Updated 31 March 2024
The BleusNak ZX-9 Project
Complete Rehab of a Super-Tuned Edition Nakamichi Cassette Deck
Update 2024 - The Super-Tuned Edition Nakamichi Cassette Deck
Greetings !!! You will find an abundance of useful info regarding the Nakamichi ZX-9 cassette deck here.
Autumn 2004 - Here's the ZX-9 partially undressed. First evaluation of the insides about to commence. Refer to the top
of the BleusNak main page for a full view of this deck and other analogue cassette black beauties stacked in the studio.
Two photos of the ZX-9 partially disassembled on the bench, being prepared for initial diagnostic
specifications evaluation and capstan belt replacement.
As the project continues, including expert assistance from a good friend and pro technologist, we will post photos showing progress of the
BleusNak ZX-9 cassette deck rehabilitation. We hope that this page of photos and explanation will intrigue and help you understand
what goes on inside of a classic Nakamichi cassette deck. Enjoy the view, ask questions if you wish!
A view of the cassette bay with partial transport frame pieces removed to allow inspection of reel hubs and head adjustment mechanism.
Here's a glimpse of the ZX-9 stripped open to reveal bias, level and azimuth adjustment control components, plus a view of the
bottom solid-state preamp circuit boards and wiring harness. Many of electronic components packed into the inner frame of this deck!
A clear view of the critical capacitor and preamplifer circuit boards. Note the orange colored capacitors, often these little
orangies are the cause of problems due to age and leakage. That's where reference to the term 'Orange Cap Disease' originates.
Big work tearing down, diagnosing, adjusting, replacing, testing and reassembling a rig as sophisticated as the Nak ZX-9 cassette deck. The photo above shows use of the Nakamichi Tilt Check Gauge in operation. This gauge checks correct tilt of record and playback magnetic heads. Maintenance adjustment is as essential as azimuth or other key alignment procedures.
After doing this tilt gauge adjustment and verification, the head top surface will be perfectly parallel to the tape surface. Since play and record heads are floating independently in a Nakamichi deck, this step ensures tape path movement is ideal and correct for tape record and playback performance.
Perry Esposito - Profile Page at TapeHeads.Net Forum
Welcome to the Mohican Pass basement vault!
Created 26 May 2005
Return to the Nak Marathon Tape Project web page
Return to the BleusNak CyberSpot
I can report that the ZX-9 deck has continued to perform excellently, with regular home maintenance of demagging and transport
mechanism cleaning. Sincere thanks to my reliable and a favored Nakamichi cassette deck technical expert, Kannan Srinivasaraghavan,
based in south-central continental USA, for his respectful advice and exemplary skill/responsiveness completing the most intricate
electronic and mechanical tuning aspects of the BleusNak Nak ZX-9 project during the early 2000s.
Update 2013 - After many years of reliable use, the BleusNak ZX-9 cassette deck needed additional tune-up maintenance
and refurbishing of rubber products, including key capacitor electronics replacement. Inevitable deterioration of moving parts,
and cleaning of key contact components within the deck were accomplished during October 2013. We can report that the ZX-9 deck
performed at a consistent level, meeting original Naka specifications. Willy Herman, located in San Francisco, CA USA,
did that work on the ZX-9 deck during 2013. Some deficiencies were detected afterwards and those were addressed.
Update 2018 - After several years, the Nak ZX-9 deck was performing as expected. Except for the new and unproven LED bulb lighting
in the cassette bay that blinked out soon after installation, all standard functions have performed excellently. A personal bulb
fix-it was accomplished by yours truly during 2016. Periodic maintenance was accomplished successfully. Gosh, my ZX-9 deck
is aging gracefully, its production date was August 1983 (nearly 41 years). Increasing inconsistencies continued
to become apparent during 2016-2018, leading to a major overhaul by Perry Esposito during winter of 2020.
Update 2021 - Complete rehab was recommended by Perry Esposito, with refitting the manual azimuth and eq/level control board
and troubleshooting Dolby NR board control components. Upgrades of key capacitors and other electronic components was
accomplished with fine-tuning performance attained that exceeded factory specifications. Outcomes exceeded expectations.
Happy times and deck utilization for the BleusNakker .
Thank you, Master Perry E !!!
Update March 2024 - Five years since the complete rehab project, and all is good & plenty.
For those that are seeking expert technical services for Nakamichi ZX-9 & Dragon cassette decks, consider Perry Esposito.
He is located in the Richmond, VA metro region in USA. Contact Perry via the TapeHeads Cassette Deck Forum at:
Interim Update 11 October 2016
Current Update 31 March 2024