Latter version of XLII-S?

[valman13440]

What is everyone's oppinion of the latter version of Maxell XLII-S?I'm talkin about the late 90's Black Magnetite made in England tapes.How do they compare to the first generation Black magnetite tapes from 1991-92?

[Des-Lab]

I wasn't impressed with them at all. Ditto with the XLII and MX-S from the same lineup.

My opinion is that the 1992 lineup was the last in terms of good quality tapes from them.

[valman13440]

What do you think was the last good year for the TDK SA-X was?

[Marc Hugo]

Howzit Valman,

I have a very different view. My English Maxell XLII-S are my favourites. But it's not really by a big yawning chasm - they are simply fault free. I also have one or two MX-S from the English "Mystic" series but quite a number of both the Mystic XLII and Fire XLII.

They have all served me faultlessly. Bearing in mind I have these Maxell marques from quite a few periods, all otherwise made in Japan.

My first XL from Maxell was the UDXLII - splendid tape. Then I had the XLII-S - got those in '84. They are fantastic. But, the British XLII-S from Shropshire are too. No physical or sonic ailments have beset them.

Just last night I was listening to one of them (an XLII-S bought at KVJ in London in 2001) where I had recorded Diana Krall's album - Love Scenes. Believe me when I say this is a showtape. Many demos of this exact one to other people have resulted in dropping jaws.

One thing to bear in mind, is that ALL cassettes formulas changed over the years, in some cases, every single year, albeit in subtle ways. One might "prefer" last years 'this' or this years 'that', but that makes them different, not necessarily worse or better. The 1984 XLII-S is a racy, fresh sounding formula - rather lean in the bass with a steeply rising sensitivity. I rather like that but the taming of that sensitivity over the years, or the better MOL at 315hz of the recent formula makes them better tapes really, not worse. And different, certainly.

What I have not experienced is the very most recent/current Maxell XLII being distributed un USA. It seems users are getting drop-outs with these units. Mine are about 8 years old - but again, they are glitch-free - no nasties. Are they better than the XLII from 1989? No, nor are they worse.

Finally, your question on the SA-X. I have some of the latest I think, bought a year ago - probably made in the last 2-5 years - assembled in Thailand from Japanese tape and parts etc. I have used them on my Nak 682ZX, Pioneers and TASCAM. I think they are reference pseudochromes and WAY better (to my ears) than the mid-eighties SA-X. Here's how - they are more dynamic (lower noise floor) and therefore quieter, have a better top end sensitivity, therefore a more detailed treble.

Would I like some more oldies in these marques? Sure!! But for nostalgic reasons as much as sonic reasons.

So, there's my fly in the ointment viewpoint.

Cheers - Marc

[qubeular]

im glad someone had the courage to dispel the trash talk about the newer xl2-s.

ive had troubles with the newer xl2. but usually only poorly cast and warped shells.

does the newest sa-x have screws?

[Scorpion8]

I also have one or two MX-S from the English "Mystic" series but quite a number of both the Mystic XLII and Fire XLII.

Hey Marc -- I always considered myself quite a tape knowledge guy, but am unfamiliar with those terms. Can you explain and flesh out Mystic and Fire a bit more? Jim

[Marc Hugo]

By all means Jim, I'll post them very shortly, and at the same time refer you the Melofanas cassette image directory.

Very best - Marc

[Marc Hugo]

im glad someone had the courage to dispel the trash talk about the newer xl2-s.

ive had troubles with the newer xl2. but usually only poorly cast and warped shells.

does the newest sa-x have screws?


Hi Qubelar,

The newest version (and it seems the last that I could buy here) do have screws - per the illustrations attached. These were purchased in 2007, and I estimate they may have been made in this livery for about 3 years before that. My buying, followed by the resupply pattern from this retailer seemed to confirm that supply from the far-east continued uninterrupted till early this year.

I included the Melofanas scan as well although its similar to my scan as it indicates the same factory suffix code "EB".

See the attached pics.

Cheers - Marc

[Marc Hugo]

Hey Marc -- I always considered myself quite a tape knowledge guy, but am unfamiliar with those terms. Can you explain and flesh out Mystic and Fire a bit more? Jim


Sure Jim,

Mystic were the Maxell series made in England at their plant in Apley. They included the UR, XLII, XLII-S, MX-S and Metal CD. They also distributed the two UDs - I and II, although these were made in Japan. The Metal CD seems to have been the remains of MX pancakes put into shells that were nothing better than UR casings. Its a pity, because they are a good metal that would have benefitted without any shell-induced modulation noise (which occasionally plagues UR). I do not know for certain if the are UR shells but they look similar. The later Metal CD was made in Japan as the UD Metal, using the excellent UD (Spintech) mechanism. This was squared off against the TDK MA-EX.

Mystic? They were called Mystic because the artwork in the wording "CD" looked vaguely like 'alien eyes' combined with the sci-fi background flowing around behind the name in the wrapper image.

The Fire series were typified by the orange, and red flames of the wrapper - seen in this XLII. The Fire series did not extend to the XLII-S or MX-S, but did as I recall, to the UR. Fire were also made in England for the European market, but were exported all over the world. I believe they contract-packed some of the Cool series for specific Maxell markets.

The 'Cool' series, sometime 'Kool', arose more than likely from the 'cool guy' in the chair having his long hair blown back. This was the Maxell image from the early 80s and continued in Japan and the USA on the wrappers to the current time.

As above, some are my scans and some I have used Melofanas scans because they have the correct factory code.

You'll notice this classification used in the Melofanas Cassette Image Directory which is one of the more thorough attempts to catalogue cassettes (although they can never be exhaustive).

Visit it here:

http://www.melofanas.lt/1left/kol/kolekcija_sarasas.htm

Herewith some illustations to get you going.

Best wishes - Marc

[qubeular]

hmm, that sa-x uses the arc2 shell and i think that shell was in production in the mid 90s.

the newer sa-x uses the arc3 shell which has a slightly oval shaped window.

ive seen the arc3 shell with or without screws.

[Mr. Lin]

I haven't used the new XLII-S, but I am a huge fan of the SA-X. In fact, it's my favorite tape. The vast majority of the ones I've used are early 90's and newer, and I've never had anything but fantastic results with them, experiencing the same things Marc noted - low noise floor, great dynamics, a clean, neutral-sounding tape.

[Scorpion8]

As above, some are my scans and some I have used Melofanas scans because they have the correct factory code.


Thanks, Marc! The amount of knowledge around here amazes me at times.