Naka-Tribe Feature #1:
Eric Spear
What got you started as a home theater enthusiast?
Back when DVD stores like Blockbuster were popular and you could rent DVD movies to watch at home, I used to rent movies to watch but was never happy with the sound from my home system. At first, I was using an AVR and separate speakers for a 3.1 surround system but always wanted more.
How did you start on your Nakamichi journey?
Saw the YouTube videos from CES 2023 and was impressed with the Dragon demos. I really liked Ealan Osborne's coverage of the Dragon at CES and his video was why I pre-ordered when the first batch of 500 were offered.
Why did you decide on DRAGON, out of the many other audio systems available on the market?
Last year I upgraded my AVR and wired speakers to a Bose 900 Dolby Atmos Soundbar with 2 Bose 300 Surround Speakers and added 2 Bose subwoofers. Was impressed with the Atmos but it only had two front upward firing speakers, so Atmos was a bit weak. Plus, the system didn't seem to have enough power to bounce the Atmos sound off my ceiling. The Bose soundbar only allowed one HDMI which meant all devices had to be plugged into the TV and the TV plugged to the soundbar. I much prefer having all my devices plugged into the Dragon and not have to send the sound through my TV first.
What are some of the ways in which your home theater experience has changed since your upgrade to DRAGON, as compared to your previous system?
I can now enjoy theater quality sound from my movies and real overhead Atmos that is powerful enough to actually sound like it is overhead.
I also ended up upgrading my Blu-Ray player from a Sony X800 to a Panasonic DP-UB9000 Ultra 4K UHD Player which is one of the best out there and is the perfect match for my Dragon.
Describe the bass experience from DRAGON's quad subwoofers, in terms of depth, power and tightness.
The bass is unbelievable.
I am still playing with the placement and angling of my subwoofers to get the perfect setting for my room but so far, they just sound so much fuller than my Bose subs. There is no thump or bass fallout during movies with a lot of bass and it just feels like you are part of the action.
Tell us how the sense of height and spaciousness has improved with DRAGON, when listening to overhead effects.
Overhead effects are now believable and truly sound like they are coming from the ceiling overhead. When watching the movie Blue Beetle, I actually had to pause the movie during the scene where the bad guys were in a helicopter at a high hover over Blue Beetle's home because it sounded so real, I thought at first there really was a helicopter over MY house.
What do you think of the overall experience brought about by DRAGON, when it comes to realism, directionality and clarity of surround effects?
Overall, I am very happy with the Dragon. I wasn't sure when I first ordered it whether I would truly be happy as the videos from CES were the only thing out there on the Dragon so I had to just go on "faith" that the system would be as good as the hype. It has been better than I imagined and probably will be the last surround system I have to buy. I am no longer looking for more, as at 3000 watts, it has more power than I'll ever use.
Describe the overall music playback experience with DRAGON. Which is your favorite mode for music listening and why?
I don't listen to a lot of music so don't have a lot of experience with the Dragon in music mode. I do however like Music 1 setting best which is the default. Being able to experience music in Dolby Atmos is nice.
Music sounds as though I am there with the artist when playing through the Dragon, so it is more of an immersive experience.
Anything else you would like to share regarding your Nakamichi journey?
I took a chance preordering my Dragon back in April 2023. $3,600+ for a surround system to replace my Bose 900 system I spent $3,000 on less than a year earlier was a hard decision to make but it turned out to be a very good decision. I do not regret my purchase and am happy I jumped in and ordered when they were first available. The ordering process that day was quite the adventure in itself.
