Nakamichi System One a winner on looks alone
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Component(s) you would induct into a "Hi-Fi Hall of Fame"?
- Thread starter beeface
- Start date
Nothing says COOL like chrome
EJ3
Master Contributor
This is the best that I have ever seen a cassette tape do (yes, not "High Fidelity" by todays standard of that).
(But, is that better than an album and Turn Table from the time?)
The tapes' Maximum Output Level (400Hz) and Saturated Output Level (10kHz) was referred to the input signal, after compensation for the tapes' sensitivities.
BASF Metal Maxima TPIV (1995)
Relative bias: +1
Relative sensitivity: +0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.44%
MOL400(1%) : +4.5dB
MOL400(3%): +9.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +9.5dB
SOL10k: +0.8dB
Bias noise: -53.0dB, -56.9dB(A)
Dynamic range: 65.9dB
I found another one that was damn good also (and referenced to the 'possibilities of using the EQ section of a certain cassette deck to fix a dip)
a record performance in terms of distortion, MOLs, and dynamic range. Sadly the frequency response is dished, much like the TDK MA-XG, almost begging for a recorder with adjustable equalization. Imagine this tape, combined with a Nakamichi 1000ZXL:
Relative bias: +2
Relative sensitivity: +1.2dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.29%
MOL400(1%) : +6.2dB
MOL400(3%): +10.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +9.2dB
SOL10k: -0.2dB
Bias noise: -53.7dB, -58.4dB(A)
Dynamic range: 68.4dB
Last edited:
Count Arthur
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2020
- Messages
- 3,162
- Likes
- 8,300
This may be the first time I've seen a forum post generated by AI that didn't immediately fill me with fear and loathing and rage.
A useful, informative, time-saving data evaluation you can trust a robot to perform efficiently, one that didn't involve plagiarism, hallucinations, or presumably some obscene amount of electricity at one of those godforsaken data centers blighting the landscape.
Waveform Fidelity
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2025
- Messages
- 329
- Likes
- 211
How about this?
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 18,124
- Likes
- 41,893
It was an impactful product -- well, the 8-track cartridge format/car players were, at any rate.
I reckon that the 8-track players of the late-60s into the '70s played a key role in the conception of lots of Americans, and maybe even of folks in other countries.
Good old Bill Lear (of, yes, that Learjet) fame, and Earl Madman Muntz (of muntzing fame) were the Zuckerberg and Musk (or whatever/whomever) of the industry.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2021
- Messages
- 1,504
- Likes
- 10,343
Rich kids had Lear Jet decks. Us peons usually installed Craig decks. Jensen or Craig speakers for the parcel shelf.It was an impactful product -- well, the 8-track cartridge format/car players were, at any rate.
I reckon that the 8-track players of the late-60s into the '70s played a key role in the conception of lots of Americans, and maybe even of folks in other countries.
Good old Bill Lear (of, yes, that Learjet) fame, and Earl Madman Muntz (of muntzing fame) were the Zuckerberg and Musk (or whatever/whomever) of the industry.
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 18,124
- Likes
- 41,893
nothin' wrong with the Jensen coaxials or triaxials. 
whoops! umm, I mean...
whoops! umm, I mean...
Curvature
Major Contributor
- Joined
- May 20, 2022
- Messages
- 2,466
- Likes
- 3,926
Very hard to think of standout gear. My mind drifts to important firsts in the history books, but when I think about the incremental progress in speaker or electronic design since then it's difficult not to see things as little refinements on older designs. Current speakers are not all that different from the Siemens moving coil design in 1874, other than being better performers.
There's the measurement side of things, a real truncated version of it:
There's the measurement side of things, a real truncated version of it:
- (1984) Audio Precision System One: Set a new precedent for measurement of electronics because of computer integration and automation routines.
- (1987) MLSSA: What we had before the NFS. Equally important in its time.
- (1995) Earthworks M30: Has been essentially the same since release. Still one of the best, most accurate omnidirectional measurement microphones you can buy.
- (2016) Klippel NFS: Revolutionized speaker measurement.
Waveform Fidelity
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2025
- Messages
- 329
- Likes
- 211
KEF coupled-cavity bandpass design was somewhat groundbreaking, despite the theory being well known. Wish they carried on with that technology - beats hands down a reflex design
EJ3
Master Contributor
I see nothing wrong with that look, Oh wait, their is something wrong: I can't afford it!
On the other hand, IF I could, that is a little large for me.
Maybe triple the land and make the house 1/4 size.
But I am fine with the style.
I'll be happy to accept a Nakamichi One to go inside, also.
Last edited:
EJ3
Master Contributor
Still using it today, so I agree. 90% of the tapes I made are that particular brand and model.
Waxx
Major Contributor
Altough the U47 certainly belongs in the hall of fame, it was not the first good condensor mic. The first good one was the Neumann CMV3, released in 1930, but to much associated with the Nazi's in Germany at that time as Hitler used it for it's speeches. And after the war the factory in Gefell was taken by the communists who renamed it to Microtech Gefell and made their own line of (very good) microphones. Neumann started over in west Berlin with his company and then released the U47 as replacement for that old design, while making it better also. The U47 and the CMV3 are quiet similar in build, with the M7 capsule but a different circuit with different tubes (Telefunken RE084K for the CMV3, Telefunken VF14M for the U47). Both are still in use as they still compete with modern tech and are very expensive second hand.The Neumann U 47, the first great condenser microphone, still prized as a vocal microphone:
U 47 - Switchable Condenser Microphone
The U 47, introduced in 1949, was a technical revolution and is still considered the indisputable reference for perfect sound. With its well-balanced, extremely vivid response and excellent low-noise performance, this tube microphone raised the bar to a whole new level.www.neumann.com
View attachment 429956
Last edited:
JohnnyAudio
Addicted to Fun and Learning
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2024
- Messages
- 803
- Likes
- 770
