Nakamichi vs Mcintosh?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=48894
Printed Date: July 06, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Topic: Nakamichi vs Mcintosh?
Posted By: Poormanq45
Subject: Nakamichi vs Mcintosh?
Date Posted: January 29, 2005 at 6:41 PM
Which do you think is better?
McIntosh MX406 
Or the
Nakamichi CD-700II
I have reviewed the technical specs and they appear to be almost identical.
So if you have personal experience with these two HUs, which do you think is better?
If you havn't had personal experience, which do you think looks better? -------------
Replies:
Posted By: the don
Date Posted: January 29, 2005 at 9:14 PM
both look like sh$t but mc intosh is mc intosh get the mc tosh
-------------
ladys if i can,t fry it i don,t eat it
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: January 29, 2005 at 9:27 PM
The CD-700II is a better CD player, IMO. McIntosh MX406 is also very nice, you can't go wrong with either. Mcintosh amplifiers, on the other hand, will blow away Nakamichi in almost every respect.. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 11:56 AM
THanks for the replys guys.
Anybody else have anything to say about either of these?
Hey DYohn On a 1-10 scale, 10 being the best, where would you rate Nakamichi amps, and where would you rate Mcintosh amps?
-------------
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 12:23 PM
Well, I really hate arbitrary scales like that, but, to answer in those terms McIntosh amps are among the absolute best available. If 10 is an ideal of perfection that cannot be attained, 1 is unusable and 5 is average, McIntosh amps are probably around 9.5 or so. When Nakamichi made their amps in the USA (1995 to 2001 models) they were very good, probably around 7.5 to 8 on the imaginary scale. Earlier Nakamichi gear built in Japan (mid 1980's to early 1990's vintage) were probably better. The more recent post-bankruptcy Nak amps using mainly parts out of the far east factories are really not much better than any others coming from those factories, and would be down around 6. Nakamichi head units are among the best in the world, although their build quality can be really dicey. Out of the box failures are not uncommon, so always buy with a warranty from an authorized dealer. McIntosh heads are built by Clarion in Taiwan under contract and are genuine high end units but have a shrill sound quality (to me) and are not the most flexible things on the market. Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten is in the same quality range and tends to be more reliable and easier to use than either. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 12:38 PM
Wow, thanks for the information. I didn't realize that Nak went bankrupt.
You said that this affected their amp quality. If that is so, then how come their Head Unit's build quality didn't suffer? Oh I just re-read your post. Sinse their build quality can be "dicey", does that mean that two of the same Model HU will not have the same quality?
Also, I really don't like to use arbitrary scales, but sometimes it makes it easier to express the quality differences.
-------------
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 12:42 PM
Nakamichi head units have always been made in Japan and still are. By "dicey" I am talking about the mechanical quality, like things not functioning correctly, not the sound quality. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 12:48 PM
If you don't mind, what do you think about the Mark Levinson system in the Lexus?
https://www.marklevinsonlexus.com/overview.asp?model=ls
-------------
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 12:53 PM
I'm sorry for the persistant questioning, but I'm talking to a friend right now who is a Nak lover.
Can you clarify something for me.
How do current Nakamichi car amps compare to current Mcintosh car amps?
-------------
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 12:55 PM
The Mark Levinson system is a very good system, made by Harmon Kardon. They lisenced the ML name. One of the best OEM systems available, along with the Acura Dolby DTS system and the Lincoln THX system. Genuine Mark Levinson home audio gear is far superior to what is used in the Lexus... ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: uthinkuknoaudio
Date Posted: January 30, 2005 at 8:07 PM
Nak amps are definitely in the same ballpark as the McIntosh, but amplifiers are not their forte, so i would go with a McIntosh amplifier on that. When it comes to head units though, the Nak should be your choice, as the CD-700ii is possibly the greatest head unit ever made.
-------------
"I don't play games. I play Nakamichi and that for real yo" - Probably some japanese kid said this in the early 80's trying to sell stereo out of his trunk lol.
Posted By: 04MDX4SQ
Date Posted: January 31, 2005 at 11:56 AM
The Nak unit is awesome sounding, but like DYohn said, quality control has become an issue. The McIntosh unit is very similar to the original Clarion 9255. If you like this unit, take a look at the new 9255 by Clarion. I have used the older unit in competition for years, and it sounded great. The new one is even better, they improved a few things from the original (24 bit Burr-Brown D/A, copper shielded chassis, 96khz sampling, better outboard power supply, nice rca leads and connectors). It's worth a look.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: January 31, 2005 at 12:06 PM
Poormanq45 wrote:
How do current Nakamichi car amps compare to current Mcintosh car amps?
In general, McIntosh amps are consistently among the best in the world. Nakamichi amps are really good, but not in the same class. ------------- Support the12volt.com
|