Nakamichi CR-3a Cassette Deck

[BroonsBane]

Anyone here familiar with this model? Your thoughts and impressions most appreciated :-)<-

[Scorpion8]

Grab it. Or if you don't, grab it for me! 3-head Nak. What shape is it in and how much scratch do they want for it?

[MacGyver]

looks like a dandy to me!! probably better than that BX-100 i found, too. kudos to you, broons, if you can score it for cheap!



http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a2.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a3.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a4.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a5.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a6.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a7.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a8.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CR-3a1.jpg

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Broonsbane!!

CR-3 in some ways replaced the BX-300 which it succeeded chronologically and matched at that price point. Although it does not have the direct drive mechanism of the BX-300 or CR-4, it is a dual cap deck with three discrete crystalloy heads, padlifter and rec-head op-amp stationed at the rec-head to minimise signal loss.

With the manual calibration facilities of the CR-4, it is possible to get a ruler flat response at -20dB AND -10dB, along with near perfect responses at 0dB. The CR-3 is a very similar deck deck electronically and has good bias management that will ensure similar signal compliance. The fact that almost no natural music has signal content of high amplitude (above -25dB) at frequencies above 14kHz should put your mind at rest that you're capturing the source as well anyone would need to.

CR-3 is fine machine - excellent metering is a notable point. You will notice the CR series sonic signature of clean, highly resolved renditions of music. As with all Naks, it has high head current capabilities and will therefore make the most of genuine chrome and type IV tapes.

Cheers - Marc

[Mr. Lin]

Marc, you are a wealth of information.

[Acoustic]

Marc, you are a wealth of information.

I will second that. Marc your posts are always written from an in-the-know optimistic perspective.

About the CR-3 BB... don't know what you could get it for but if it's good mechanical condition and the heads are fine, it's great! When I got my CR-5 and heard what it could do... I'm listening to cassette's (not prerecorded) 90% of my time now. First thing I did when I got my CR-5 was to get another. Sure it's not the CR-7... but at a fraction of the cost I'm sold. Great bang for the buck.

[BroonsBane]

Thanks for the input everyone but alas it is not going to happen. My quest for a better deck continues...

[tgw323]

Marc covered the technical explanation, I will give a users take. It is a great sounding deck, roughly equal to the CD1 that we have. It did have a motor go out, from what I've read that was not unusual.