Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 Soundbar System – Quick Look
All Image Credit: Nakamichi
Synonymous with the quality of the legendary Dragon Cassette Deck (1982), the Dragon Turntable (1985) and the Dragon CD Player (1996), Nakamichi is now poised to release the Dragon 21-channel DTS: X Pro, Dolby Atmos soundbar surround sound system. It comes with 31 speakers and is claimed to be the worlds first to offer DTS: X Pro, supporting up to 32 channels, compared to DTS:X with only 11 channels.
Nakamichi is legendary within the audiophile world with the release of their previous Dragon products and after extensive research and development the huge Dragon 11.4.6 wireless surround sound system has been announced in time for the brand’s 75th anniversary.
With 21 channels of audio, the 58″ long stainless steel chassis with its 11 dedicated acoustic chambers is definitely bucking the trend of the other soundbar manufacturers at CES 2023 who are showing off compact all-in-one soundbar systems.
The Dragon squeezes 31 drivers into its design, including six upfiring drivers, four in the main soundbar unit and two in the 3D Omni-Motion Reference Surround speakers plus four Air Motion Transformer tweeters in the front soundbar and it is wireless too.
The front soundbar up-firing drivers are angled, two at 10 and two 20 degrees that Nakamichi says better render “vertical and overhead sound objects at precise height levels”. While the two subs contain a total of four drivers configured in isobaric configuration, each capable of being individually selected and adjusted via the supplied remote.
The upfiring drivers in the surround speakers can be rotated up to 180 degrees via the manufacturer’s “PerfectHeight Mechanism” feature that, according to Nakamichi, allows the drivers to operate at optimal angles regardless of room shape and seating position. Additionally, each nine pound bipolar surround speaker carries two 3″ drivers for the rear and surround channels and an Air Motion Transformer tweeter.
All those drivers are powered by 15 digital amplifiers producing a claimed peak power output of 3000W and supporting an SPL of up to 125dB.
Audio formats supported includes; all Dolby Surround formats (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos, etc.) and DTS: X Pro also being able to process 4K signals with HDR, Dolby Vision etc. While Qualcomm’s aptX HD is also available, providing higher-quality wireless audio via Bluetooth connectivity and a plug-and-play home setup time claimed to be less than 15 minutes.
Input and output connectivity, support for HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz and ability to loop through video signals are yet to be determined as are remote control functions etc.
The new Dragon 11.4.6 soundbar system has already picked up a CES Innovation award.
Technical Specifications:
- Format: 11.4.6
- Total Power: 3000 watts
- Max SPL: 125dB
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-40KHz
- Drivers:
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- 1 x 58″ Main Unit
- 10 x 3” Drivers
- 4 x 3” Dual-Angled Upfiring Speakers
- 3 x 1.5” Air Motion Tweeters
- 1 x 58″ Main Unit
-
- 2 x Wireless Subwoofers
- 2 x 8” Subwoofer drivers (Each)
- 2 x Wireless Subwoofers
-
- 2 x Omni-Motion Reference Surround Speakers
- 2 x 1.5″ Air Motion Tweeters (Side and Rear Surround)
- 2 x 3.5″ Drivers (Side and Rear Surround)
- 1 x 3″ Rotatable Up-firing driver
- 2 x Omni-Motion Reference Surround Speakers
- Connectivity:
-
- Input: 3 x HDMI 2.1 In, Optical In, Aux In
- Output: HDMI 2.1 (eARC) Out, Optical Out, Aux Out
- Bluetooth: Version 5.0 with aptX™ HD
- USB: Type-A (Firmware Upgrade Only)
- HDMI Standards
-
- HDMI Format: HDMI 2.1 supports up to 4K120Hz/8K60Hz
- Number of Inputs & Outputs: 3 Inputs / 1 Output (eARC)
- Dolby Vision Pass-through: Yes
- HDR Pass-through: HDR/HDR10+
- Other Features Pass-through: VRR/ALLM/FRL
- HDMI CEC: Yes
- 4K Video Upscaling: Yes
- Audio Formats
-
- Surround Formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X PRO
- CODEC Support
- Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby Digital DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS Digital Surround LPCM 7.1
- LPCM 5.1, PCM 2.0
- Audio Enhancement
- Channel Volume Control
- Quad Subwoofer Setup
- Height Effects Setup
- Audio Calibration
- Control
-
- Remote Control
- 45-Key LED Backlit
- Bluetooth and IR compatible
- On Screen Display (OSD): General Functions + Calibrations
- Remote Control
-
- Smart App: Wireless Remote Control App Supports iOS and Android
Availability: Spring 2023
Limited Edition ordering ends April 25th 2023 – 500 units ONLY. After that regular versions ship this fall 2023.
MSRP (approx.):
- US: $3,499.00
- UK: £2,950.00
Read the Nakamichi press release here.
For more updates on the 2023 flagship, register your interest at dragon.nakamichi-usa.com.
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This really looks great, so far everyone who heard it seems to be very impressed.
Personally, I like the simplistic and raw industrial look.
Also, appreciate the fact they did pull all the stops, 5 years in development, and employed premium materials. (the same time length Pioneer spent on their flagship AVR SUSANO in their glory days ) ,
I am wondering if this is being released as a special limited edition ( as with the previous Dragon series) or as a regular addition to their offering.
As always thank you for the very informative article.
Hi Tomasz,
Yes, this is a really impressive looking and I believe sounding system that you can have up and running in a few minutes. As for a special limited edition I have heard nothing…but if this edition becomes popular you never know. If I hear anything I will update the post.
Thanks for popping by and your comment.
Regards
Paul
Being this is a up grade soundbar how well will it work for streaming? Like Netflx, and prime and maybe some Kodi apps. It appears alot of people is streaming movies and tv shows as well as sports. Android fire sticks and Android tv boxes. I want to make sure this soundbar will do a excellant job before I commit. Thanks for your answer.
Hi MHart,
I see no reason why this top of the range soundbar would be any different to any other in supporting ARC/eARC or other digital (and maybe analog) input sources, plus wireless. So the audio from streamed movies and TV over HDMI should be decoded just fine. No mention of Hi-Res audio support yet.
However, I would hold on and sign up for more information as they haven’t released the final connectivity specs and format support yet. I will post them here when I receive them.
Thanks for popping by and your comment.
Regards
Paul
Thanks for your answer..so i will hold off for now. Not please with the Sonos arc being it is 5.1.2 and it needs a IPhone to configure. I stream tv shows and movies Blu ray movies that decode DTX this soundbar does not work sound is bad.plus as you maybe aware rear speakers are not up firing..Thanks for your attention, however I do have a window to return this system. Thanks again
Hi MHart,
If the Sonos arc soundbar isn’t doing what it is supposed to and you do not like its sound I would return it if you can and setup something temporary until we all know more about the Nakamichi, if that is what you are really interested in. Based upon all their other products I suspect that you would be very happy with this soundbar system.
So hold on until we have the full technical spec.
Regards
Paul
Thanks Paul for your reply..one more other thing the real speakers as far as you know are there a special speakers stands that will work with these speakers?Thanks
Hi MHart,
Any good quality stands that are stable and have a top pad large enough to support the surround speakers will work just fine. They need to have adjustable height so that the speakers sit at ear height when you are seated. How you support the main soundbar depends upon what is below your TV. I assume for now it is some type of furniture that has sufficient space above it so that it will not protrude into your image area.
In short there is nothing special required for any of the speaker supports.
Regards
Paul
If i wanted to have it install,buy someone there or whom you suggest, what is the fees to have it done? Thanks again
Hi MHart,
There is very little “installation” required to install this system. It is virtually ‘plug and play’ so you should be capable of installing it yourself. Alternatively the company you buy it from should be able to provide you with whatever guidance and help you need.
If you tell my what town you live in I might be able to locate suitable help but using the dealer you buy it from should be the best and lowest cost solution for you.
Regards
Paul
It would be Best buy Va beach or Amazon ( amazon) ship. Being this is a upgrade system,if you know what is the best speaker stands for this system. Thanks
Hi MHart,
The only issue at the moment is we do not know the dimensions of the surround speaker base or if it has any attachment points, so you should wait until that information becomes available. The speaker needs to fit comfortably on the top pad of the stand. Also the wider the stand base the more stable it will be against knocks. I have never purchased stands, making them from wood myself, but would recommend getting something that is adjustable, unless you find something that matches your seated ear height when the speaker sits on it. There is a very large range of pricing for these stands $50-$500+ depending upon their level of finish and manufacturer. If you are looking for a cost effective stand take a look at the Monoprice Monolith range, several of them are adjustable between 24-32 inches and come in black, wood and silver finishes.
I would strongly advise waiting for more information on the speakers dimensions before purchasing anything.
Regards
Paul
Thanks for all your info about this system, very helpful
Hi MHart,
Just a brief update to let you know that Nakamichi are now selling matching surround speaker stands and wall mounts for the main bar and surrounds. Check out their web site as their is quite a lot of new information. Please note price increase too if you are not in the first 1000 pre-orders.
Regards
Paul
Once released, can i purchase this and get it shipped to Kenya?
Hi Hilton,
Sorry but I am not a reseller, so you would need to contact Nakamichi directly or one of their distributors or resellers near you to see if shipping to Kenya is possible. Official worldwide resellers would include; Amazon and Nakamichi Direct. Also checkout eBay GSP here; https://www.nakamichi-usa.com/shockwafe-soundbars-global-shipping-program.
Thank you for visiting my web site and good luck.
Regards
Paul
Just want to confirm if this Dragon 11.4.6 is truly audio wireless. Hopefully it is not as Shockwafe 9.2.4, needs audio cables to be connected between subwoofers and surround speakers.
Hi Andy,
There still no published full specifications, but all the reviews and my reading indicate just a wireless connection with no cabling required. Just to be sure wait until the final specs are released. I will update my post as soon as they become avilable.
Thank you for popping by.
Paul
I’m uk based.
Any places in uk were I can order from?
Hi Daniel,
I think that you can only order them directly from Nakamichi and it was a limited quantity that they were releasing. If they have sold out you may have to look at places like e-bay or amazon unless you have a relationship with a Hi-Fi vendor. You should e-mail Nakamichi directly if you want to confirm availability.
Good luck.
Regards
Paul