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Nakamichi 680ZX Cassette Deck - Consignment
Condition: Used. Fair, fully serviced but shows signs of age (See photos)
Includes: No box or Accessories
SN: A116 07224
Includes 7 day warranty
Overview
Fully serviced and ready to roll, pun intended.
• Aligned head guides
• Calibrated playback stroke angle
• Calibrate record stroke angle
• Aligned playback head heights
• Aligned record head heights
• Aligned azimuth
• Belts replaced
• Switches cleaned
From the golden age of Nakamichi, the 680ZX is a true collector's item, in addition to being one of the more capable cassette playback devices of all time.
The discrete 3-head deck includes advanced auto-azimuth adjustment for perfect head alignment.
The VU meters are an absolutely pleasure to watch while enjoying your tape collection, beautifully lit and highly accurate.
Specification
Type: 3-head, single compact cassette deck
Track System: 4-track, 2-channel stereo
Tape Speed: 4.75, 2.37 cm/s
Heads: 1 x record, 1 x playback, 1 x erase
Tape Type: type I, CrO2, Metal
Noise Reduction: B
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 22kHz (Metal tape)
Signal to Noise Ratio: 66dB (dolby B)
Wow and Flutter: 0.04%
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.8%
Input: 50mV (line)
Output: 1V (line)
Dimensions: 482 x 143 x 340mm
Weight: 9kg
Note: auto azimuth alignment
AUDIO CONNECTION QUALITY GUARANTEE
✔️ Seven day warranty on Consignment*
✔️Passed our checks for functionality
✔️A full inspection noting for any defects
✔️A full completeness check for all included parts and accessories
At A$2,200, this Nakamichi 680ZX listing is ambitious, sitting well above the typical used market range of roughly A$1,150 to A$1,950 (based on USD €1,100–$1,300 listings). While the deck originally cost around A$3,600 when new in 1981, the current asking price exceeds the 75th percentile for working units, even those recently serviced or calibrated.
The 680ZX remains a legendary performer thanks to its discrete 3-head design, auto azimuth alignment, and ability to record cleanly past 24 kHz after modern upgrades. It’s a sought-after deck for serious tape enthusiasts who value transparency and extended high-frequency response. If this unit is in original-owner condition with the RM-200 remote and has been fully serviced, it could justify a higher price, but at A$2,200, buyers should expect near-mint condition and verified performance to make it a fair buy.
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.
See all Nakamichi listings on RADAR.
