If you’re after a cassette deck that feels like it was built with pride and attention, the CR-1A punches well above its weight. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Dragons or 1000 series, but it gives you what matters: consistent tape transport, good fidelity across tape types, and noise reduction that helps tame hiss without making things sound dull.
For cassette lovers, it’s the sort of deck that makes your tapes sound “alive” again — clear highs, solid bass, and warm mids — especially when playing well-recorded tapes. Because of its Nakamichi lineage, even in a modest model you get good parts, decent mechanics, and enough features to get serious without going overboard. It’s ideal if you want vintage tape performance installed into your setup without needing to spend as much on maintenance as the top-flagship decks.
Technical Description
Here are the technical details of the CR-1A:
| Specification | Detail |
| Model / Type | Nakamichi CR-1A – 2-head compact cassette deck |
| Era / Year | ~1988-1990Â |
| Track System / Tape Speed | 4-track, 2-channel stereo; 4.8 cm/s (standard cassette speed)Â |
| Heads | • One record/playback head • One erase head |
| Tape Types Supported | Type I (Normal), Type II (CrOâ‚‚ / Chrome), Type IV (Metal)Â |
| Noise Reduction | Dolby B & CÂ |
| Frequency Response | ~20 Hz to ~20 kHz (with Metal tape)Â |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | ~70 dB (with Dolby C)Â |
| Wow & Flutter | ~0.06%Â |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | Around 1.0% (at typical levels)Â |
| Input / Output Levels | ~50 mV input (line) • ~0.5 V output (line) |
| Physical Dimensions & Weight | • Dimensions: ~ 430 x 100 x 265 mm • Weight: ~5.4 kg (≈ 12 lbs) |
| Construction / Design Notes | • Dual-motor transport (capstan + reels) with a single mechanism assembly. • The deck uses good-quality heads from Nakamichi, known for fidelity and consistency. • The faceplate has headphone output (¼â€) in some units. • Built in Japan, with care typical of Nakamichi gear of that era. |
