Excellent sound quality
Simple and functional controls

Needs a Pro install really
CD mech does not like CDR's
Will benefit from a service every couple of years but if you're this serious about in car audio then this is not likely to bother you.

Probably the finest sound quality you will ever hear in a mobile audio system.
Nakamichi are well known for making the best in this field but the Cd700II surpasses all expectations.
Beautiful midrange vocals with such excellent staging, it's as close as you will get to being at the concert.
Punchy bass and oh so smooth treble. All put together it's like an Angel kissing on your eardrums.
The Tuner is not as sensitive as some others and it really does benefit from a single piece carbon fibre aerial with a solid ground. But, given a good signal it provides concert hall performance.
Installation should be left to a professional. These units are fussy about being mounted correctly and do not like being subjected to an overly bumpy ride. Plus there's the DC/DC converter box (PSU) which is no small item. This too has to be mounted up behind the dash and of course, with all the available outputs and inputs, there is quite a bulk of cables coming from the rear.
But, once installed and working you will never look back. These truly are the epitome of Hi-Fidelity sound in the automobile.
Ergonomics are great. Easy to read buttons and a traditional rotary knob for volume. As it should be.Nothing you don't need and everything you do.
the TONE DEFEAT button is a nice item as well since it allows faithful reproduction of what the sound engineer recorded with no tonal adjustment circuitry to get in the way.

Similar Products Used:

Alpine
Kenwood

The best Nakamichi had to offer incredible preamp& cd section musicaly best Nakamichi cd transport (made by Sony) most reliable Nakamichi ever built Audiophile super-natural laid back SQ(Nakamichi's signature sound) Separate tuner box for less interference Analog nobs volume, bass, treble, fader, balance Pull-out antitheft capability

The vol nob is unmarked, and feels rather cheap

This is the predecessor to the cd-700II Wow what a super rare find on Ebay! A brand new old stock from 1989. This thing retail for $1200.00 big ones back in 1989. Its argubaly the best built and sounding Nakamichi had to offer. The mechanics and transport is superior to the cd-700II. It use a top of the line transport made by Sony. It also contains other top of the line Sony parts. It has a separte tuner box dual 16-bit d/a converters

Similar Products Used:

Nak cd-760 blows away Nakamichi mb-100,cd-45z Alpine cda-7949, Clarion hx-d10, JVC, Sony, Phillips, Pioneer,

incredible SQ! Display can be easily seen in all types of light. No-nonsense face that screams class - almost snobbish. The weighted analog knobs that, as one person puts it are "downright sexy". 24bit dac with an auxiliary digital input.

The face plate is not removeable. But that would probably be difficult, given the heavy analog controls. Face plate also pertrudes about 3/4in - had to drill extra holes in the din bracket to mount the unit flush.

Wow! The detail... The presence... The clarity... The dynamic range... The imaging... And that's using a pair of A/D/S mid-priced integrated speakers in the doors and a single subwoofer. I never knew that a head unit could make SUCH a difference - and I've had many. The SQ this thing produces is incredible. I had previously settled for the MB-100 because I could not see spending an additional $500 for the CD-700, and I have to say that the MB-100 sounded better than anything I owned before, but the controls were a bit annoying. I found the CD-700 used and decided to upgrade - expecting no more than a better look and better ergonomics, and was shocked by the difference in sound quality. It also seems that Nakamichi addressed the issue of skipping. This unit was produced in November 2001, and I have not had any problems in that area. The MB-100 skipped a bit, but the SQ made up for it. I have to say that this unit is as close to flawless as you can get!

Similar Products Used:

Older Sony and Kenwood units, Eclipse 5303R, Alpine CDA-7843, Alpine CDA-7949, Nakamichi MB-100

Sound quality,clean design

Mechanics

Not easy to review: In one side, the CD sound quality is simply outstanding, really the best I’ve heard since now. Ergonomics and looks are also very good and clean, just as I like, but I think the mechanical part would suit a home player better. Not to use in bumpy roads, jumps and skips/springs really a lot. I also had lots of trouble with the loading mechanism and the dirt-catching CD loading hole. So, for me it’s the best standing car audio gear ever built.

Similar Products Used:

None

Digital Aux input, SQ, SQ, SQ, loading and handling mech. Stock appearance. Beautiful meaty analogue volume pot.

Easy to skip, even had it do it once changing lanes (hit the cats-eyes!). Very pricey, only bought it cause I got it new and 1/3 off. No ability to skip quickly from last track to first (have to keep pushing back one track). But the SQ makes it all worth it! LOL :)

Originally installed focal 165w3 3 ways with an IDQ12 off an RF Power 800a4, with an older pioneer 7010 head. The sound jump was huge from the old pioneer fronts. Then came into some money and upgraded to a Nak CD700 head, and a 33WX Focal Utopia sub. Oh..... My...... God!..... The Nak lifted the sound stage to the roof, I now get instruments and vocals from all over my bonnet, the dash, my feet, the rear vision mirror! the sun visor! everywhere (even the front bumper!!!!)! The Bass went so punchy, very strong, deep and tight (sealed rear corner largish box). I can''t fault the sound reproduction of the system, nak and focal were born to play together and the RF amp is great, very amp hungry. I''ve since picked up a bd1000a1 for the sub and I''m going to active split the fronts off the 800a4 (Looking at maybe the audiocontrol 4XS). Then drop a second 33WX in the other rear corner paralleled off the bd1000! For pure sound brilliance, go focal and NAK.

Similar Products Used:

None

Sound quality, simplicity of design, smoothness of controls

Price, lack of detachable faceplate

Replaced the Denon with the Nak and have been VERY happy. Very easy to use unit with tremendous sound quality. Noticed an immediate increase in bass response (don't know why...nothing else was changed...just a head swap) with about the same disc trackiblity as the Denon. Skip resistance is good, not great and not poor...just very good. The Sony C90 probably wouldn't mistrack in anything other than a head-on collision, but the Nak is still very good. The display is very readable albeit a little small. I dumped the C90 simply because I couldn't read the display in bright sunlight. Tuner is average

Similar Products Used:

Denon DCT1000r, Sony C90, Sony C910

Display is easy to read even in direct sunlight, sound quality is simply amazing and pure, extremely easy to operate, does not scratch my CDs, smooooooooth analog volume knob, bypass of bass/mid/treble controls adds to SQ.

Skips a little too easily, CD loading mech. a little tricky sometimes, the "no frills" approach is a little boring but this unit more than makes up for it in quality. Also, the unit sticks out about 3/4 of an inch when installed...no big deal unless you want it flush mounted, and then you'll need to custom install it.

Every time I look at the face on this unit I think "how boring". But, I wouldn't trade it for the world. If you want the most simplest, straight forward, "purist" approach, then I think nothing else comes even close to the CD700. If you want something with all sorts of displays, tilting screen, detatch. face, remote, etc. then the CD700 is not for you. If you have only the finest speakers, amps, and install, then the CD700 is definitely for you. For example, I had the Eclipse 5303R before I bought the CD700. I had just purchased a 3-way Dynaudio (with 8-inch mids) and immediately noticed all sorts of SQ shortcomings from the Eclipse. After buying the CD700 I really believe I'm hearing the music virtually the same way the sound engineer wanted it to sound. If you're considering going VERY high end (you know who you are) then I honestly can't think of any other CD player out there that comes close. I only gave a 4-star rating for value because in normal-people-world this is incredibly expensive. Other than that, my money was well spent.

Similar Products Used:

Eclipse 5303R, Alpine 7939, Sony C90. The C90 comes closest to SQ, but I thought the C90 was designed more for a competition-only car, one that you'd hardly drive...very user unfriendly...very complicated. However, the C90 never skipped. The CD700 is in a class by itself, and I don't think you can compare it with anything else on the market right now. For the value, the C90 would be the winner...but if you got the $$, then the CD700 is the ONLY answer.