Nakamichi 500

Commentary

A two head cassette deck that uses a focused gap recording and re-recording system.

A two head system is used for the head section and a focused gap (magnetic focusing system) head is used for the read / write head.
Recording to the cassette does not occur at the head gap, but in the decay process of the bias flux. This range is called the critical zone, which is the effective gap of the recording head. If this critical zone is wide, delicate recording cannot be performed. In conventional heads, the gap of 1.5 microns physically becomes more than 2 microns effectively due to the processing strain of the pole piece around the gap.
Starting with a re-examination of the head manufacturing process, Nakamichi developed a magnetic focusing head that removes distortion by specially processing the tip of the pole piece, thereby reducing distortion in the high-frequency range by obtaining ideal focusing.

The drive motor is equipped with a pulse control DC servo motor with a built-in speed detection mechanism.

Equipped with independent level controls for microphone input L/R, blend microphone L + R, and line input L/R, enabling mixing.

In addition to the stereo microphone inputs L/R, there is also a blend microphone input.
This allows you to add a sense of realism to your stereo recording, or to create a solo, vocal, or narration.

Equipped with an independent output level control.

Equipped with a 3-position tape selector, bias and equalizer can be switched independently.
The tape positions are SX, EX, and Normal. The time constant is set to 70 μ s for SX and 120 μ s for EX/Normal.

The Dolby System is installed as a noise reduction system.

Built-in 400 Hz, 0 dB test tone.
Even if the peak meter indicates 0 dB during recording, the playback output will vary depending on the sensitivity of the tape, which adversely affects the operation of the Dolby NR. The test tone is used to record a reference signal of 0 dB so that the peak meter indicates exactly 0 dB during playback.

Equipped with a peak limiter function, it automatically operates when an unexpected instantaneous large input is input, and compresses the large input over 0 db to approximately 1 / 7.

Equipped with a 45 dB full-range peak level meter.
Although the needle movements of the conventional VU meter did not keep up with the instantaneous input, this meter accurately indicates from a saturated recording level of + 5 dB to a noise level of -40dB.

Tape start memory is installed.
If the counter is set to 000 and this switch is pressed, it will stop at the start point when it is rewound.

Model Rating

Type	Cassette deck
Tape speed	4.8cm/s
Wow flutter	0.08% or less Wrms
Frequency characteristic	40 Hz ~ 17 kHz ± 3 db (SX, EXII tape) 40 Hz ~ 15 kHz ± 3 dB (Low Noise Tape)
Overall signal-to-noise ratio	63 dB or higher WTD (CCIR, SX, Dolby NR in)
Overall strain rate	1.5% or Less (1 kHz, 0 dB, SX/EXII Tape)
Erasure rate	60 dB or More (1 kHz, Saturation Level)
Channel separation	35 dB or More (1 kHz, 0 dB)
Crosstalk	60 dB or More (1 kHz, 0 dB)
Bias frequency	105kHz
Input	Mic : 0.2mV/600 Ω Blend Mic : 0.2mV/600 Ω Line : 70mV/150k Ω DIN : 13mV/25k Ω
Output level	Line:1.0V Headset : 1mW/8 Ω (1 kHz, 0 dB)
Pwer	100 / 117 / 220 / 240 V AC, 50Hz/60Hz
Power consumption	40W max.
External dimensions	Width 384x Height 110x Depth 254 mm
Weight	Approx. 7 kg
Sold Separately	Remote Control Unit RM-100 (¥ 6,000)