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CD Player Reviews, SPDIF DAC Reviews

Nakamichi Dragon CD Player – Mini Review

Christiaan Punter 9 March 2007 2 Comments
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CD player-Extraordinaire

This three-piece collection together formed a Nakamichi reference CD player, so expensive that precious few people purchased it. There were apparently less than 200 units made, and so, it is very rare. It really looks stunning but upon first inspection, you might struggle to find the drawer. One might also wonder what to make of the 3 different boxes. They are 1: a disc changer transport (with built-in spare-dac), 2: a power supply with buttons to control the transport and 3: a DAC.

Compared to the Wadia 861, the Dragon holds up very well in terms of resolution and sounds much more velvety, airy and supple, contrasting starkly to Wadia’s usual dark tonality and dryness. The Wadia, in turn, makes it clear that the Nak’s timbre is somewhat synthetic and the Nak also can’t match the Wadia in terms of soundstage depth and -layering.

nac dragon cdIMG_2554 1600pix

Above: the DAC unit, which looks exactly like the transport unit.

nak dragon cd IMG_2555

Above: the DAC unit front can be opened the same way as for the transport, in this case exposing some of the circuit board. But why?

nac dragon cd IMG_2552 1600pix

Above: the power supply / control unit

nac dragon cdIMG_2553 1600pix

Above: the transport unit. This is a changer mechanism fed via a single drawer

I still wish I had had set up this iconic player on a decent table and taken some during the day.  The player belongs to a close friend who has it stored away, so maybe I’ll get the chance again someday. Until that time, do check out the below pics that I found on the internet.

Nakamichi Dragon CD PS DAC (32) shopped 1600pix

nakamichi_dragon_cd-1 865pix

nakamichi dragon cd drawer open takuhiro_y-img600x400-1338293068cfw0ec74706 600pix

nakamichi Dragon-DAC-02 877pix

nakamichi dragon cd 668pix

nakamichi dragon cd 3 783pix

nakamichi dragon cd 4 687pix

nak dragon d 633pix

nakamichi dragon cd 5 769pix

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Christiaan Punter Owner of Hifi-Advice.com

2 Comments

  1. Roux says:
    7 September 2022 at 11:50

    Hi,cWhat do you think about the cd player sony cdp-x707ES? I own it one

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      7 September 2022 at 13:10

      Very nice player. Owned a Swoboda version of it. Built like a tank and with very reliable laser.

      Reply

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