Nak 480 - worth buying?

Find a deck with adjustable zenith and azimuth so you can optimize playback of your tapes. You will get better sound quality going onto CD.

The Nak 480, while certainly not a bad machine, was one of their lowest common denominator decks. If it were a BMW, it would definitely be a 3 series, and I dont mean M3, more like 318i.

With cassette decks as cheap as they are I would consider a more substantial Nak (Timo makes a good suggestion), or just give the Technics a clean and stick with it.

Just my .02 as a former Nakamichi dealer during the heyday of the 480.

Thank you...

You both have been very helpful. I will look for a Nak deck with adjustable zenith and azimuth.

Johncan

the nak 480 does have adjustable zenith and azimuth. in fact, it uses exactly the same transport as the top of the line 3 heads. the only difference is the head, which is a different head than the playback head in the 3 head models. the thing is, however, that the playback head in the 3 head models are significantly better than the two head ones.
you might be taking a chance, because while the 480 is a very decent machine, some of the technichs decks from the early 90's were surprisingly good for playback. if it is the auto reverse model, azimuth is easy, there should be a screw on each side of the head base where the head stops it's rotation.
either way you go, azimuth is the only adjustment you should worry about. you should adjust it for each tape you play, because the correct azimuth for playback will be the same as when it was recorded, not nessesarilly the perfect 90 degree, but at the same as the error if any that was present when it was recorded. adjusting the zenith would affect other adjustments. the nak 480 and 3 heads allow adjustment of azimuth without affecting the other adjustments. the auto reverse ones that have the azimuth adjustment at the end of the head rotation do this as well. most decks of the non- auto reverse type do not allow for azimuth adjustment without changing other parameters, except for the 480 and higher end 3 head naks. none will work as well for playback as one that is playing back at the correct azimuth, this is the most important adjustment. the 480 might be worth it just so you can do this with ease, and the same goes for a 3 head model, except you will get better sound with them.

I owned the Nak 480 a number of years, but the transport eventually gave out. That was with only modest use for about ten to tweleve years. My inclination is to think you can do as well or better with other used pieces from A'gon or maybe even a new mass market machine. Because I seldom use a deck any more, I replaced the expired Nak with a low-priced Sony with remote control, which I use to tape audio from selected TV programs.