Nakamichi 530 Overview -- Introduction -- Review

This is not a demonstration in which music is played, because the music would be recorded through the built-in camera mic and would not be an accurate reproduction.
Personal note: Technically and soundwise an impressive unit. The looks can be argued about. Simply a no-nonsense unit. FM reception was excellent. There is no tuning knob; tuning is motor driven. Mine easily put out more than the rated wattage of 55 watts per chanel continous with an 8-ohm load before clipping. Not that easy to find, but easier to find than a Nakamichi 730 receiver. Made back when Nakamichi was still Nakamichi and did not produce "lifestyle" products.
1978 - 1979
MSRP - $ 690-850.00
Touch sensor switches. Conventional rotary knobs for volume, balance, bass, and treble.
Preamp-out/main amp-in jacks, equipped with interconnecting jumpers.
Only FM reception.
FM stations are tuned with touch-sensing switches.
Four pre-set FM station switches.
Tuning capacitor driven by a motor.
POWER AMPLIFIER SECTION
Power Output
55 watts per channel, minimum continous sine wave at 8 ohms, 10 - 20,000 Hz, with less than 0.02% THD
80 watts per channel, minimum continuous sine wave at 4 ohms,
10 - 20,000 Hz, with less than 0.05% THD
IHF Power Bandwidth
10 - 50,000 Hz for less than 0.1% THD (27.5W)
10 -20,000 Hz for less than 0.01% THD (27,5 W)
Damping Factor: Greater than 80, 1 kHz, 8 ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion:
Less than 0.003% up to 1 kHz
Less than 0.006% up to 110 kHz
Intermodulation Distortion
Less than 0.002% at 8 ohms, 55 watts output (60Hz: 7 kHz, 4:1)
Frequnecy Response, Main in to Sp out, 8 ohms, 5-50,000 Hz +0, -3 dB
Residual Noise: Less than 0.03 millivolts
Input Sensitivity/Impedance:1 volt/100 kilohms
Preamplifier Section
Input Sensitivity/Impedance:
Phono 2 millivolts/50 kilohms
Aux, Tape 150 millivolts/100 kilohms
Frequency Response: RIAA Deviation Within ±0.3 dB
Phono Overload: 130 millivolts
Signal-to-Noise Ratio:
Phono Better than 84 dB, IHF-A, referenced to 2 millivolts (-138 dB equivalent input noise)
Aux, Tape Better than 98 dB, IHF-A
Output Level/Impedance:
Rec Out 150 millivolts/330 ohms
Preamp Out 1 volt/560 ohms
Loudness Control
(VR -40dB, 1 kHz reference) +14dB at 20 Hz, +6dB at 20 kHz
Tone Controls:
Base +/- 12 dB at 20 Hz

[@Gabriel-pz9ct]

Thanks for all the info! Great video

[@warrenboychuk9081]

Really enjoyed your reviews. Would you consider selling the 530? Thanks, Warren

[@OldSchoolElectronics]

Sorry Warren, I sold that already for around $100. I should have kept it. If you find one, keep it. Really high quality. At the moment I'm not active on this channel, so I don't know how your comment got through, since I turned all comments off. I am finally working on a new video. Thanks for watching.

[@Funkywallot]

I just bought a 530 and prepared myself for recapping most of the internals. It wasent necessary, quickly realized that the 530 is a top-tier 70´s Receiver. In my opinion better than the old Harmans and certainly Marantz. Amazing... i dont like the looks though but maybe i learn to love it too. If you stumble upon a Nak Receiver 530 or 730 BUY ! These are getting rare, uberexpensive in the 70´s. An absolutely bargain soundwise. You will not look at any marantz,sansui,revox,pioneer etc ever again. Only thing i did is to adjust the idling current wich was 17 and 16 mV when ive got it and took it down to 10mV according to spec. This eliminated distorsion completley. And i have to find 3 tiny burned out diallamps wich are soldered ...

[@vintagestereoreviews482]

Thanks again for your comments and for watching. The other channel you commented on is mine, too.

[@Funkywallot]

:-)

[@pscl227]

Thanks so much, always wondered what the hi-blend and threshold buttons do on my 530.

[@vintagestereoreviews482]

+Paul Elliff Thanks for your kind comment! Glad my video was a little help.