Fernando, I had the Nakamichi ST7, CA7, PA7, Dragon, and OMS 7 (Klipshorn speakers) back in the mid 1980’s when I was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa. I earned the nick name “Nakamichi Man” and spent many hours demonstrating the equipment to officers and senior enlisted interested in audio. (I should have started up a club, save that for another story). The components are first class and I highly recommend anyone interested picking up the pre-amp and power amp together. The PA7 (covered in another Ski Fi video) is heavy but extremely good as a sonic pair with the CA7. I highly recommend using both in a system. I’m interested in the Ford Cosworth but I’ll let you work in some magic before negotiating an offer. As usual, an extremely interesting video and I look forward to the Just Arrived collection every Friday. Take care and thank you for the video.
thanks for sharing your experiences, so cool that you had the system in Okinawa. Yes the Cossie is getting some love but won’t be on sale for a long time. It’s been so hard to fine a good one in the states. Cheers
Man your consistent analytical approach is really valuable. You take advantage of video for teaching. The engineers would be proud. As would the designers.
I’m still using my Nakamichi 610 control preamplifier in my office system that I have kept from the late seventies and I love it. My Nakamichi 600 tape deck needs a service but I don’t trust anyone in Sydney to do the job correctly. It’s great to see the work you do on the vintage Nakamichi gear as it is well worth restoration and it all sounds pretty good for what it is, if your into hi-end vintage them the selected Nakamichi components are well worth the effort. Love your work at SkyFi Audio.
Thank you for an Amazing video!❤ This preamp stokes the hell out of me. What an Amazing piece of equipment! I have a special soft spot in my heart for late 80’s gear. I have fond memories of my late father and I going to mom & pop audio shops back in the late 80’s when he was in the market for a hi end cassette deck. Nakamichi was always a brand he got very excited about. ❤️
I purchased my Nakamichi gear while in Yokota AB Japan from 89-93 at the Audio Photo as follows a PA7, CA5, Nakamichi Dragon Tape deck, (which I took back) and got the RX 505, OMS CD Player and a pair of JBL XPL 160's!
I'm still using the NAK CA-7 with a PA-5 power amplifier (100 watts/channel 0.1% THD 8 Ohms / 160 wpc into 4 Ohms). Still sound fantastic driving KEF C80 3 way speakers. I'm also using a NAK TA-4A Receiver with KEF C25 monitors for my home recording setup with a MOTU M4, MAC mini and DELL 4K monitor.
Wow never expected to watch a video on a hifi shop and find a cossie up in the air in the middle of it. Looks like you've got some great stuff there and good luck getting the cossie back up and running, don't see many about these days. If I'm ever in the states i'll have to visit the shop.
There are so few great pre-amp manufacturers now. I can only think of Parasound, NAD, and Emotiva that produce units that don't cost as much as a ballistic missile submarine. Really wish Pioneer, Sony, and Yamaha would return to making pre-amps.
Sadly, their OMS-7 CD player had a high failure laser rate. Almost all the units you see these days suffer from that. In addition, there wasn't a digital out so you can connect to an better external DAC. I still own the PA-7. I believe the 7 series was the last hurrah for Nak, unless you consider their 3 piece Dragon CD player & DAC combo. A much admired audio tour de force which sadly succumbed to the digital era. Have fond memories of my 2 680ZX, 1000ZXL and a couple of others. They were on top of the cassette medium.
Nakamichi made some awesome products over the years. I had a 680ZX cassette deck for 39 years. Never had a problem with it. It was sad to see them disappear. I wonder what happened. Perhaps they sold the name. I believe I have seen the Nakamichi name on some low cost products. Reminds me of when Arnie Nudell sold Infinity to Harmon. They went from speakers like the IRSv’s and IRS Betas to car speakers. Thanks Harmon😩
Could a buy a worm gear part# 0J05232B from you guys for my ca-7a or where do you guys get these from? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks 🙏🏽
I'd love a PA-7 to pair with my CA-5. Also, it is strange when one piece in the line (in this case, the CA-7) seems to be built to another standard entirely. I have a set of late 70's Yamaha separates, and the tuner, a T-2 is just on another level from the rest. It's like an aluminum brick with the one piece solid top and side cover. The amp and pre, nothing too special.
What if someone use a tube active step up for mc( two boxes) and go in a preamp like this ( I mean mm solid state)? Do you lose somehow all the magic ? I have already spent 1k euro on it. Can someone explain it to me ? If Fernando is not an engineer, is one of the best retailer, and have a bunch of people for topology explanation I think …
@@SkyFiAudio it will be redundant in the rack, that’s for sure, I am going to complete my lector audio set up with their hybrid mm integrated ( two boxes ), original topology but standard commercial toroidal, a lot of success in the USA, I think we all understand that every aspect of a passion is crucial, Thanks for your kind answer.
Bro thats a British cossie Man thay where everywhere including my oncles garbage he had a one of 400 limited editions it was British racing green and I can't remember what series it was but they are rapid and defiantly British not German, cosworth is an English company and most of them where built in the uk and yeh well done don't sell it and stick a bigger turbo and intercooler and you know the rest light as food and they handle a dream, desighned by and made for the uk marked. Rs 500 sierras are nasty too but tail happy and not as sharp to drive as escort on these tight uk roads but the sierras won many a touring car tournament, the engines where desighned for f1 cars bk in the day and there is a cool vid online of them developing it and they stuck it in this and the Sierra and a lesser 1.6 version in the escorts rs turbo, I had a boggo rs first and thatbuse to spin in every gear in the rain cuz it wasn't even a ton in weight, all awesome these mid 80/ mid90's ford's man... rapid.. good catch man for sure.
Dude, if you're gonna show a device's circuits, it's to talk about the circuit TOPOLOGY, not the material of the contacts or the board's dielectric. If you're not an electronics engineer you might as well avoid doing this BS
That high quality circuit board material is a glass-epoxy formulation known as FR-4. Thanks for the video.
Fernando, I had the Nakamichi ST7, CA7, PA7, Dragon, and OMS 7 (Klipshorn speakers) back in the mid 1980’s when I was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa. I earned the nick name “Nakamichi Man” and spent many hours demonstrating the equipment to officers and senior enlisted interested in audio. (I should have started up a club, save that for another story). The components are first class and I highly recommend anyone interested picking up the pre-amp and power amp together. The PA7 (covered in another Ski Fi video) is heavy but extremely good as a sonic pair with the CA7. I highly recommend using both in a system. I’m interested in the Ford Cosworth but I’ll let you work in some magic before negotiating an offer. As usual, an extremely interesting video and I look forward to the Just Arrived collection every Friday. Take care and thank you for the video.
thanks for sharing your experiences, so cool that you had the system in Okinawa. Yes the Cossie is getting some love but won’t be on sale for a long time. It’s been so hard to fine a good one in the states. Cheers
Man your consistent analytical approach is really valuable. You take advantage of video for teaching. The engineers would be proud. As would the designers.
I’m still using my Nakamichi 610 control preamplifier in my office system that I have kept from the late seventies and I love it. My Nakamichi 600 tape deck needs a service but I don’t trust anyone in Sydney to do the job correctly. It’s great to see the work you do on the vintage Nakamichi gear as it is well worth restoration and it all sounds pretty good for what it is, if your into hi-end vintage them the selected Nakamichi components are well worth the effort. Love your work at SkyFi Audio.
Thank you for an Amazing video!❤ This preamp stokes the hell out of me. What an Amazing piece of equipment! I have a special soft spot in my heart for late 80’s gear. I have fond memories of my late father and I going to mom & pop audio shops back in the late 80’s when he was in the market for a hi end cassette deck. Nakamichi was always a brand he got very excited about. ❤️
That’s a hell of a chassis on the preamp. Some of the best quality I’ve ever seen
Nakamichi turned over-engineering into an art frm.
I purchased my Nakamichi gear while in Yokota AB Japan from 89-93 at the Audio Photo as follows a PA7, CA5, Nakamichi Dragon Tape deck, (which I took back) and got the RX 505, OMS CD Player and a pair of JBL XPL 160's!
hope you still have it all.
Those filter caps are HUGE for the amps output. 66k UF of capacitance per channel is alot for putting out just 225 watts.
137,000 joules, not a number archived by many amps.
I have Nakamichi TA-2 Stasis receiver and it sounds so beautiful too.
I'm still using the NAK CA-7 with a PA-5 power amplifier (100 watts/channel 0.1% THD 8 Ohms / 160 wpc into 4 Ohms). Still sound fantastic driving KEF C80 3 way speakers. I'm also using a NAK TA-4A Receiver with KEF C25 monitors for my home recording setup with a MOTU M4, MAC mini and DELL 4K monitor.
Gary, sounds like you've amassed a great setup, Thanks for sharing.
In the early 80's I bought a 530 receiver.
Used it for 10 years until getting larger Magnepans requiring more power.
It seemed to be really well made.
Wow never expected to watch a video on a hifi shop and find a cossie up in the air in the middle of it. Looks like you've got some great stuff there and good luck getting the cossie back up and running, don't see many about these days. If I'm ever in the states i'll have to visit the shop.
Impressive preamp. And really nice to get input from your partner there in the shop.
I will try and include Ben more often
Yes, more bench talk.
My system, sans the tuner. Had no idea there was a matching power strip. Love my Nak gear!
There is an excellent interview with Nelson Pass done by Steve Guttenberg where Nelson discusses the PA 7. Nelson's takeaway, "Avoid the 7II and 7E."
There are so few great pre-amp manufacturers now. I can only think of Parasound, NAD, and Emotiva that produce units that don't cost as much as a ballistic missile submarine. Really wish Pioneer, Sony, and Yamaha would return to making pre-amps.
I love my CA-7a preamp!
Nakamichi PA7 Amp просто монстр!
Running this pair and love it. Would love to get a hold of the rack handles for the pa7. The look is bad ass..I you have a set let me know?
Sadly, their OMS-7 CD player had a high failure laser rate. Almost all the units you see these days suffer from that. In addition, there wasn't a digital out so you can connect to an better external DAC. I still own the PA-7. I believe the 7 series was the last hurrah for Nak, unless you consider their 3 piece Dragon CD player & DAC combo. A much admired audio tour de force which sadly succumbed to the digital era. Have fond memories of my 2 680ZX, 1000ZXL and a couple of others. They were on top of the cassette medium.
Nakamichi made some awesome products over the years.
I had a 680ZX cassette deck for 39 years. Never had a problem with it.
It was sad to see them disappear.
I wonder what happened.
Perhaps they sold the name.
I believe I have seen the Nakamichi name on some low cost products.
Reminds me of when Arnie Nudell sold Infinity to Harmon. They went from speakers like the IRSv’s and IRS Betas to car speakers. Thanks Harmon😩
Love the 680zx, totally under rated
nakamichi was too good for the market
I had a double blind listening test with friends between the Bryston 4B and the big Nak. Both were great, the 4B came on top.
Hi
I enjoy your channel .
What do you think of the Nakamichi IA-3 integrated?
Rumor has it the CA7/CA5 phono stage is a John Curl design?
I believe it is a Nelson Pass design (Founder of Threshold Amps, among other of his brands) given the use of the ‘stasis’ naming.
I love and hate this channel, great info and items the fact I can’t afford them really pissed me off, like the car side line 👍,
I owned the Nak 730 receiver back in the day...
May I please ask you: I have heard some say that Nakamichi PA7 is equal to the Mark Levinson No. 27.5, is that correct?
Thank Nelson Pass
Had both units way back and the kappa 9 i worked in Dubai and got this unit cheaper at that time all tax free as well the kappas.
Now I need a new keyboard after drueling
wow, these must be rare, the first time I see them 👍🏻
If you are not such a fan of the matching amp, what would be some suggested alternative amps for this?
no alternative
I've been an audiophile for 20 years an never knew they made amplifiers and pre amplifiers and cd players 😳
And a turntable
You’ve been living under a rock.
@@JohnLee-db9zt your right.
@@johnhovanec6240 These days with all the crap going on in the world I rather live under a rock.
Not surprised, the sold relatively few compared to tape decks.
Freegin Sweet!
You made me drool.
I have to replace outputs on my PA 7 Stasis , do you know the parts number I cant find it online ?
I've got a CA-5 Pre-amp and am looking to buy a PA-7 Power Amp, any idea how these will match?
Hacen reparaciones , tengo una CR7A y Dragon, necesitan servicio.
Gracias.
Could a buy a worm gear part# 0J05232B from you guys for my ca-7a
or where do you guys get these from?
any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks 🙏🏽
Do the PA7s get toasty hot when running on normal load?
The PA 7 got warm, but not what I would call toasty. It was touchable. I can not speak as to the PA7II or E models
A neighbour gave me this unit for free last summer ca7 pa7 .
better than gold
Do you think it is silly to put a solid state preamp with a tube amplifier?
Not at all Alan. I mix them all the time, for example I use a tube pre to tame a bright speaker with a solid state amp.
thanks !
I'd love a PA-7 to pair with my CA-5. Also, it is strange when one piece in the line (in this case, the CA-7) seems to be built to another standard entirely. I have a set of late 70's Yamaha separates, and the tuner, a T-2 is just on another level from the rest. It's like an aluminum brick with the one piece solid top and side cover. The amp and pre, nothing too special.
Beyond cool.
What are the speakers on the left side of the B&W Matrix 802? They look smooth =)
Yes indeed Sy. Super smooth and one of our best selling speakers .
What if someone use a tube active step up for mc( two boxes) and go in a preamp like this ( I mean mm solid state)? Do you lose somehow all the magic ? I have already spent 1k euro on it. Can someone explain it to me ? If Fernando is not an engineer, is one of the best retailer, and have a bunch of people for topology explanation I think …
Nico. You won’t really know till you try it.
@@SkyFiAudio it will be redundant in the rack, that’s for sure, I am going to complete my lector audio set up with their hybrid mm integrated ( two boxes ), original topology but standard commercial toroidal, a lot of success in the USA, I think we all understand that every aspect of a passion is crucial, Thanks for your kind answer.
Is this for sell?
Does anyone know what exactly the Statis amplification is all about ?
Some good info about "STASIS" here: www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/16threshold/index.html
I'm only five or so minutes into the video but how much is this preamp?
Checkout our website for pricing and availability.
I think you’ll find it’s ALLUMINIUM 😊
I think the Nakamichi what's design by Nelson pass
That’s my understanding as well, hence the use of the name ‘stasis’ which Pass used in his first major brand, Threshold Amos.
Very👌🏾👍🏾
question asked in the chat might you have an answer?
A simple acknowledgement is not an answer. I still need the 2 sets of gears. thanks anyway.
Bro thats a British cossie Man thay where everywhere including my oncles garbage he had a one of 400 limited editions it was British racing green and I can't remember what series it was but they are rapid and defiantly British not German, cosworth is an English company and most of them where built in the uk and yeh well done don't sell it and stick a bigger turbo and intercooler and you know the rest light as food and they handle a dream, desighned by and made for the uk marked. Rs 500 sierras are nasty too but tail happy and not as sharp to drive as escort on these tight uk roads but the sierras won many a touring car tournament, the engines where desighned for f1 cars bk in the day and there is a cool vid online of them developing it and they stuck it in this and the Sierra and a lesser 1.6 version in the escorts rs turbo, I had a boggo rs first and thatbuse to spin in every gear in the rain cuz it wasn't even a ton in weight, all awesome these mid 80/ mid90's ford's man... rapid.. good catch man for sure.
Sansui AU 717. WICKED
i want to buy it,do you sell?
Prodajem ja
@@mikipavlovic8417 Koliko?
Those were never sleepers. Especially not the Pass Stasis poweramps.
I think you’ll find itscALLUMI
ナカミチ 好きでしょ？
Those are super expensive!
Dude, if you're gonna show a device's circuits, it's to talk about the circuit TOPOLOGY, not the material of the contacts or the board's dielectric. If you're not an electronics engineer you might as well avoid doing this BS
Oh stop it.
Wow dude, that’s mean.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video!!!