TDK Primary Reference Tape

[stuartypoorty]

The further I delve into cassette leads me to believe I've only scratched the surface.

Can any of our informed brethren shine a light on this one ? Available for a paltry 499 Euros thank you very much..............indeed!

[gamve]

They left out the free Nak Dragon with every tape purchased....LOL

[BroonsBane]

The further I delve into cassette leads me to believe I've only scratched the surface.

Can any of our informed brethren shine a light on this one ? Available for a paltry 499 Euros thank you very much..............indeed!

Yikes! Where did you see it for sale? A tad spendy to say the least.

[stuartypoorty]

Yikes! Where did you see it for sale? A tad spendy to say the least.

On www.ebay.de of course, where all manner of analogue goodies are to be found.

[MacGyver]

sure never seen one of those before, but you can get yourself a TRUE reference tape, a TDK MA-XG, for WAY less than that. just look at the quality...


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/KSCN0002.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/KSCN0001.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/DSCF0385.jpg



now tell me that these aren't a FAR better value at a mean average of U.S. $40.00 per copy...


(i still think that is an interesting tape back up there, but, unless you are a diehard collector, i'd definitely say that it is WAY overpriced!!!!)

[Scorpion8]

Based on the label applied, I'd gather it was a level or alignment reference tape sold by TDK to technicians back in the day. Those same type of tapes made by Nakamichi still gather quite a following when they go on sale.

[Scorpion8]

now tell me that these aren't a FAR better value at a mean average of U.S. $40.00 per copy...(i still think that is an interesting tape back up there, but, unless you are a diehard collector, i'd definitely say that it is WAY overpriced!!!!)

John -- I think you're confusing the terms of art here. The TDK metal tapes were nice, but in this case it's the signal on the tape that makes this one a reference tape. Used by technicians to calibrate decks during repairs. Not a blank tape to be recorded over by somebody aimlessly. Jim

[Marc Hugo]

Very true in a way Lady A, but not the same thing. I have heard of these but TDK stopped doing them at some point. The E prefix is one of the IEC registry indicators for the prevailing IEC reference. Later, they were MJ as I recall (for type IV). It is not part of the TDK retail range but was sold as a guideline for manufacturers and service centres to match internal trimpots inside decks to the "current" reference. Think of it as a tool, like a calibration tape.

BASF eventually was commissioned to do the IEC references which were reissued every year. Both Philips and BASF issued reference tapes in the same way, based on the specification from the IEC; they too are rare. Sometimes they remained unchanged, but not usually.

Some years, certain tapes were identical to the IEC ref, for instance Maxell MX and Sony Metal XR of 1992/3.

MH

[Marc Hugo]

Spot on Scorps, I'm a bit slow on the uptake here!!

MH

[Scorpion8]

Spot on Scorps, I'm a bit slow on the uptake here!! MH

Hey Marc! The electrons on our Internet run faster up here because it's colder! :D Nice to know I wasn't just having mouth diarhea....

[MacGyver]

John -- I think you're confusing the terms of art here. The TDK metal tapes were nice, but in this case it's the signal on the tape that makes this one a reference tape. Used by technicians to calibrate decks during repairs. Not a blank tape to be recorded over by somebody aimlessly. Jim


oh. in that case, i have seen some nakamichi-recorded TDK MA-R reference tapes before... (BTW, what is the reason for the batch numbers?)

[Scorpion8]

(BTW, what is the reason for the batch numbers?)

Quality control. If the level was found to be "off" in one batch, they would all be declared non-reference and invalid to use in calibrations. Kind of like the same was the USDA tracks batches of food for germs and sickness.

[Web Police]

Very true in a way Lady A, but not the same thing. I have heard of these but TDK stopped doing them at some point. The E prefix is one of the IEC registry indicators for the prevailing IEC reference. Later, they were MJ as I recall (for type IV). It is not part of the TDK retail range but was sold as a guideline for manufacturers and service centres to match internal trimpots inside decks to the "current" reference. Think of it as a tool, like a calibration tape.

BASF eventually was commissioned to do the IEC references which were reissued every year. Both Philips and BASF issued reference tapes in the same way, based on the specification from the IEC; they too are rare. Sometimes they remained unchanged, but not usually.

Some years, certain tapes were identical to the IEC ref, for instance Maxell MX and Sony Metal XR of 1992/3.

MH

Good thing you explained that as I was gonna bid and win the auction and then record some Rick Astley all over the tape. *bang*

[Scorpion8]

Good thing you explained that as I was gonna bid and win the auction and then record some Rick Astley all over the tape. *bang*

You need a better tape for Rick Astley. *el_loco*

[MacGyver]

You need a better tape for Rick Astley. *el_loco*


nothin' wrong with rick astley, granted, not the best artist there ever was, or anything, but still, there's nothing wrong with Rick Astley i say!! what do i have to do? RickRoll yer ass?!?!*rant*

[Web Police]

nothin' wrong with rick astley, granted, not the best artist there ever was, or anything, but still, there's nothing wrong with Rick Astley i say!! what do i have to do? RickRoll yer ass?!?!*rant*

Your right, I should dub my TDK MA-XG that is filled with Peaches and Herb to a plain old MA-X then I would have plenty o room for Rick on one the MA-XG's. But then where would I put my best of Taco recordings? :-?

[TheReeler]

On www.ebay.de of course, where all manner of analogue goodies are to be found.
Absolutely true. If something exists, it will appear there sooner or later *Hi5*

Tonbandgeräte *reelspin*

[MacGyver]

Your right, I should dub my TDK MA-XG that is filled with Peaches and Herb to a plain old MA-X then I would have plenty o room for Rick on one the MA-XG's. But then where would I put my best of Taco recordings? :-?



i have the peaches and herb; too hot! LP, that has the song that has the song i like called "celebrate the love" or something. damn thing's been played to death though; WAY to much SNAP/CRACKLE/POP to make a clean transfer to CD-R...*fit*

[iamhifi]

Lady ayeka,
Why do you like the MA-XG clear shell so much. My guess has to be that your Pioneer tape decks are calibrated close to this tapes, not intentional but just happened that way. I like the tape also and have a stach of all the super metal to last me to my last drop. But I had my Nakamichi CR-7A calibraded to the SSMM and TDK MA-XG green shell. One ZX-9 is calibrated to the SSMM and does equaly good with the Ma-XG green shell. This two decks does good with the MA-XG Clear shell but not the best. that said the Dragon is calibrated to work good with all tapes and not optomized to one. The Dragon does incredible with the MA-R, MA-XG Green Shell and the MA-XG clear shell does good but not as much as the Green Shell. The other ZX-9that I am selling does great with any tape, and likes Maxell Metal also. I have to conclude by experience with any deck that the best tape outhere is the TDK MA-XG green shell. But don't get me wrong the TDK MA-R, TDK MA-XG clear, SSMM, SMM, Maxell Vertex are the tapes I think that are closest to the performance of the TDK MA-XG green shell.
Again I bet you tried all this tapes and came to the conclussion that the original Ma-XG is the best for your deck. I really want to know why you like the tape so much sonically.
Angel