Complete service, not a repair. Every cassette deck that arrives here is 20+ years old and, in almost every case, has never been serviced before. Old grease hardens, oil in the capstan bearings dries out, plastic parts shrink and crack, rubber idlers and rollers de-vulcanize, electrolytic capacitors dry out and drift out of spec, and transistors lose contact with their heat sinks. Because of this, every deck goes through the same complete, standardized service procedure — not a spot-fix for a single symptom — including full mechanical service, azimuth and speed calibration, a detailed service report, photo documentation, a recorded test tape, and a warranty.
The Dragon is one of the few Nakamichi models with direct-drive (DD) dual capstan motors instead of a belt-driven transport, alongside its signature NAAC auto-azimuth correction on the playback head — meaning it can automatically correct azimuth misalignment even on tapes recorded on a different deck.
Full disassembly and inspection to record the condition of the mechanism, capstans, and belts before any work begins.
Old grease and hardened rubber parts are cleaned, replaced, or restored, and all moving parts are re-lubricated.
Electrolytic capacitors are replaced, and all switches, potentiometers, and trimmers are cleaned and tested.
Azimuth, speed, and frequency response are tested and calibrated, and a final test tape is recorded and reviewed before the deck is returned.
Have a Nakamichi Dragon that needs the same treatment?
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