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Everything Nakamichi

Welcome to NAKS.ES!

Home of the famous Nakamichi Calibration Tapes, specifically designed to match as close as possible the original Nakamichi tapes. Also, here you can find lots of information, some pictures and projects, from common faults to complete restoration and rebuilding of Nakamichi Cassette decks.

We can also master almost any tape of any frequency, at any flux level from any reference level, Dolby 200nWb/m, VU 160nWb/m, or DIN 250nWb/m at very competitive prices! We use our stock of C-10 Type II tapes, but can provide almost any TDK / Maxell Type II or Type IV cassette tapes in C-60 or C-90 if required at an extra cost, or even use one provided by you.

Our replacement toroidal transformers have been designed to fit many Nakamichi decks. The trafos currently under production will fit at least these: Model 1: 1000ZXL, ZX7, ZX9, RX505 and RX series, LX Series. Model 2 specifically designed for CR-7. They are dual voltage, pin to pin compatible with these decks. This means the units will be 0-115-230V, so they should be good worldwide!

We can also build almost any bespoke transformer for your deck. Contact us for details.

Yes, we’re still making tapes! — October 2026

Many of you have been getting in touch to ask whether we’re still producing our Nakamichi Calibration Tapes, after noticing that our listings have disappeared from eBay. The answer is yes: we’re still mastering tapes, and we have several dozen blank tapes in stock, ready to go.

We left eBay because its fees and charges had grown to between 20% and almost 30% of the price of each set, which was simply not sustainable for a small, specialist service like ours.

So from now on, you can buy directly here on naks.es, at the same prices we’ve kept for the last 10 years. Same tapes, same care, same personal support, with no middleman.

Good news for our US customers:

Who make up almost half of our clients: we now ship tapes from within the United States once a month. If you’re patient and don’t mind waiting a couple extra weeks, your tapes will reach you with no tariffs or customs fees to pay. If you prefer not to wait, tapes will ship quickly from Europe.

To all of you:

For more than 25 years, Nakamichi owners around the world have trusted us to help them repair, calibrate and bring their cassette decks back to life.

Thank you.

It means a great deal, and we look forward to helping you keep your Naks sounding as they should for many years to come.

— Luis, naks.es

Our Products

Set of Calibration Tapes

Calibration tapes


By buying these tapes you agree to the following “Conditions of Sale”:

1.- Due to the nature of the product, returns are not accepted.

2.- The tapes are fully tested, measured and signed off before shipping.

3.- I am not responsible for items damaged or lost in post.

4.- Shipped by unregistered standard airmail. If you require other methods, please ask.

5.- It has happened once before that tones recorded were damaged (maybe by scanners, x-rays, or the alike) while in transit. Even though it is not my responsibility, nor can I be blamed for it, I will gladly remaster the tape for free if you ship it back to me. Return postage applies.

If you feel more comfortable, you can also buy these tapes from eBay.



Buy Calibration Tapes shipped to (choose) :



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Toroidal Transformer

Toroidal transformer replacement


By buying this transformer you agree to the following “Conditions of Sale”:

1.- Returns are accepted provided the item is in unused condition.

2.- I am not responsible for items damaged or lost in post.

3.- Shipped by unregistered standard airmail. If you require other methods, please ask.

The Model 1 and Model 2 transformers are 125€ + Shipping by courier. Please contact me at luis@naks.es for shipping costs.

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Testimonials

Ok Nakamichi enthusiasts:

A school mate of mine, has a pair of Naks. 1000ZXL and 660ZX. He said he was going to bring them in to my shop for repair. I got little bit of a shake cause ok I have tools but I did not have audio test tapes and Naks really need them to keep their reputation going on. So I looked and looked and looked and I ended up with Naks.es and Luis.  Ordered the tapes replaced all belts, and Pinch rollers on the 660ZX. Tapes arrived on time (Be aware Covid-times). Read the editorials on Naks.es on how to calibrate and started work. Just about done, went to last step “Playback Head Azimuth” Alignment, and …to my surprise no output from tape to my instruments and my trustful Siglent Scope. Immediately read the FAQ’s, got the ‘deaf’ situation out of my way, and contacted Luis. Luis replied within minutes. He was sure that the Audio tone was on that media and he told me that the Azimuth must be way out of reality.

Luis spend 3 hours on a remote support email loop to help me get my job done in an alternative way. Finally PH-Azimuth got adjusted in what Luis suggested to me doing otherwise.  I then decided to try the 15KHz Playback Head Azimuth adjustment tape once more.

Boom ! 15KHz were there this time because of Luis persistence and know-how.

I guess no need to ship back my 15Khz tape for a check now hey Luis ?

Best and kind regards
Dimitris Karatzas
Call sign: 5B4ZC

Hi there!

Finally some free time. I went through the whole procedure with CR-7 and ZX-9. It turns out that the home way I made a mistake about two teeth by setting of the height of the PB head and three at the azimuth. As a consequence, the recording was also wrong. Your tapes allow me to -not only- set the heads properly, but also to reference the correct level of playback (that is, aligning both channels). I definitively state that your tapes are necessary to restore the factory settings of the tape recorder. Despite the use of good DMM meters, oscilloscope and well-recorded cassettes, among others Nakamichi Demo Tape and many years of experience with Tape Decks, I was not able to set the tape player heads exactly. Tapes are like the missing piece of the puzzle, without them you will not get the whole picture. Thank you, for this precise tool.

Hi Luis,

At present, after all adjustments have been done, I would like too share my experience with you and all other nak lovers :

After purchasing nak 628zx in great technical and optical condition, I soon found out that all recorded tapes were sound terrible on all other decks (nakamichi, non nakamichi and even car decks).

I was despairly search for the solution on the net, and at the end found Luis.I ordered immediately test tapes from Luis and calibrated my nak following his test-cal instructions. And now at this very moment may nak in calibrated and I`am happy again.

Especially I must emphasize Luis`s full cooperation at all time.

Thank`s Luis for your support.

Best regards
Tadej Marinko

Hi Luis,

I bought a set of your cal tapes a while back and they are awesome! Since then, I’ve also managed to acquire a few genuine Teac test tapes […] after setting the PB azimuth with your alignment tape and my Tektronix oscilloscope , I compared the setting to a genuine Teac 14kHz azimuth tape and also a 6kHz head alignment tape and they all matched exactly. Good job on those tapes! You really are providing a valuable service to us do-it-yourself Nakkers who can’t get original Nak tapes. Keep up the good work and I am eagerly watching the progress on the alignment jigs you, Tom and a few other NakTalk members are working on.

Warmest regards,
Dan Barham

So after a few weeks of taking care of other urgent matters, I finally got around to the adjustment on my RX-202. Normally I work on older model Naks, this was the first of the RX series I’d worked on, and I have to say it was a bit of a pain.

In any event, using Luis’ excellent calibration tapes, I found that VR101 and VR201 needed .2 turns counter-clockwise, and the R/P head needed .125 turns clockwise to hit the proper levels on my old-ass RCA VTVM and sound perfect again. The RX-202 lacks a lot of the easily-accessible adjustment avenues that other Naks have, and I don’t know that it even has a head height adjustment option, so Luis’ tapes were a lifesaver.

-Tim

Some months later …

I just adjusted yet another deck with Luis’ tapes (my other 582) and it sounds fantastic. Whether or not it’s precisely what the Nak originals would do or not is irrelevant when these decks now sound better than they have since I’ve owned them. Excellent work Luis!

-Tim

Good morning Nak-ers,

This is concerning Luis’ alignment tapes. I bought a set from Luis. On 6 tape decks, 2 MR1’s, cassette deck 1, cassette deck 1.5, cassette deck 2, and a cheapie Sony, I could not hear anything on the 15Khz tape on all decks. Luis sent me another tape just in case there was a problem with the first one. Well It was my mistake. Once I got the azimuth adjusted on the “cassette deck 1”, the tone was there! That’s the only deck of these 6 that has an external azimuth adjustment and the only deck I could hear the tone (after using the external adjustment).

My point here is that Luis was a great help in helping me with this and was very generous in sending me another, half way across the planet!

Thank you very much Luis! The other tape is in the mail today on it’s way back to you!

Happy Holidays all!

Bob

hi all..

just wanted to put out a public thank you to luis for his calibration tapes. I got a quick and excellent service from him with a bit of technical support too!

My Nak collection has been slowly growing, I now have an orange cap. sickly 680, a 480, a dead 582 and a 682ZX i’ve won tonight on eBay with a broken eject lever!

I used the calibration tapes on my 480 which was going to sit in for my 680 while I tried to replace all the orange caps…

I managed to go through about 60% of the service manual’s electrical adjustments so far… I’m going to do the last ones when I get my new cam motor belt… Even though I’m quite new to this and don’t have much electronics experience I’m really pleased and surprised by the results I’ve obtained so far..

My 480 sounds like a different machine, not as good as my 680 but really enjoyable.. I’ve been listening to tapes all day on it.. I’ve actually started to quite like the funny way the transport keys lock down..

I know without all the transport gauges and some of the more specialized test gear I’ll never be 100% sure of getting all the calibration correct but I’d definitely recommend these tapes for anyone with a few DIY skills and an interest in getting their Nak’s to sound as good as they can..

Thanks again to Luis and this list! Adrian

The tapes are also for sale in eBay. This is some of the recent ebay Activity – 100% positive feedback!

from “darkinnate”: Alignment tapes of amazing quality! Thanks for helping us revive cassette decks!

from “rcjoe58”: Just as listed, prompt delivery to the U.S. Good seller. Thanks

from “wlodek12”: very fast delivery, high quality product

from “hifiaustris”: Fast delivery, thank You for good service !

from “pcfreak1024”: Very nice tapes – sounds a lot better thanks!

from “tripqzon”: Made the job so much easier. Thank you very much. AAA+++

from “sirius_rocketry”: Tapes arrived quickly, great for fine-tuning your deck! Thanks!

and many more in my eBay Sale!

The tapes are also for sale in eBay. This is some of the recent ebay Activity – 100% positive feedback!

from “mps545”: Excellent tapes, as good as the originals. Quick to respond and helpful! A+++

from “mastertechtrading”: Alignment tapes work out great, did get the job done.

from “pepe6810”: Item as described, very useful tool for decks adjustment. Thanks !

from “finn23091931”: Advanced and high quality product. Perfect!

from “timh01”: Lovely quality tapes fantastic to have them – great service, highly recommended.

from “darkinnate”: Alignment tapes of amazing quality! Thanks for helping us revive cassette decks!

… and many more in my eBay Sale!