Nakamichi 500 Stereo Cassette Deck -

Before I start talking about the Nakamich 500, I have complied a list of all the cassette decks that I have owned.  If I remember more, then I will add to the list at a later date. 

Cassette deck history -  Ampex Micro 32, Realistic SCT-10, Project/ONE FLD-2000, TEAC A-103, Sansui SC-1110, TEAC A-109, Pioneer CTF-650, Akai GX-702, Advent 201, JVC KD-A7, Pioneer CTF-1250, Tandberg 310MKII, Nakamichi BX-1, AIWA F-990, Nakamichi 600, ADVENT 201A, ReVox B-215, Carver CT-1700, Phillips FC-60, second Pioneer CTF-1250, Tandberg 310, Pioneer CT-W205R, Pioneer CTF-1000, back to the ADVENT 201A, Kenwood KX-1030 Pioneer CTF 9191, TEAC V-1050, Dual C939, Sansui SC-1100, Nakamichi 1000, TEAC A-430, Nakamichi 500, back to the ADVENT 201, Sansui SC-5100, second Pioneer CTF-1000, second Pioneer CTF-9191, second ADVENT 201A, 

The bottom line is that cassette is important to me.  It was more so when I would make tapes for friends or to have at my office or in my car.  I still feel that there are some exceptional sounding cassette decks that can offer more than just casual listening.  The machines that stand out in this list, ones that were able to make nearly cloned copies of disc’s with more than one brand of tape are the Pioneer CTF-9191, The Advent 201, Advent 201A, Nakamichi 500, Nakamichi 600.  All of these are two headed machines and the recording from these decks properly set up is astoundingly good.  The Advent’s top the list for me, with the Nakamichi’s 500/600 then the Pioneer CTF9191.  I have always wanted a Pioneer CTF2121 or a CTF7171.  These are really, really good sounding machines.

Here our focus is on the Nakamichi 500.  This is an exceptionally smooth operating deck with much smoother mechanical transport than its bigger brother the Nakamichi 600.  Depressing any of the piano keys is a joy, and the deck can be easily calibrated to your favorite tape.  The one/micron gap “Focus Field’ record/play head extended highs out to 17K.  One old timer from Nakamichi told me that they lost money on every 500/600 deck they built, due to the complexity of creating that record/play head to such high tolerances.  I can attest that both of these machine are exceptional in recording and playback.  I would take the 500 over the 600 every day. They both share similar electronics and transports, but the viscously damped keys on the 500 just make it a pleasure to operate.  I normally used my 500 with the cassette door completely removed.  I didn’t like that the cassette was difficult to see under the smoked plexiglas door.  

The Nakamichi 500 will make faithful copies of any program material, and has excellent bass and treble extension.  Tape handling is like wise smooth, elegant and precise.  The deck is also extremely quiet.  The meters are easy to read, the sliders are wonderful to use and making recordings is a joy.  I remember seeing the Nakamchi 500’s plugged into the soundboards of live venues and used to make on-site recordings in several Chicago Jazz and blues clubs back in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  I was always impressed that the deck had that type of headroom where you could record live without over saturating the tape.  Nakamichi also made a portable version of this machine the Nakamichi 550. Same machine but configured to be used in a a handy carrying case with the controls at hand.  Supplied with excellent microphones you would get an amazing live copy right from the deck.  

Around 1980 or so, Nakamichi began buying their transports and heads from Sankyo.  To me this was the beginning of the end for Nakamichi.  The decks lost that hand made, hand calibrated built to last forever quality that all machines had up until this time. 

Today, plan on paying $500-750 for a pristine example that has been serviced.  By now, many have been left sitting for decades, and will need the rubber belts, and rubber tires treated or replaced as will as a few aging caps and transistors that become noisy over time.  Once properly serviced, you’re set for the rest of your life.  

It’s also worth mentioning, that at one time you could purchase excellent prerecorded cassettes.  Advent hand an entire line that were dubbed in real-time.  They come up on some auctions sites once in a while and are worth seeking out.  The sound quality is astounding.  Same with ECM jazz cassettes.  There are many others as well. 

I highly recommend this cassette deck, it is my second favorite of all time!  More to come.