Neil McCauley
05-03-2011, 00:58
Inadequate UK promotion:
Although Nakamichi were best known for their cassette recorders and were arguably state of the art for many years, they produced other electronic components although these weren’t promoted heavily in the UK or anywhere else as far as I can tell. Thus they are rare.
Important note:
Although these units represented only reasonable value in the 1980s, they represent exceptional value today. As you continue through this article, hopefully you'll agree.
The Threshold connection
Sometime in the 1980s Nakamichi took over the well known American amplifier specialist, Threshold. Threshold were known for their Stasis power amplifier circuitry which was held by some, in very high regard at the time. Having been a Threshold retailer in the early 1980s I was very impressed by the build quality but less impressed with the sound. It just wasn’t compelling to my ears. We sold a few, but sales never reached the heights of Krell or BS Meridian at Subjective Audio.
The head of Threshold was Nelson Pass. 1974 he received his BS in physics from the University of California-Davis. During his studies he and Mike Maher founded the small speaker company PMA. From 1973 to 1974 he was employed at ESS to design speakers. After graduating in 1974 he and René Besne founded high-end amplifier company Threshold Electronics on December 5, 1974. Later Joe Sammut became the third partner. Threshold is perhaps best known for the "Stasis" amplifiers (a design later also produced under licence by Nakamichi). He sold Threshold Electronics in 1997. The company continued without Nelson Pass under the name Threshold-Audio. (Wikipedia)
Read more here > http://not-boring-honestly.blogspot.com/2010/08/vintage-test-review-nakamichi-ca-5eiipa.html
Although Nakamichi were best known for their cassette recorders and were arguably state of the art for many years, they produced other electronic components although these weren’t promoted heavily in the UK or anywhere else as far as I can tell. Thus they are rare.
Important note:
Although these units represented only reasonable value in the 1980s, they represent exceptional value today. As you continue through this article, hopefully you'll agree.
The Threshold connection
Sometime in the 1980s Nakamichi took over the well known American amplifier specialist, Threshold. Threshold were known for their Stasis power amplifier circuitry which was held by some, in very high regard at the time. Having been a Threshold retailer in the early 1980s I was very impressed by the build quality but less impressed with the sound. It just wasn’t compelling to my ears. We sold a few, but sales never reached the heights of Krell or BS Meridian at Subjective Audio.
The head of Threshold was Nelson Pass. 1974 he received his BS in physics from the University of California-Davis. During his studies he and Mike Maher founded the small speaker company PMA. From 1973 to 1974 he was employed at ESS to design speakers. After graduating in 1974 he and René Besne founded high-end amplifier company Threshold Electronics on December 5, 1974. Later Joe Sammut became the third partner. Threshold is perhaps best known for the "Stasis" amplifiers (a design later also produced under licence by Nakamichi). He sold Threshold Electronics in 1997. The company continued without Nelson Pass under the name Threshold-Audio. (Wikipedia)
Read more here > http://not-boring-honestly.blogspot.com/2010/08/vintage-test-review-nakamichi-ca-5eiipa.html