Nakamichi vs B&K

[curved]

How do you 2-channel guru's compare the (preamp) Nakamichi CA-5 vs B&K Pro10 vs B&K CS-115?

[heiney9]

Nak CA-5 is a great sounding, very well built w/premium parts pre-amp. The layout is clean and simple for superb sound. I'd choose it over the B & K's unless there is a silly difference in price. I had a CA-5 for 20 years, because it was that good!

H9

[Tower Boss]

+2 on the Nakamichi. Even better would be a CA-5II/CA-5AII. The build quality, specs and transparency are excellent.

FR - 1-100,000 Hz (+0 / -3 dB) / 1-20,000 Hz (+0 / -0.2 dB)
S/N - Phono MM (88 dB), Phono MC (81 dB), Tuner/Auxiliary/Tape (95 dB)
THD - Phono MM (.002%), Phono MC (.004%), Tuner/Auxiliary/Tape (.002%)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/TowerBoss/eBay%20Auctions/Nakamichi/NakamichiCA-5AII-09.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/TowerBoss/eBay%20Auctions/Nakamichi/NakamichiCA-5AII-10.jpg

Regards,
Mike

[heiney9]

Yeah, I prefer the CA5 and it's simpler design and no tone controls. Regardless of printed specs the CA5 actually sounds more transparent.

Either one would be great.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/heiney_photos/Nak_CA5-guts04.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/heiney_photos/Nak_CA5-guts03a.jpg

Much simpler layout also very symmetric in that the copper power rail runs down the middle and the board is mirrored into identical L and R blocks. Also has one of the best phono sections going. Not a single opamp all discrete.

This is an instance where the next evolution of a product, while offering more features, doesn't necessarily sound better than its predecessor

H9

[billbillw]

If its one of the older B&K Pro 10MC, it gets my vote because it has the ability to go passive. Its a very simple unit with a very good phono stage as well. I had one for a while and really liked it, but I decided I had to have a remote control volume for my lazy butt. There was only one problem I found with the B&K and that was input cross talk. If you had more than one input playing (say tuner on, plus CD) you could hear the other input ever so slightly during quiet passages. Easy to solve by turning off other inputs. The B&K gets praise all over the audio forums as being a sleeper/giant killer. Another good thing about the B&K, is they still offer good service support directly from B&K if there are any problems.

Bottom line, the Nak and the B&K are both very good preamps.

[heiney9]

I've posted this several times before but here is a very objective review of mid priced preamps of the day which includes the B & K.

Again, either the Nak or B&K would certainly be a nice addition.

http://www.theaudiocritic.com/back_issues/The_Audio_Critic_18_r.pdf

H9

[reeltrouble1]

another damm link to someone else's opinion, thats just outstanding. What a pile of crap this thread is, middle of the road sissy boy toad's, get the B&K over the rice crap, besides at b&k the "sound matters" and you can actually talk to someone about the gear that works for the b&k instead of some self-serving internet site link stools.

RT1

[heiney9]

Yep, Mr. RT another link, that's how we use information at our disposal. Please expound on the Nakamichi pre-amps you've owned and listened to to form the opinion "the rice crap". Like it or not the Nak is a helluva pre-amp for the OP's budget. Some people have a budget and need to stick to it.

I have compared it to many pre-amps below and above it's original $750 price point in 1986 and I assure you it's as good as anything going from that era and holds its own against stuff of today.

YMMV

H9

P.s Hope you don;t have to scrape too much crap off your boots :)

[dkg999]

Ted - I'd back off the caffiene just a tad! Tubes rule!

[reeltrouble1]

eff that---you and me in the street at high noon

dont bring any sissy links as your shooter just wont piss far enough

Time was the members in the place did not need somebody's link opinion to stand (or squat, whatever fits) on their own, they had knowldege, stop cowering in the corner, zip up and tuck it in.

High noon and I was doing Nak when you were running down pop's leg after he had put the zero's in davey's locker.

Did I mention B&K just sounds better........and its made in the USA..........by Americans, remember them........I mean you are one.....I think.

RT1

[dkg999]

Ted - I'm playing Marty Robbins song "Big Iron on His Hip" in your honor! We certainly have lost some of the collective experience and wisdom of the forum. While I may not appreciate certain aspects of the "new normal" of the forum, I'm trying hard to adapt.

I'll have my B&K AVR and amps until they pry them out of my cold dead hands!

[reeltrouble1]

I am going to kick brock in the nuts so hard he's going to be the winning score at the next super bowl.

RT1

[heiney9]

i am going to kick brock in the nuts so hard he's going to be the winning score at the next super bowl.

Rt1

rotflmao. :p

[reeltrouble1]

well you will be rolling after you land....so what--that effin rice case, the tranny looks like its going to bleed all over things, mid-fi at best. not to mention there is no glow, but then b&k does not either, still the Nak sound reminds me of the NAD, cept is was once built by brits who also sunk a lot of stuff.

RT1

[heiney9]

It is mid-fi, both pieces are and no the tranny is quite isolated from everything else. Not having heard the B&K I can still say it would be as good a choice. The Nak has the R & L channels competely seperated (symmetric) and it's fed by a copper buss power bar down the middle (no whimpy, sissey pcb traces). Very quiet, robust, not an op-amp in sight. If you'll take the time to notice look at the rear shot (2nd pic in my post) and the entire left side is one of the best phono sections going at that time.

It was/is a nice sounding piece the only glaring flaw is sand. No glass, but mostly sand and carbon.

H9

P.s. Of course I'm talking about the CA-5, NOT CA-5II, which I know doesn;t sound as good as soon as they started adding features and made it mor complicated. Look at the simplicity of the original compared to the Mark II version.

[reeltrouble1]

isolated.....well, its on one side, but isolated??? thats like saying Clinton did have Sex with Monica, do you think he smiled when he....."capacitated".....I do not see any shielding......perhaps they were taking a rice break, ok, so the circuit is ok, that is why its mid.....the caps look ordinary. point to point is good if done right, mostly back in the day stuff for today, kinda like a zero splashing to the locker, just rusting away.

RT1

[heiney9]

Cap's were ELNA and Nichicon.............pretty damn good for the day. 2010-1986=24years. They had very few fancy caps 24years ago, not like today. Tranny is potted and shielded.

[reeltrouble1]

you call that tin can shielding....were you advising the japanese, good thing you were on our side, remember the American side, how much that thing weigh.....do you think weight means anything? was any consideration given to the acutal signal,,,,oh maybe its width.....any thoughts on that....internal energy dissapation, need a link??? hehehej/k.....did you know B&K actually does think about that stuff????

RT1

[heiney9]

did you know B&K actually does think about that stuff????

RT1

So did Nak, atleast with their initial stuff. The thing was built really well for its time (as in attention to detail and signal integrity) best Alps pot and Noble vol. control in the original. Just look at what a mess they made in the Mark II version (see photos from towerboss)

H9

The only thing I see in the Mark II worth anything is the copper sheilding between the boards and the bottom of the case.

[reeltrouble1]

the thing is B&K like Parasound now builds some hi-fi gear, whereas the Nak, well................

RT1

[dkg999]

Sheesh we've become a polite bunch! It's hard for two experienced forum members to even get a good battle of wits off the ground! In the old days we would be getting the popcorn going and finding a comfortable seat!

[reeltrouble1]

Its all pretty much F1's fault, the nerve of him being......

BOTH

BAD and NATIONWIDE at the same time, I see ShackDaddy lurking, as long as he stays we will be OK.

no matter the Nak the Nad or flavor of the month Fad, the Nut is getting some in the pimp van, I hear the chicks dig the tears he leaves in their stockings as they bounce in the back while he draws a smoke. Supposedly there is some kind of traffic photo at a red light run of it all happening.

In the end H9 knows I am right........Overall, B&K trumps Nak. So slim has to ride out of town or face the consequence, of course things can spin a bit in the hole.....beware.

The new guys just need to be shown how, no rule against having fun, besides, Patrick is so effin bored I hear Ballard woke up and caught him sleeping on his desk and now he is in crap so deep he can only hope there is a pony at the bottom of it for him to ride out on.

Tubes rule bitches.

RT1--Old School you Fool

[hukkfinn]

You would definitely want to stick with the Nak, in my opinion. Hope you ended up happy either way.
-Hukk

[tonyb]

I imagine he already chose one seeing the thread is 1.5 years old.

[nooshinjohn]

Not so sure on that man... It takes some of us that long just to figure out whats for dinner.:cool:

[thsmith]

Based upon his sig he went with the nak. Interesting read though.

[chandler9a]

I'm looking for a decent 2 chn Pre... Looks like that Nak would be something to keep an eye out for at a decent price.

[Dawgfish]

Yes it would, but don't be afraid to look at something with tubes in it. You can thank me later :-)

[chandler9a]

I hear ya, tube pre is on the list of things to research more. I like what I've read about the Dared, I'll probably just jump into it soon.

[stuwee]

Based upon his sig he went with the nak. Interesting read though.
Yep, and I always enjoy seeing Mike aka 'Tower Boss's cool Nak gear :biggrin: