Welll, since nobody has posted on the LX5 for a while, I guess a few words are in order. This cassette deck has outlasted a lot of components in my arsenal. I had it rebelled and serviced in 2006 (I think) although nothing was actually wrong with it. You can download the OM and Service Manual from HiHi Engine (a great resource). I really thought that I would retire this as iPods and MP-3's came along, but all in all, I think the darned thing continues to sound better. Digital files have their place, no doubt, but Nakamichi put magic in their decks, and they are simply musical sounding. Make sure that you clean the heads regularly, and demagnetize them every few months. The LX5 has the Nak sound and vibe without a lot of extra stuff: the dolby tracks really well, and it really likes TDK SA and Maxell UDXLII (High Bias, Type 2) a lot. YFortunately, you can still find the tapes on eBay. Great deck!

Rugged, has character and SEX APPEAL, easy to maintain(like that part) and is a conversation piece. Some think it's weak but, they're just not knowing! Since they only made 2 models, i'd have one if i were you!

Are there any? Let me know, those Japan cats had their ..it together.

Ahh.......the Nak LX5 cassette deck. Stealth in appearance but, every bit a Nak. This is the second LX series i've owned. Had the 3 many years ago. Always wanted the 5 but didn't have the lettuce to spring for it. I have 3 other Naks, which i like but this one has a look like no other deck. Like an early review stated, it's a conversation piece, most people would never guess it's a cassette deck and the performance is astounding. Don't be fooled, it's high performance all the way. I only wished they would've offerred it in Black, that would've been real hip. I remember years ago when i had one, the women just loved it. yes, it was definately a linen dropper, for sure! They thought i was Action Jackson or somebody. I've seen a few floating around, if you see one, get one, you won't be dissappointed at all. Got a hunch for one, got lucky and grabbed it. Easy to use, easy to maintain and when set up properly, you can't tell the difference betwix source and tape. i think it'll be a collectors item, who knows? Interesting that Nak kept the same design concept with the X series decks, i.e, ZX, RX.

Similar Products Used:

Nak ZX, Nak RX

Great sound. Easy to use. Rugged. Acutually good looking by todays standards.

None that I know of.

My Nach LX5 was the 2nd cassette deck I purchased after using Reel to Reel for a number of years. That is to say that I owned this for more than 20 years. Ofter thought about selling it, but I'm glad I didnt. The performance of this deck is as good as the day I bought it. It is simple, rugged, extremley good electronics and recorded tapes sounds as good as the cd or record. Luckily, keeping fingers crossed, I've not had any maintenance other than normal cleaning. If you still have a desire to use tape and you find one of these, buy it, even if you pay slightly more than $110.

Customer Service

Other than cleaning, never had to service it.

Similar Products Used:

none

Fantastic sound. Really heavenly. Easy to opperate. Looks incredibly impressive but is not cluttered. It's a real talking point with guests.

Expensive to service. Nothing else

I'm not sure that I can say anything that has not already been said. I bought the LX-5 about one year ago. Since it got damaged in transit I took it to my favourite tech guy, a friend of the family's for years. Do not let that fool you though. He still charged me $180CDN to fixa and refurbish it. Then it took me months to pick it up then a couple of months to play it. Gee, I'm going to startt collecting tapes again. Whata lovely sound. It's got that analogue smoothness and the fidelity of no other cassette deck that I've heard before. I used to have a pretty good HK deck. Bought it when they first came out. No way it can touch the Nak.This machine must be pretty near the pinnacle of cassette deck quality. No new stuff sounds lik this. There is no incentive for firme to make a cassettee deck like this. I was clearly made when there was no rush to glorify some new technology. It was far enough ahead of CDs that Nak was still trying to improve these machines. Many guests cannot tell wheather it's a Cd or cassette tape playing when I do a blind test!! I have not tried recoeding yet but that's coming very soon. I'm never going to trade this machine. It's mine forever.

Similar Products Used:

Harman Kardon CD-91 (I know, I know, how do I dare compare the HK to the Nak?)

The Nakamichi LX-5 has been a completely enjoyable part of my system for nearly twenty years, since I first bought the deck when stationesd in Japan. I was in the market for a Nak, and wanted to buy a fancier deck, like the ZX-7 or 9. The aesthetics of the LX weren't quite as becoming as the ZX decks. Instead of flashy lights and buttons, the LX is plain. Yet, as I lestened, I realised that despite my reservations, the LX is a top performer, and has served me quite well, with very little to complain about. My recordings, which have been of compact discs and encoded with dbx noise reduction, are quite indistinguishable from the originals. The silences speak for themselves, and the neutral sound quality make it possible for me to enjoy the music like no machine ever has. If you get this deck, hang on to it. You can spend more, you can get something a lot fancier. But what you will have is a straight forward piece of equipment that will provide you with years of trouble free listeninng pleasure!

Clear, crisp audiophile quality.
The performances of a WINNER with the heart and the muscles of a donkey.

Needs fine tuning from time to time

Dears, if you ever will have the chance to find one of these units ... listen to me ... buy it immediately !
Since 16 ago working in line with high-end audiophile equipments (class A only and speakers over 5,000$) and not a single failure ... always the same perfect , crisp , clear sound.
Just a winner with the heart of a donkey ... loyal and without fear for the hardest work to be done.

Dears, it has been a great deal when I have bought it 16 years ago.

Ezio

I bought this baby way back in 1981 and it is still working quite well. In its day it was one of the cream of the crop cassette decks out there. It still provides very good musical reproduction today! It still holds a proud spot in the rack of my $25,000 rig. However, I would like to get this baby refurbished with new electrical goods and bring it up a notch if possible. Does anyone out there know of someone that is a Nakamichi expert with the tools to do the job right?
For cassette decks, this baby is a 5 speaker product without hestitation, albeit not as good as 7-1/2, 15 or 30ips open reel.

simplicity of operation. elegant looks,great DC and Dolby discrete electronics assymetrical transport and discrete head design

no calibration or azimuth alignment...have to go to the ZX-7which I have too by the way.

What can you say...1981 was the beginning watershed year for cassette decks. Nakamichi introduces the LX-5 which Stereo Review was a smitten to very impressively. They should be too. With its high quality discrete electronics right down to the Dolby circuits,this deck has what it takes to record and play great music. The discrete head and assymetrical transport are a great supporting cast here. Upon opening the cover..the first thing I noticed is the circuit boards. More stuff in here than I allot of pre amps I have seen. The transport mounting is bit flimsy looking with its' stamped mountings for the mode and capstan and reel drive motors. Hey they had to keep to around $800.00 retail right?? Otherwise,good high grade components throughout. Low tolerance resistors and high grade electrolytic caps here. Rear RCA connectors are not gold plated for you detail nuts out there. The din cable for the remote is rear stage too. You have to love the silver with black trim looks. Breaks away from the bleek looking darth vader looking black decks. The front panel access door glides on a pivot slowly and elegantly. The knobs are smalland not well marked style has its cost I guess. The fine bias feature in conjunction with white/pink noise is just dandy for tuning the tapes you want to record in a pinch. Though not as accurate as a tone oscillator etc. it gets pretty close. Wow and flutter are very good. Piano and guitar notes don't sour in sound like on some decks. The cue and review functions are helpful for looking for that needed segment on the tape. The sound is detailed,alittle foward on the mid for my taste,but the highs and the lows get it right and says lets just get musical. I miss my LX-5. I gave it to a friend,the deck needs some tlc. Anyone buying a used Nak LX-5 should get all the rubber replaced,though the pinch rollers might still be ok. The idler is pretty stout too. Not like the later newer CR series deck that require the idler retrofit. Still if you want this deck to go for a long time,have tech go through the deck,replacing all rubber,and I heard that the elctrolytic caps start to go bad about this time. A significant loss in signal to noise and other un friendly things start to occur. A worthy investment if you do the above. Worth its' $800.00 back then,and worth a look today for the bargain price. Shop carefully however. Caveat emptor has never applied more now than ever. I bought a Nak OMS-5 cd player for $150.00 and ended spending about another $350.00 to fix it. To me it was worth it. Its build quality and sound were worth it. It was quite pricey in its day and to duplicate it today would not be financially possible. So if you can get any of the Nak vintage decks of 81 to say late 80s' at the latest,you will have quite a machine indeed. Just be prepared to get it back up to specs. I went Nakamichi direct,but there are plenty of good repair places out there,you just got to shop around. Enjoy the music and listen to the difference.

Similar Products Used:

Nakamichi ZX-7,Tandberg TCD-3014,Nad6300,Sony ES,Teac..too many to list. JVC kda-55...and again too many other too list.