Description: I restored 6 Nakamichi 250, 350, and 550 tape players 12 or so years ago and now I am listing the remaining units for sale, including this restored 550 (serial # 57579), another working 550, a 350 (sold), and a set of CM 300 microphones. Basic repairs done:Replaced the drive belts, rubber tires, and pinch roller.Lubricated the flywheel, slide plate, and idler pulley.Demagnetized the head, adjusted the azimuth, and used contact enhancer on switches, knobs, and potentiometers. Modifications: This 550 has had the head lapped and the wires and connectors upgraded. Lapping the head flattens the head surface so that the tape tracks correctly. These units have soft heads so any unit with a lot of use may have a worn head which causes the tape to pull to the side and it won't track correctly. I would guess there is less than 200 hours of use on the lapped head, so it has plenty of life left on it. The wires in the signal path have been replaced with Cardas 20.5 gauge wires- the RCA input, RCA output, microphone inputs, and chrome bias wires (dark blue wires in the photos). The head wires were replaced with a smaller gauge 23.5 Cardas wire (light blue). Also, the chrome L and R pots were replaced and the chrome bias pots replaced with Vishay 1280G trim potentiometers. The stock input/output circuit board has been removed and replaced with Cardas RCA jacks with hardwired HOLCO resistors. With the removal of the circuit board, the DIN jack and output level have also been removed, and the chrome bias can only be set by removing the right side cover (already adjusted). All removed parts and wires are also included. Other notes: The FF and RW are PAINFULLY SLOW, but they work. I used another tape player to FF and RW as needed. I have another restored 550 with a faster FF and RW so I plan to keep that unit. Broken counter reset button has been replaced, small crack on tape cover (not broken), small chips on plastic corners, dryrotted meter foam replaced, dryrotted plastic screw washers replaced with metal washers. This 550 sounds incredible! It can make a very accurate recording, is very dynamic, and similar to a reel-to-reel, it has its own warmth, character, and punch. I typically use Denon HD8 cassettes and I can record at a very high level with no distortion. I used to own an RX-202, but the 550 made the 202 sound cheap and compressed. THIS AUCTION IS FOR THE RESTORED NAKAMICHI 550, 12V POWER SUPPLY, AND CARRY STRAP ONLY. On the rear, this Nakamichi 550 has L/R RCA inputs, L/R RCA outputs, DC 12V power jack, battery compartment for 8D batteries, record calibration for normal tapes, 400Hx test tone button, and an MPX filter. I installed a 1/4 inch power plug as well. On the front are a headphone jack and volume slider, 3 mic inputs, L, R, and Center input level controls, 2 large VU meters, tape alarm light, power switch, meter lamp switch, limiter switch, Dolby Noise Reduction switch, tape CRO2/Normal selector switch, and a battery level and remaining tape time check switch. On the top are the tape controls, an analog counter, counter reset switch, and the programming timer- used to adjust at which point the tape alarm light begins to flash near the end of the tape. Comes with original 12V power supply that work on all 3 models. I'll give you a week satisfaction, but I can't offer any warranty on old equipment. Capacitors go bad, etc.
Price: 850 USD
Location: Arlington, Virginia
End Time: 2024-08-11T22:50:45.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: Nakamichi
Model: Nakamichi 550
Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan
