Nakamichi DRAGON
(1983 - 1986)

At least, this one is well remembered :)
The usual debate surrounding the original DRAGON isn't as interesting as what this monster did represent in 1983: it was the most one could do without actually altering the Compact Cassette format's physical structure like the ELCASET did (ie. RtR in a cassette) or Luxman's X-3K prototype should have done (completely pulling the tape out of the cassette's shell). Really pushing the format to the limit (and selling quite well), the Dragon became the one show-stopper until cassettes got replaced by digital tapes and, ultimately, recordable CD.
Even if Nak' did make even better decks later on, the DRAGON is the one that stood out. And it still does. But I really wonder why the Etsuro brothers never made a full-tilt reel-to-reel recorder...