Beautiful sound-quality and resolution. The built-in three-band EQ helps to normalize disks burned from "crappy" mp3s.

None so far.

The only thing that would make this deck better would be 24-bit converters. It's currently feeding an a/d/s P640 amp pushing a pair of Alpine "R-series" 6.5" coaxes and a single 10" sub (Kappa Perfects are on the way) via all Monster wiring/cabling. I'm hearing new things on CDs that I've listened to for years! Contrary to reviews I've read, I have no issues with this AM/FM tuner that I don't have with ALL tuners. I can even tune in an AM station that's two hours away during the DAY. Also, this thing skips. Well, in eight months it's skipped exactly TWICE. Once when I was cut off in traffic and had to run over a curb and once more when I "interfaced" with a rail-road crossing at slightly more than the legal speed limit. It also plays all brands of CD-Rs that I've thrown at it (incl. TDK, Memorex, Office-Depot "generics", Imation, etc.). All-in-all, it's an OUTSTANDING deck. SQ is superb!

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I've previously run Sony and Alpine CD decks.

Excellent CD playback, simple to use, not too flashy looking, so people think it's only a cheap unit and don't bother to pinch it!

VERY weak tuner - probably one of the worst ones I've had! Previously had Kenwood and Alpine and both of these have eaten the Nak's tuner alive. However, none compare to the CD sound quality.

A superb sounding CD player. I have used this unit in several cars, with and without an external amplifier and both work very well. Shame that there is no sub level control, which I had on a previous unit - very handy.

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Alpine TDA7556 & CHAS604. Kenwood CD6070

Sound quality! Classy looks Intuitive controls Easy-to-use remote

None so far, haven't noticed weak radio reception that others have commented on.

I couldn't be happier with this head unit. The sound quality is amazing - very detailed. Midrange control is a nice touch. Rotary volume works great. CDs track flawlessly, even on rough roads - even CD-Rs. I use an external amp, so can't comment on it's amplifier.

20bit DAC : sound much better than a CD-35z ! Lots of 4V outputs (F, R and Sub), 2 inputs. Very easy-to-use. The design (very sober : avoid thefts).

The FM receiver but is it really a problem with such a good CD player ? Difficulties for reading the CD-Rs (if burnt too fast max x4) and impossible to read CD-RWs. Very sensitive to scratched CDs. The design (not so sexy).

An incredible HU, for the sound quality, never heard something like this before. Neutral, precise, natural and incredible details never heard before. There is no comparison in this range of price, it is only SQ with no color LCD screen or DSP : "the analog way"... An amazing HU for real hi-fi. Only the MB-100 made me a better impression, but it costs twice the price of the CD-45z...

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Alpine CDM-7859RB, Pioneer DEH-P8400, Nakamichi MB-100

stock look 20 bit dac very nice layout of buttons plays my cd-r''s greaty SQ

radio reception no sub control

i ve had this for 3 years now.i purchased this for an SQ system and i compared it side by side with comparable cd decks with other brands in the same car. this deck has the best SQ for cd playback .

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alpine eclipse

20-bit converter sound quality, ease of use, back lit display. All car recievers should be backlit.

No sub level adj. No thrills, one color display.

This Nakamichi unit is just what I was hoping it would be, easy to use, sound quality is superb. Could use more features and multi-color display. Has no sub level control!! This really disappointed me, why the third set of rca''s? Once you have sub level control, it is hard to go back. All in all, i really like the cd-45z. So far no problems to report.

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Kenwood kdc-ps907, Blaupunt Las Vegas, Rockford rf-8230

how can you go wrong with 20 bit digital analog converter? This unit looks exactly like my factory honda unit so to the untrained eye it doesnt look aftermarket. people also get into my car and have no idea what nakamichi is so your bound to be unique if you get this unit. i see way too many people with alpine head units it makes me wanna puke.

everybody is right the radio reception is really crappy! but who listens to the radio anyways when you have a cd player like this? it does skip once in a while but only if your going over a speed bump or a pot hole too fast. word of advice don''t do that.

i got this unit on ebay USED for like 260 bucks with shipping and WOW is it great!! ive had mine for almost a year now and it works great! its like heaven in my car now since i have component mb quart psc-216''s in front and component mb quart dsd- 216''s in the rear pushed by a 4 channel precision power amp. since the quarts dont do jack for midrange i have two jl w0''s pushed by an alpine v12 amp(yeah i know i have big name products except for this alpine) im going to fix that eventually. since the nakamichi cd-45z has preouts for the subs i can control them with a touch of a button from my remote. this unit also has changer contols and i think im going to take advantage of that soon with an mf-51. and my nak doesnt have any problem reading my cdrs. i even buy the crappy pny technologies cdrs that come out to like 15 cents a cd too.... all in all this head unit has only been good to me and gets two thumbs up in my book.

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all my friends are into car audio so ive heard them all from alpines to poineers.

Sound Quality is truly Excellent Looks simple and classy. 100% visibility, day and night System upgradability (4V preouts, sub, 2 AUX in...) FM reception with RDS/EON works fine No silly functions

Too many functions in one button (bass, mid, treble, balance, fader) AM radio really an unnecessary feature here (not a weakness, though) Could skip a little less...

I was using a 8 year old Grundig FM/CD player SCD 1910 RDS and decided to upgraded my car (Honda civic aerodeck) system with this unit. What a diference in sound quality even with the stock speakers! Reviews posted in this site can´t really tell about the wonderful sound of this product. I love its refined look and the feel that all the development was directed to improve sound quality and not to "impress" with unnecessary features. Reliability has been excelent so far, and it reads flawlessly almost all my CDR''s (only the cheapest ones are rejected). The tendency to skip is somewhat higher than my previous unit, but it is a price worth paying for the precision, accuracy and definition of the 20bit D/A converters (streets in Porto are very bumpy!). Yes, there are too many functions in the "select mode" button, the removable faceplate is too big (my old Grundig was excelent in that respect, because only a small portion of the face was removable, being therefore much easier to carry) and installation was not easy due to the large amounts of cables hanging in the back. But for this price, it really can''t be compared for the quality of the sound.

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Grundig SCD 1910 RDS (too old to honestly compare. Good reliable unit, though)

Immaculate SQ, clean appearance, simple to use

No sub control. Skips a little too easily

This is the best sounding deck I have ever owned. I worked at a high end car audio store when I bought this, by far this sounded much cleaner, more open and more dynamic that head units from other manufacturer''s at even twice the cost. I can''t say enough for the immaculate SQ from this deck. But, I do wish it had sub level control.

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Eclipse 5303, Kenwood kdcx815, alpine 7845, none sounded close.

Awesome sound quality, fits in with rest of my car's interior, 20bitD/A converter

FM reception hasn't been stellar

When my OEM Honda tape deck died, I went looking for quality. I remembered that Nakamichi used to design the LS400 system, and thought the company would be a good starting point. No other head unit has this many features at this price! The black face is less conspicuous than the trendy silver Alpine and Kenwood heads. CD sound quality is magnificent, and I have not yet swapped any other audio components. FM reception is lacking, but I hardly use the radio because the CD SQ is so fine. The remote keeps my eyes on the road and ups the overall pimp factor. Green lighting matches the rest of the night illumination, and the best part?...No dolphins!!!

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checked similar Eclipse and Blau units