Another great video, AudioThrift, and Nakamichi cassette decks are a real treat to see. Back in the late 90's/early 2000's, I bought a black Nakamichi BX-100 cassette deck from an eBay seller for $100 to $150 with the shipping costs and it's fun with its cool, distinctive Nakamichi style. One can spot a Nakamichi deck from a mile away because their style and features stand out from the crowd. I also purchased a Nakamichi RX-202 unidirectional cassette deck which had the unique feature of having a drawer with a three-sided window that would pop out when a side of the tape was completed to then spin the tape around and re-insert the tape to play it (when the play-both-sides feature was activated). Sadly, this unit has had issues and eventually wouldn't play the tapes or press the tape onto the heads, but Nakamichi units are great when they work. :)
@@AudioThrift, yes, it really is and I think either it or one of its bigger brothers (the RX-303 or RX-505) was featured with John Cusack's character in the movie 'High Fidelity'. :)
Great video, and $5 for that BX-100 in that condition was a STEAL!!! I think for anyone wanting to find out what Nakamichi was all about in the cassette deck era, these might be the best place to start though these days it appears their asking price in general is going UP! I own several Nakamichis including a Dragon but my first "Nak" was a BX-150 bought used at a pawn shop in 1989 for about $150. Call the BX-150 this machine's bigger brother, adding Dolby C and an LED tape counter but otherwise identical; there was also the BX-125 which had Dolby C but still had a mechanical tape counter. I'd owned and heard many cassette decks before getting the BX-150 including a few 3 head machines and though I'd expected a lot considering the brand name I couldn't believe what I heard on doing my first test recording--it struck me as being at a whole other level compared to any tape deck I'd heard until then and that includes my TEAC open reel machine not just other cassette decks, I can only describe it as "not cassette-like"'--if I were blindfolded I wouldn't have guessed I was hearing a cassette tape. I've done the replacement of the rubber part of the idler wheel, not at all difficult just take your time and it helps hugely to use a piece of scotch tape wrapped sticky side out on your finger to hold the nylon bushing on putting it back into place. Also like maybe all Nakamichis for some reason they have issues with the connectors to the main board, if you have issues with either sound or the transport functions not working it can help a lot to (CAREFULLY!) unseat and reseat the connectors. Oh, and I was about to correct you and tell you they didn't make Fieros with T-tops but on doing some searching I found that isn't true--they made some but it was one very rare option! :)
@@AudioThrift that is great to know because I bought one right before I found your channel. :) Just hooked it up and it sounds great… thanks for the reply btw!
Truly, I'm amazed what we find down here in the desert. The estate sales are just ridiculous. It's people who bought second homes in the 80's, furnished them, then didn't use 'em except like, twice a year.
I need the address of this thrift store. Nice find ! Silver testors paint and a tooth pic will take care of that chip. Soldered fuses..............I guess they saved 5 cents.
Another great video, AudioThrift, and Nakamichi cassette decks are a real treat to see.
Back in the late 90's/early 2000's, I bought a black Nakamichi BX-100 cassette deck from an eBay seller for $100 to $150 with the shipping costs and it's fun with its cool, distinctive Nakamichi style. One can spot a Nakamichi deck from a mile away because their style and features stand out from the crowd.
I also purchased a Nakamichi RX-202 unidirectional cassette deck which had the unique feature of having a drawer with a three-sided window that would pop out when a side of the tape was completed to then spin the tape around and re-insert the tape to play it (when the play-both-sides feature was activated). Sadly, this unit has had issues and eventually wouldn't play the tapes or press the tape onto the heads, but Nakamichi units are great when they work. :)
Oh man, that 202 sounds really cool to watch!
@@AudioThrift, yes, it really is and I think either it or one of its bigger brothers (the RX-303 or RX-505) was featured with John Cusack's character in the movie 'High Fidelity'. :)
Woah... I'll have to go back and watch that again
Great video, and $5 for that BX-100 in that condition was a STEAL!!! I think for anyone wanting to find out what Nakamichi was all about in the cassette deck era, these might be the best place to start though these days it appears their asking price in general is going UP! I own several Nakamichis including a Dragon but my first "Nak" was a BX-150 bought used at a pawn shop in 1989 for about $150. Call the BX-150 this machine's bigger brother, adding Dolby C and an LED tape counter but otherwise identical; there was also the BX-125 which had Dolby C but still had a mechanical tape counter. I'd owned and heard many cassette decks before getting the BX-150 including a few 3 head machines and though I'd expected a lot considering the brand name I couldn't believe what I heard on doing my first test recording--it struck me as being at a whole other level compared to any tape deck I'd heard until then and that includes my TEAC open reel machine not just other cassette decks, I can only describe it as "not cassette-like"'--if I were blindfolded I wouldn't have guessed I was hearing a cassette tape. I've done the replacement of the rubber part of the idler wheel, not at all difficult just take your time and it helps hugely to use a piece of scotch tape wrapped sticky side out on your finger to hold the nylon bushing on putting it back into place. Also like maybe all Nakamichis for some reason they have issues with the connectors to the main board, if you have issues with either sound or the transport functions not working it can help a lot to (CAREFULLY!) unseat and reseat the connectors. Oh, and I was about to correct you and tell you they didn't make Fieros with T-tops but on doing some searching I found that isn't true--they made some but it was one very rare option! :)
I only know about the T Top Fiero because a friend of mine had one in high school in 2002. I haven't seen one before or since. lol
Also, that scotch tape thing is a really good idea.
Good choice of receiver to go on top for the demo.
Thank you. The next video in a few days is on that.
Can this player be just used as a player? I love the look of this but really no need for all the recording functions
Oh, absolutely. In fact, that's probably what 90% of users would have it for.
@@AudioThrift that is great to know because I bought one right before I found your channel. :) Just hooked it up and it sounds great… thanks for the reply btw!
how are you this lucky, im stuck with a dying jvc from 1991, and it needs new belts.
Truly, I'm amazed what we find down here in the desert. The estate sales are just ridiculous. It's people who bought second homes in the 80's, furnished them, then didn't use 'em except like, twice a year.
Ii am more surprised you found a Nakamichi for five dollars. The name alone commands high prices - regardless if it's low end.
Yeah, I'm surprised. Estate sales... wild.
Yeah, five bucks is the deal of the century! :)
"to get the top off, you just toss it some beads" 🤣🤣 I LOLed a LOT more than I should
heh
I need the address of this thrift store. Nice find ! Silver testors paint and a tooth pic will take care of that chip. Soldered fuses..............I guess they saved 5 cents.
It's the estate sales and thrift stores here in Palm Springs, CA. They're a gold mine.