Poor build of the newer Sony-HF

[NAD613]

Tonight, while making a tape onto a cassette, I thought I'd compare the build of a newer Sony HF cassette against the Fuji DR-II, Akai SX, TDK Pro Media Sound Master, and even a Sony HF-S from the early 90's. Man, it wasn't even close. The newer Sony-HF tapes are built so much worse than the others. How was it worse?

1. The felt pressure pad is much thinner on the Sony-HF, especially compared to the TDK Pro Media tape. Not only that, but the metal plate behind it on the Sony looks like tin foil, while the other tapes look like they have real metal. I know, it's not tin foil, but it looks like a lower grade metal for sure.

2. The tape hubs were better secured in the shell in the other tapes compared to the Sony-HF. This is where the Akai SSM (Super Smooth Mechanism) is really evident. Again, no surprise. This would explain why the sound on the Akai tapes are smooth, not garbley sounding. It also explains why the Sony-HF tapes rattle excessively, too.

3. The shells on all the other tapes are screwed on, while the Sony-HF's are, I don't know, melted or glued together? No screws. If you need to repair the tape, you have to destroy the shell, and Radio Shack doesn't sell any cassette repair kits anymore.

The only nice thing I can say about the Sony-HF tapes are that the cases & insert cards are practical & functional.

[Des-Lab]

I don't think it's any secret that pretty much all of todays "current and new" tapes are much worse in quality than they were in years past. Even if they share the same model number. I'm sure that's at least in part by the fact that mainstream emphasis for them shifted away long ago, and these tapes are little more than 'courtesy' offers. But every possible corner that can be cut HAS been cut, resulting in the mediocre quality you observed.

[NAD613]

I don't think it's any secret that pretty much all of todays "current and new" tapes are much worse in quality than they were in years past. Even if they share the same model number. I'm sure that's at least in part by the fact that mainstream emphasis for them shifted away long ago, and these tapes are little more than 'courtesy' offers. But every possible corner that can be cut HAS been cut, resulting in the mediocre quality you observed.

Yeah, that's probably why Fuji is considered to have the best type II tape right now; they haven't cut corners. However, the TDK Pro Media Sound Master tapes are well built & is a rather good tape.

[Web Police]

They have basically turned into a courtroom reporting dictation type tape for dialog but not music.

As Des explained they have cut corners several times in all parts and manufacturing aspects of the tape. It basically is a shell of it's former self.

[Flyquail56]

Same experience here. As I've stated elsewhere lately, the current type I tapes from Sony and Maxell were so crappy, I tossed the whole lot in the trash. After a short time, the tape would wind so unevenly on the out-of-round hubs that the tape will not play to the end of a side.

I purchased my first box of Akai cassettes about six months ago. I'll definitely be buying more :D

Mike

[NAD613]

Same experience here. As I've stated elsewhere lately, the current type I tapes from Sony and Maxell were so crappy, I tossed the whole lot in the trash. After a short time, the tape would wind so unevenly on the out-of-round hubs that the tape will not play to the end of a side.

I purchased my first box of Akai cassettes about six months ago. I'll definitely be buying more :D

Mike

I think you're the one I read that info about the Akai's workmanship that sealed the deal. Thanks again, those tapes are tops in my book.

[Flyquail56]

I think you're the one I read that info about the Akai's workmanship that sealed the deal. Thanks again, those tapes are tops in my book.

My pleasure! Yes, I believe we discussed them in the first version of tapeheads, where the posts were unfortunately lost.

Mike