio material recorded to cassette tape so we had a number of machines (including this one) to play those extremely valuable and rare cassettes such as Bone Awl & Raspberry Bulbs releases. A lot of our previous clients family history was also presented to us on cassette for archival purposes - we needed the best possible machine to listen to these tapes (while still being affordable - just)
This machine has always been professionally maintained and has never needed any major service work - extremely reliable.
Pinch roller, capstan, tape path and of course the heads have always been kept clean.
Belt and Pinch roller are in excellent condition (these are "consumables" and need regular inspection and maintenance to ensure top condition - we recently changed the drive belt and roller)
Heads show very little wear
Although almost exclusively used for playback, however today I have tested BOTH Playback and Record
NAKAMICHI DR8 GENERAL:
All soft touch controls work properly and very quiet operation
Tape transport is excellent and very quiet (see my notes about cassette tapes though, older cassette tapes can have significant issues with "squeeking" due to failing shell lubrication)
Transport functions such as Fast Forward/Rewind have no issues at all
Tape counter is working fine
Lovely amber coloured display is easy to read
PLAYBACK:
I am still using this machine to check my cassette tape library, playing around 8 different tapes per day - absolutely superb sound quality, stunning in fact (particularly with well recorded material such as my Neil Young "This Note Is For You" release.
Both channels are providing balanced output levels
RECORD:
I had just one Scotch C90 Type 1 tape on hand (new unopened) so this was my test tape.
Source equipment was my Tascam 601 Studio CD player
Source material: Kylie Minogue! (fluffy pop music but very good production)
Basic recording user controls are:
Tape type
Dolby Noise Reduction on-off
Dolby Noise type B or C select
MPX filter
Rotary bias adjustment - centre is indented
Recording balance rotary control left & right
Master recording level control
Recorded 3 separate sessions onto the Scotch tape at differing bias levels, silence between each and using the level control - a slow fade up and fade down on each
Played back the record sessions, fantastic sound - truly! Clean, full range without any distortion and nice highs/deep pumping lows - a very nice representation of the CD source material. No noise from my adjusting the level control during recording.
Both channel outputs have balanced levels.
SUMMARY:
We used this machine mainly for playback but it also does a really great job of recording to cassette tape.
Once you have listened to a Nakamichi, you will never go back to the "other brands" - its like chalk and cheese!
Due to the high quality and great reputation that Nakamichi's still have, these are still an expensive cassette machine, with used DR8's still easily fetching A$500 - A$800 WHEN YOU CAN FIND ONE! Most Nakamichi owners would never part with their beautiful machines so they can be quite difficult to find.
I see there is currently one unit on Fleabay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nakamichi-DR-8-Near-Mint-Condition-with-new-belts-i/143186174744?hash=item21568fa318:g:RC0AAOSwaNRcjxqL&frcectupt=true
Even I am pretty reluctant about offering this machine, but as we have retired from the audio post industry there seems little point in holding onto this machine.
