Hmm, what can I say on top od all odes written here. I'm affraid I can only add my additional one.
I have had in my hands many top cassette decks including Nakamichi Dragon, ZX-7, Technics RS-9900, RS-M95, RS-M280, RS-B100, RS-B905, Harman Kardon CD-491, JVC TD-V1010, Akai GX-95, GX-75, Aiwa AD-F990, 770, 660, AD-6900, Alpine AL-85, AL-80.........
No one of them was able to record any kind of track so perfectly as ZX-9 can do! None of them was able to calibrate absolutely perfectly ANY cassettes I ever tried to insert. And I can swear it was already hundreds of different brands, lenghts, condition from my collection.
ZX-9 was even able to get 100% fidelity from beautiful but extremely difficult Teac CRC-90. It's ultra long 90 minutes cassette with reels inside. Normally lenght of those kind of "design" cassettes is 46, 52 or maybe 60 minutes. Tape CRC-90 is 90 minutes one and therefore uses extremely thin band. Most probably it's thinness is equal to rarely produced 180minute cassettes. Even otherwise excellent Dragon was not able calibrate this cassette correctly. Sound from this cassette was always distorted above 0dB and tape level always dropped some 2-5dB down compare to source depends on decks I've tried. Nakamichi ZX-9 pulled level 2-3dB above zero without hearable distorsion and tape/source left identical in level and sound quality.
It's also first cassette deck able to record fast electronic hi-hats at beginning of "AIR-Cherry Blossom Girl" identicaly to original when using Dolby C and top cassetes like TDK MA-X / SA-X or similar.
You can try to record this song with any other cassette deck and any kind of cassette.
The significant sound difference will be more or less present, especially when using Dolby C. This is not valid for ZX-9! You will hear no difference in tape/source comparison (I listen on excellent Dynaudio studio monitors :)
As written in some other thread, this is also world champion in ability rise tape saturation level skyhigh. Most of the top quality tapes can be modulated without hearable distorsion to the levels, where some other top decks are missing LED segments on their indicators :)
Simply amazing technological achievement Nakamichi can be proud of.
I finaly found my ultimate cassette deck! ZX-9 is end od the road in cassette heaven! :)

Simply the Best

Closest recording to the original.

Not built any more.

This is simply the best tape deck I have ever owned. It shurely beats my ZX-7 as well as the machines made by Tandberg and Eumig I owned several years ago. I use it primary to record rare vinyl records. But it also works well as an instrument to make cds sound more analoge. Compared to the ZX-7 it gives you a deeper soundstage and adds resolution esp. in the bass level. I would never sell this machine and highly recommed it to any serious listener. So if you see one of these on the used market and it seems to work fine grap it!

Similar Products Used:

Nak ZX-7, 482 Z, 480, Cr-2, Eumig FL 900, FL 1000, Tandbergs, ...

Comprehensive Manual alignment
Superb electronics used throughout
Perfect dolby tracking with Dolby B or C
Everything you expect from Nakamichi

None

I have owned an awfull lot of cassette decks over the years but the Nak ZX-9 as far as I'm concerned was the absolute best in terms of retaining every nuance of sound quality no matter what the source. 15 years ago (as a 21yo)when I first bought the machine (new)(& my 10th cassette deck), friends of mine would bring their expensive decks around and we would have a cassette deck shootout whilst recording high quality vinyl and CD source material. My friends spent thousands of dollars buying and selling but could never supply a deck to knock mine off its perch. A friends 'Dragon' came extremely close mind you but even he conceded that it fell a little short. A blind friend of mine who was able to hear to 30Khz was also present in all the shootouts and claimed that the ZX-9 was something special, especially in the high treble. He claimed it was the only deck that could faithfully record the synthetic 'snap' on 'Only You' from the album 'Upstairs at Erics', and whatsmore it achieved all that on a TDK SA. It's quite possible that my ZX-9 was a 'hot' one but I can't say for sure because it's the only one I'v heard. I ended up selling it about 10 years ago because I wasn't useing it anymore. I regret that decision and advise anyone with a ZX-9 in good condition to hold onto it.
BTW. I would like to hear comments from others who may have been able to compare a ZX-9 with other Naks.

Similar Products Used:

1000ZXL
Dragon
CR-7

Sound: Incredible detail, image, depth, warmth, purity and so on... tested frequ resp was 15Hz - 27kHz; dynamics up to 82 dB (type IV, dolby C) !!!
Controls/looks: impressive looks with loads of controls, manual rec head azimuth and brilliant manual calibration w/ 2 test tones.

none, or it must be the opening in the cassette lid

i can't tell a single negative thing about this deck. i am a nakamichi collector and own all the top of the line naks such as 1000zxl, 700zxe, cr-7 and so on. Only the 1000zxl (double the price of a zx-9) is able to beat this very special recording device. As a vinyl collector, this is he only alternative to the original. One just keeps listening to the deck. I can't even stand a cd-player for more than 30 mins when i am seriously listening to music; one has to hear this deck when considering a top quality recording device. beats any digital gadget on the market. surely beats a dragon as well.

Similar Products Used:

nakamichi 1000zxl, 700zxe, cr-7, zx-7, lx-5, dragon.

Three head, dual capstan, extra solid transport system. Manual azimuth, physical layout of controls exemplary.

Really nothing I can identify!

The cassette deck is really something to behold. In my opinion, absolutely the nicest analog sounds recorded and reproduced from vinyl sources.

I must confess that I adore my RX-505 a minute amount above the ZX-9, if only because I tend to enjoy the continuous playback action of the unidirectional autoreverse system. Both are magnificent specimens of classic Nakamichi engineering. Sound recording and playback of the ZX-9 is astounding. Of course, the key to excellence with all Nak gear use is keeping the equipment at optimum specifications, including transport mechanism constantly cleaned and demagged.

Another point I want to emphasize is that the ZX-9 is the cassette deck that predates the Dragon, and is built to the highest specifications Nakamichi could attain in a commercially produced cassette deck. Nearly indestructable, and truely a multifaceted and functional piece of cassette deck craftsmanship.

ZX-9's are rare nowdays, very desirable for collectors. Grab one, and you will be pleased with what you see and hear!

Similar Products Used:

Nak RX-505

Consistently perfect recordings and playback, excellent headroom.

None.

When I purchased this deck, I knew what Nakamichi tape decks were capable of but was completely unprepared for the level of high performance from this tape deck. The ZX-9 provides "features" that enable the user to attain perfect recordings every time. The recording head azimuth, recording bias, and levels can be optimally calibrated before starting a recording. Every recording I've made with this machine is an exact duplication of the original. When switching between the source and the recorded signal via the monitor switch, I do not detect any difference between the two. The headroom on this machine is like no other that I've experienced. When recording with metal tape, I can set the levels as high as +8dB without encountering ANY distortion. Nakamichi recommends a high recording level when using metal tape to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Recordings made with normal bias tape are equally good. With previous decks, I could never get acceptable off-air recordings. Finally, with the ZX-9, I could record off-air broadcasts and get back an exact duplicate of the broadcast. When I first purchased this deck, I found that it revealed a serious mismatch in my tonearm/cartridge setup when recording from vinyl. I could not hear my cartridge mistracking when played through my now replaced receiver. When I made recordings on the ZX-9, the mistracking distortion was glaringly apparent. I have since replaced the cartridge and recordings from vinyl are superior. I use the ZX-9 when making reference recordings and for serious listening. When burning CDs of LPs, I go to the ZX-9 first. There is a warmth, and body that the ZX-9 exhibits as well as crisp unsmeared highs that my CD-burner doesn't have. It's unfortunate that Nakamichi nologer produces such machines these days. Anyone Nak enthusiast who is looking for a high-end cassette deck should get the ZX-9 if they can find one.

System:

Musical Fidelity A3 integrated amp
Nakamichi ZX-9 cassette deck
Denon DCM-460 changer
Paradigm Reference studio 80 speakers
Marantz CDR-6000 cd-recorder
Concept 2QD turntable w/ Ortofon Super OM20 cartridge

Similar Products Used:

Nakamichi LX-3, Nakamichi MR-1

User controls normally available only to technicians; Accuracy; Layout of controls; best of the best

A standard remote would of been nice, but this was made from '82-'85. I admit, some of fancier functions available on other decks are nice, like, time remaining on tape and auto tape selection.

The ZX-9 is an awesome deck and highly esteemed to those who know of them. Nakamichi put all their best into this deck but left all the functions manual to keep the price down. Up until Nakamichi closed the doors to their US recording studio, they used 32 of these to do their recording.

The layout of the controls and simplicity of the deck make this a easy deck to use. The recording and playback is among Naks best. I find it very accurate without adding any coloration to the recording. People will argue which is Naks best deck forever it seems, so I will attempt to refrain from doing so. As I said previously, this deck is straight forward, it does not have a fancy readout. It has a nice set of meters, which I find very easy to use when setting the recording level and it has a 4 digit digital counter. You have controls to manually calibrate the deck for the tape you are recording on so you will get optimum recording from whatever tape you use.

Nak. put all their best stuff in this deck to make a deck to do the best possible record and playback without all the bells and whistles to keep it affordable. From what I understand, some of the componants that went into the ZX-9 were individually selected and tested before going into the ZX-9

Simply put, this is one of the best home cassette recorders ever available.

Similar Products Used:

Akai GX-9; Nak. 680; Nak. CR-7A