Nakamichi OEM

[catatonic28]

Hey guys, I'm new here so be gentle.
I picked up a Thorn DCR 1 the other day for AU$8.50.
See http://www.vintagecassette.com/Thorn/DCR_1
The link above sums up all the info I can find on this unit.
If there's anyone out there with any info I'd be eternally greatful.
I'd also love to here what anyone thinks of this old Thorn. Cheers.

 

[eThink]

Separated at Birth: Nakamichi and h/k 1000

Nakamichi was the oem for some of harman kardon's cassette decks in the 1970s and 1980s.

Here is one example, the h/k 1000.

http://www.woutz.com/?item=hk-1000

Orion Bluebook summary:

Manufacture Years: 1973 - 1977

Additional Information:

Retail
MSRP: $351.00
USED: $28.00
Wholesale
Mint: $16.00
Average: $10.00

 

[eThink]

Separated at Birth: Nakamichi and h/k 2000

Nakamichi was the oem for some of harman kardon's cassette decks in the 1970s and 1980s.

Here is another example, the h/k 2000.

Orion Bluebook summary:

Description:

Manufacture Years: 1977 - 1979

Additional Information:

Retail
MSRP: $429.00
USED: $31.00
Wholesale
Mint: $18.00
Average: $10.00

The h/k 2000 was available in both silver and black.

 

[eThink]

Separated at Birth: Nakamichi and h/k cassette decks

More information on Nakamichi oem realtionship with h/k for cassette decks:


http://audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=790655&postcount=6

 

[eThink]

Summary of Nakamichi OEM by manufacturer

Click on link to page at naks.com

http://naks.com/cgi-bin/modelspage.pl?series=oem

 

[eThink]

Nakamichi OEM: Advent 200 Cassette Deck

From the early 1970s. One of the first attempts to turn the cassette medium into a High Fidelity medium. Used Dolby B noise reduction.

Additional information at Vintage Asylum:
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vintage&n=2623&highlight=advent+200&session=

Some additional insights on the Advent 200 cassette deck:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.audio.marketplace/msg/ae699a84ad6fd19a?dmode=source&hl=en

Nakamichi was the OEM before Nakamichi sold products under it's own brand name.

 

[Nat]

The first Advent tape deck was a Nakamichi. I can't remember what the function keys looked like but the tear dropped shape lever in the final picture of the series is exactly the same as that on the Advent. They were so unreliable that Kloss went very quickly to the Wollensak transport that most people (more accurately, most vintage audionuts (there is a difference)) think of when they think of the Advent cassette deck.
I repaired one for a friend sometime in the nineties, and thought it sounded ok, so it must have been decent -- most early decks really aren't all that great. But reliability is more important than nuances of sound, a lesson Nakamichi apparently learned pretty well (at least until the Dragons etc...)

 

[Nat]

OOPS -- now that I put my glasses on, I see that the picture is exactly the machine I was talking about....

 

[catatonic28]

WOW guys, thank-you for the huge..and very quick response. All the posts are very informative. I just hope mine keeps working, thanks NAT I did a little more digging and also found the Sonab c-500 and the Nakamichi 500 seem the same if not a little different cosmetically. Oh, and a BIG Thanks to eThink for the info. I'm just getting into all this vintage audio stuff so I definately appreciate all and any help.

 

[eThink]

Nakamichi Tape Deck Parts and Maintenence Resource

Is the Sonic Sense website: :thmbsp:

http://www.sonicsense.com/nakfaq42.html

There is a wealth of information about parts and sources for replacements.
Unfortunately, this information is specific to Nakamichi brand casset decks.

The maintenance information should be helpful.

 

[wheijke]

Hi Everyone,

The DCR1 is actually a Nakamichi 500, just like the Sonab C-500 and Sansui
SC-700.
The HK1000 is an early Nakamichi 500, less sophisticated electronics and
transport, also the Fisher decks (RC-70/80) made by Nakamichi have this
lessser transport and electronics.
The Leak decks, Elac decks (CD400/500/520) are like the Nakamichi
250/350/550 internally, as is the Concord MK7

http://www.vintagecassette.com/Elac/CD_400
http://www.vintagecassette.com/Elac/CD_500
http://www.vintagecassette.com/Concord/MK-7_Endmatic

http://www.vintagecassette.com/Sonab/C-500

The Wharfedale mentioned here is new to me, interesting find and i've just
added it to the vintagecassette database. If anyone has any other
suggestions please let me know.

Wouter

ps. owner of Elac CD400/500/520, Sonab C-500, Thorn DCR1, HarmanKardon
HK1000, Concord MK-7, Leak 2002

 

[Nakdoc]

Welcome Wouter!
Leave it to Ak to bring up the Advent 200. What a totally obscure deck.

 

[eThink]

Nakamichi 500 Cassette Deck

Hi Everyone,

The DCR1 is actually a Nakamichi 500, just like the Sonab C-500 and Sansui
SC-700.
The HK1000 is an early Nakamichi 500, less sophisticated electronics and
transport, also the Fisher decks (RC-70/80) made by Nakamichi have this
lessser transport and electronics.
The Leak decks, Elac decks (CD400/500/520) are like the Nakamichi
250/350/550 internally, as is the Concord MK7

http://www.vintagecassette.com/Elac/CD_400
http://www.vintagecassette.com/Elac/CD_500
http://www.vintagecassette.com/Concord/MK-7_Endmatic

http://www.vintagecassette.com/Sonab/C-500

The Wharfedale mentioned here is new to me, interesting find and i've just
added it to the vintagecassette database. If anyone has any other
suggestions please let me know.

Wouter

ps. owner of Elac CD400/500/520, Sonab C-500, Thorn DCR1, HarmanKardon
HK1000, Concord MK-7, Leak 2002

To complete the information in this thread, click on the link below to see what the Nakamichi 500 cassette deck actually looked like:

http://www.vintage-audio.com.ua/pict/goods/22_pict_big_nak_500_b.jpg

I think that you will see the family resemblence. :yes: