Nakamichi Cassette Decks DR-1, DR-2, DR-3

The DR-1, DR-2, and DR-3 were cassette decks manufactured by the Nakamichi Corporation of Japan in the early 1990s. DR-1 in the series had the most features, whilst the DR-3, being a budget-end model had the least. Therefore, the DR-1 is more valuable of the three. In these decks, Nakamichi introduced some new technologies that set them apart from the rest of the audio cassette industry. Of the three in the series, the DR-1 was the only one with azimuth fine-tuning control, which was a technology that adjusted the azimuth to the optimum setting for every cassette. The DR-1 and DR-2 had discrete 3-head systems, where the record and playback heads are physically separate. They were also the only two that had the dual-capstan diffused resonance transport system. In that regard, the DR-3 was a more basic machine lacking those features.

The dual-capstan concept is something few audio enthusiasts understand. Usually, tape decks have a single take-up capstan and take-up pinch roller, which pulls the tape from the supply reel, therefore any kind of sticking or loading on the supply reel results in an increase in wow and flutter (W&F) parameters. In order to eliminate this, Nakamichi created a dual capstan system where there is an additional supply capstan and supply pinch roller, which does the pulling. This technology reduces W&F to extremely low values resulting in high-quality audio.

The azimuth fine-tuning is also a very useful feature because not all decks have precisely the same azimuth due to variations in cassette and deck manufacture. If you play a cassette recorded on a different deck, it can sound dull due to azimuth misalignment. The DR-1 was one of the earliest decks that allowed the owner to adjust this setting to ensure optimum high-frequency response.

Comparing Nakamichi Decks

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Cost/eBay

Nakamichi tape decks tend to hold in value and if properly maintained, should increase in value over time, as they were the pinnacle of cassette technology. Their decks have technological features that other decks do not have, and therefore they are highly sought after by audio enthusiasts. A unit in mint condition in the original packing and remote control can sell for hundreds of pounds and there is usually a line of people waiting to buy. The pricing is usually such that the DR-1 is the most expensive, whilst the DR-2 and DR-3 slightly cheaper.

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