Nakamichi DRAGON Cassette Deck

This listing is for a very clean Nakamichi Dragon 3 head auto-reverse cassette deck in very nice condition. No box but included is the original manual with a business card addressing it to our customer so we believe this is a single owner deck. Includes an extra belt. I have played it for over an hour forwards and backwards and see nothing wrong with it, the head looks very clean, most likely low usage. This cassette deck was $2500 new and is still appreciating in value. Serial number 28961

The company integrated several prior Nakamichi advances, what came together in 1982 in the $1,850 Dragon (later repriced to $2,499) was nothing short of an engineering marvel. Among its features was a belt-less and spring-less dual-capstan transport with direct-drive motors controlled to remarkable accuracy by a quartz clock; the mechanism intentionally pushed away the cassette's troublesome, built-in pressure pad (normally intended to improve tape-to-head contact) and relied solely on the motors to provide the desired pressure.
In Stereo Review's April 1983 review the Dragon's measurements revealed the lowest wow-and-flutter of any cassette deck ever tested. But, as you'll read, its biggest breakthrough was the inclusion of Nakamichi Auto Azimuth Correction (NAAC), a microprocessor-driven system that used a cleverly-designed feedback loop to detect azimuth error in real time and physically correct it with a servo-controlled head, thus ensuring perfect alignment even with prerecorded tapes!

Fairly quickly, the complex and costly mechanics of NAAC technology and the difficulty of servicing these auto-reverse machines caused Nakamichi to abandon it in its RX series of UDAR (Uni-Directional Auto Reverse) decks, which mechanically flipped the cassette to best maintain azimuth accuracy. But the Dragon held on, finally exiting the market in 1993 after an 11-year run. Nonetheless, with the rapid advance of the Compact Disc in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the demand for Nakamichi's cassette decks waned, and the new digital audio tape (DAT) format it banked its future on failed to gain traction with consumers. The company eventually lost its financial footing and disappeared.

Underrated as an 8.
In stock and ships next day.

Offered for $2000.00 with free domestic shipping

Weight: 30 lbs packed

Guaranteed to work correctly, includes 30 day warranty.
Guaranteed to be as described.
In stock and ships next day.

_________________________________________________________
Revised shipping policy as of September 20, 2014.

Due to items lost or damaged in shipping, any item over $50.00 in cost will require delivery confirmation and insurance for the sale amount. It is unfortunate that this is necessary but experience has proven it is well worth the small extra cost. We apologize for this, but it is for the good of all involved.

Our reputation is very important to us. If you would like to check our eBay feedback rating you will find over 2000 satisfactory transactions with no negative results. We still maintain a 100% positive feedback rating. soundideasflorida is our user name.

TERMS:
All listings are plus shipping unless noted. 6.00% sales tax added to all In-Florida destinations. This unit is guaranteed to be in "as described" working condition (unless otherwise noted) upon arrival and has a 60 day limited warranty, baring any abuse. 15% restocking fee on all returns unless defective or "not as described"

SHIPPING:
We ship internationally on smaller items . Domestic packages are shipped via Fed Ex. All international shipping quotes will include insurance and delivery confirmation. Shipping charges reflect actual cost of shipping, plus a nominal fee for packaging materials. Items are very carefully packaged for shipment. Items ship from 32609 in Florida.

INSURANCE:
International shipments to countries that do not allow insurance, buyer assumes FULL RESPONSIBILITY for the safe shipment of their packages. Sound Ideas cannot provide refunds or compensation for packages shipped without shipping insurance. All shipping quotes for packages shipped includes insurance.

RETURNS:
Any item may be returned within 15 days for a full refund of the purchase price, not including shipping, unless otherwise stated in the ad. It must arrive back at our store in Florida in the same condition as sent. 15% restocking fee on new items that were opened.

International purchases need to be returned with incoming custom's duty prepaid, if any. Any postage or import duty that is due upon arrival will be deducted from the refund. 15% restocking fee also on all returns unless defective or "not as described."

CONTACT:
We stock over 50,000 vacuum tubes.)Since 1977.
We carry over 50 new brands of electronics, please stop by the store when you are in Florida.

Thank-you for your time and interest!