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Offered is „Dragon“ by Nakamichi as second-hand device from the category „Cassette Recorder“ on audio-markt.de - the online market place for high-end. The advert with the number 952196197 ends on 17.12.2026 at 15:11 o'clock.
The Nakamichi Dragon is a landmark cassette deck rather than an ordinary vintage component. At €3,950, this listing sits just above the €3,623 median of seven comparable listings, but below the €4,055 75th percentile, so the price is fair rather than a bargain. It is broadly in line with the market for a good example.
Its appeal is the sophisticated three-head, dual-capstan transport and automatic azimuth correction, which help it extract unusually convincing treble and remarkably stable replay from real-world tapes. The Dragon remains one of cassette’s technical high points, especially for serious playback and recording. The main buying criterion is verified servicing: these complex 40-year-old mechanisms can be expensive to restore, so a documented recent overhaul, accurate recording performance, and working auto-azimuth system would make €3,950 attractive. Without that evidence, negotiate rather than assume “good” means serviced.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Nakamichi was founded in 1948 by Etsuro Nakamichi as a research institute in Tokyo, Japan, initially providing R&D services for major corporations and government entities before transitioning to consumer audio manufacturing under its own name beginning in 1972. The brand emerged from deep technical expertise in electromagnetism, magnetic recording, and acoustics, establishing itself as a pioneering force in Japanese audio engineering. Today, Nakamichi operates as a subsidiary of Chinese holding company Nimble Holdings, maintaining its heritage while expanding into contemporary audio categories.
The brand built its legendary reputation on cassette deck innovation, introducing the world's first three-head recording deck and the iconic Dragon series (1982), which featured bi-directional replay and automatic azimuth correction—innovations that remain highly sought after by collectors, with pristine examples commanding thousands of dollars on the secondary market. Beyond vintage cassette decks, Nakamichi's modern product portfolio encompasses home cinema audio systems, sound bars, speakers, headphones, mini hi-fi systems, automotive stereo products, and automotive lighting solutions, reflecting a diversification strategy that extends its audio expertise across multiple consumer segments.
Nakamichi occupies a distinctive position bridging vintage collectibility and contemporary consumer audio. The brand commands respect among audiophiles and hi-fi enthusiasts for its uncompromising engineering standards and Japanese precision, while simultaneously serving the automotive and mainstream home audio markets. Its legacy as an innovator in analog audio technology, combined with its evolution into modern product categories, positions Nakamichi as a heritage brand with credibility across both specialist and general consumer segments.
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