2. amps-preamps
  3. 186257-166334

Nakamichi CA-7A Preamp

I saw a SkyFi Audio You Tube video on this unit, and the build quality really impressed me, and was well done and takes through well. 
 

I decided to obtain one, and was blessed to get a remote, and yes I have only one key selector-button remaining on the front saying “CD”… but there just has never been an interior like they made these over (30) years ago, and I will never have to worry about the electrolytic capacitors.

My question is how did these get so far under the radar for very high quality preamplifiers? I honestly can’t say I’ve heard better and they pick this up for nearly $1000, thinking I over paid. But I think I would have to invest over $10,000 in today’s market to get this kind of sound, and very subtle bass, mid range, and treble adjustments, which are not traumatic, but very effective. I have Cornwall Heritage series and Dennis Had Inspire WE 300b amp. Great base, but a Rogue preamp with an Denafrips Ares ll are now expendable in what I’m now hearing. Just no comparison. Go figure. 
 

128x128moose89
moose89's avatar
moose89 OP
185 posts
 

I bought off EBay. Great Seller. Knowledgeable and a tech 

uncleang
123 posts
 

I have a NAK PA-7A MKII amp and a CA-7A pre. They are a phenomenal combo. The phono section in the pre is in a league of it’s own. I use an AT33PTG/II cart and it’s hard to describe how utterly clean the sound is.

The one weakness the pre has is the balance control may lose contact with the left or right channel when set in the mid position. Even after proper cleaning it only lasts about 6-9 months before the problem reappears.

Both units were manufactured in 1990; I purchased them used in 1998 for $2500.

BTW: The CA-7A is not a Nelson Pass design (the amp is) but it is based on Pass technology.  From the sales brochure for the CA-7A .... We developed a direct coupled output stage using a complimentary-symmetry emitter follower with a current bootstrap.  Same principles as in Stasis amplification.

 

Best money I ever spent.

moose89's avatar
moose89 OP
185 posts
 

@uncleang 

yesssss! I was happy to get the CA-7A pre. I bought it off of a fellow in Texas who knew his stuff and back-and-forth messaging on eBay. I knew it was the real deal because he knew all about the inner portion of this amplifier. I also got a remote control that works even though I only have one CD button on the front it doesn’t matter. And I don’t even have a turntable yet, but I am thrilled to use it with my Dennis Had Inspire western electric 300B into my Klipsch Cornwall IV’s. Game over. Bluesound Node 3, SVS MICRO 3000 SUB. I think my disease has come to an end lol.

uncleang
123 posts
 

@moose89 

The CA-7A has two torrodial transformers, so one would think that they're for left and right channels respectively.  They're not. One transformer is for line inputs and the other for phono; each transformer has separate windings for left/right channel.

There's trim pots to adjust MM, MC and line inputs which should be done periodically or after shipping.

Yes, the buttons are very fragile (use remote whenever possible); I've broken two but glued them back on so they're all there.

This pre will easily reveal the weakest links in your system, but when you've addressed them all the rewards are sublime.

 

moose89's avatar
moose89 OP
185 posts
 

@uncleang 

im impressed! You know your stuff! 
 

if I hadn’t given (4) banana boxes of vinyl to the thrift store, I’d buy a turntable just to hear that phono transformer. 
 

for right now, I rarely listen outside of streaming and Bluetooth through a Node v3… including TV. I shut off the use of my Western Electric 300 B tubes on my SET amp, for ballgames. ( trying to save tube life… I wish I knew at my age of 70, how many years of life they had, using them 4-6 hours at night only… any idea?)

yeah the making of the NAK is amazing  I got interested when I saw the Sky Hi Fi video on YouTube  

 

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