Nakamichi LX-5 Discrete Head Cassette Deck

This Nakamichi LX-5 is a stereo cassette deck with double Dolby B and C noise reduction, it was first sold by Nakamichi in 1981 with a list price of USD $850 and discontinued 3 years later in 1984.

The main features of the Nakamichi LX-5 are: 3 discrete heads and off-tape monitoring, digital tape counter with 4 digits and memory stop, manual tape type selection and capable of handling normal, chrome and metal tapes with additional manual equalization selection, belt driven dual-capstan transport.

Typical front loading cassette deck with the cassette compartiment located on the left side of the deck. Tape eject is operated mechanically and the cassette needs to be placed with the side to be played facing forward in the cassette well which is opened by a damped mechanism. Additionally the compartement can be accessed easly for head cleaning by removing the well-cover.

Level meters used on the LX-5 are digital LED peak reading meters. Full-logic transport controls used on the LX-5 let it respond to the slightest finger contact for fast and effortless transport function selection.

Dolby C-type used in the LX-5 provides 20 dB of noise reduction above about 1,000 Hz, fully doubling the amount given by B-type. The three-head configuration of the LX-5 requires a Double Dolby system, one for recording and one for playback. The 19kHz multiplex pilot slgnal present in FM stereo broadcasts can cause false triggering of the noise reduction system. The switchable MPX filter of the LX-5 filters out the pilot signal, and assuring proper Dolby processing of FM stereo programs.

For undisturbed listening a jack connector for a pair of stereo headphones is supplied. Connection to other audio components for plaback can be achieved by a RCA cable and recording from a source by a RCA cable. All main transport commands can be issued remotely with a wired remote control.

• Diffused-Resonance Transport
• Pressure pad lifter
• Silent Mechanism
• Double Capstan
• Microprocessor Control
• Discrete 3-Head Technology
• Asymmetrical Dual Capstans