The legendary Nakamichi Dragon series is making a return at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. The Dragon tape deck, turntable and CD player – all coveted hi-fi classics – are now followed by the Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 Home Surround Sound System.
Nakamichi – 75 years of audio expertise
The Japanese HiFi brand Nakamichi was founded in 1948 by Etsuro Nakamichi and looks back on a 75-year history. Since then, Nakamichi has established itself as a manufacturer of high-quality audio products, such as the Nakamichi 1000, the world’s first 3-head cassette deck.
In this country, the Nakamichi Dragon series certainly made the brand better known. In 1982, Nakamichi presented with the Dragon tape deck an absolute hi-fi classic. It was the first Nakamichi tape deck to be equipped with a bi-directional playback function and the world’s first tape deck to be equipped with an automatic azimuth correction system. To this day it is considered one of the most iconic audio products of all time. Today, it’s still coveted by audio collectors, with well-maintained models fetching as much as $6,000 on the used market.
Then, in 1985, Nakamichi provided that Dragon CT turntable Before. A turntable with automatic disk centering. Also a real hi-fi classic. The high-end CD player system followed in the 1990s Nakamichi Dragon CD player – a rare and exquisite flagship masterpiece. Featuring a 7-disc CD changer, exotic rosewood tops and Nakamichi’s “Music Bank” mechanism – a groundbreaking innovation that minimizes vibration and ensures high quality CD audio playback. To this day, it is very popular with audio purists and hi-fi collectors.
Nakamichi Dragon returning at CES 2023 in Las Vegas
Now Nakamichi’s legendary Dragon series is making a return at CES in Las Vegas in the form of a bombastic 21-channel surround home theater system. That Dragon 11.4.6 Home Surround Sound System consists of a total of 5 components with 21 channels and a total of 31 built-in drivers! The central core is the powerful soundbar (or main unit) with 17 drivers alone. There are also two wireless subwoofers and two rear speakers. According to the manufacturer, the multi-channel home cinema system has an official output of 3,000 watts and is of course suitable for Dolby Atmos and, for the first time, for the new DTS:X PRO format and is intended to provide 360 degree surround sound.
Technical specifications:
- Channels: up to 21 channels (11.4.6)
- Loudness: 125dB SPL
- Peak power: 3,000 W
- In/Outputs: 3 x HDMI 2.1 In, HDMI (eARC) Out, Optical In / Out, Aux In / Out, USB Type-A
- Bluetooth: 5.0 with aptX HD
- USB: only for firmware updates
- Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X PRO
- CODEC Support: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS Digital Surround, LPCM 7.1, LPCM 5.1, PCM 2.0
- Dimensions of the soundbar/main unit: 147.5 cm x 19 cm x 11 cm (W x D x H)
- Weight of Soundbar/Main Unit: 14 kg
Price and availability
Pre-orders for the Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 Home Surround Sound System will begin in Q2 2023. The retail price will be US$3,499, which is currently around €3,280. To date, nothing is known about the distribution and availability of Nakamichi products in Germany.
More info at: www.dragon.nakamichi-usa.com
► Read here: Test: Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus and Ambeo Sub – frontal all-round sound
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Image Sources:
- Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 Home Surround Sound System: Nakamichi (All)
