Designed like separates; Stasis amplifier; excellent tuner; Built like a bank vault; rec out circuits; puts out high amps, which is what determines your bass.

None

The Nakamichi TA-4A is a very high-quality receiver that was designed to function like separate components. Notice that Nak named it a tuner/amplifier, not a receiver. It uses Nelson Pass' Stasis topology. You remrmber Nelson Pass. He is the more famous of the two founders of Threshold Corp., the makers of enormously expensive amps. They licensed their design out to Nak. The way the Stasis amplifier works is really like having two amplifiers in one. In fact it really is two separate amps. A smaller amplifier to handle the smaller loads placed on it, and a larger amplifier to handle the more massive loads whenever you're running high power. It uses no global negative feedback like most amplifier designs, so it is always inherently stable. It works as well in reality as it does on paper. Think of it as a spaceship rocket. The larger rocket to provide it's main power, and the smaller booster rocket which provides just enough power to keep it in orbit whenever it ventures off it's intended path. It also has provisions for video as well. So it can be used to integrate your TV and stereo system. The sound of this amp, needless to say, is stellar. The bass is tight and controlled, with no emphasis on any part of the musical spectrum. The imaging and sounsdtaging are also excellent. The overall sound is well-defined, with an articulate midrange and treble. In it's heydey, this receiver retailed for $1295.00, and worth every penny. It does not have a lot of bells and whistles and other gimmicky stuff like the average receiver. Instead, it's a tastefully designed piece. So, if you like bells and whistles, this is not for you. Go buy a Kenwood, Technics, JVC, etc. On the other hand if high-quality sound is what you're after, then buy it if you can find one. Check Ebay, Audiogon.com. I was lucky to get mine from a sale for about $500.00 at a local dealer here in town who was blowing the older, more serious Nakamichi equipment out the door for little to nothing, much to my advantage ofcourse. It is the best receiver I have ever owned, bar none, and the foundation of my system.

Amplifier, ease of use, beauty

Difficult unit to have serviced

This receiver is rated at 100 watts rms per channel. Do an A/B comparison against any other receiver with the same rating, the Nak will kick its ass. 100W on the NAK does not equal 100W on any other receiver. The amp section is Nelson Pass's design and it shows. The raw power that this amp has is more than adequate for my B&W Matrix 804's.

Over the past 2 years I had some trouble with the solenoid switches. I was unable to select any of the inputs from the bottom row (using either the switches or the remote). I have the unit serviced, and a few months later the same problem developed. So now I am using another receiver as a pre amp and using the NAK as the amp (both have a pre out and main in).

I am upgrading to Sunfire seperates, but I am going to keep this NAK around in case I ever need a stereo amp in the future. If it were not for the problem I have had with the controls and getting the unit serviced I would give it 5 stars. Understand that 5 stars would be for a receiver in this particular class. It certainly would not hold a candle to the Sunfire seperates I am installing now.

Similar Products Used:

Any other receiver (I have used Denon, Technics, kenwood and Mrantz)