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View Full Version : TDK SM90 decent?

el34guy
09-24-2008, 09:20 AM
Is this a good tape? Ive read its basically a sax-90, does that make sense? Anyone using it?

thanks

Mark
NAD613
09-24-2008, 10:10 AM
The TDK SM is the professional version of the SA, used primarily by recording studios & musicians. The TDK SM-X is the pro version of the SA-X. The SM stands for "Studio Master" & is a very good tape, very well built, as are all the TDK Professional cassettes. Mr. Lin & myself have used the SM tapes & we think they are pretty good, probably the best cassettes currently in production. However, the 90 min. are no longer in production. Many stores online sell the TDK SM 60 for $19-$25/10ct. box. I was lucky to get 5 boxes of the TDK SM 90 from R&M Pro Audio for about $22/box.
el34guy
09-24-2008, 12:07 PM
Thanks for the good information. I have alot of used sax-60 and sax-90 tapes but nothing new. I will ask them about availability to see what they have in the sm and smx lineup. Great website,, Mark
NAD613
09-24-2008, 12:40 PM
Thanks for the good information. I have alot of used sax-60 and sax-90 tapes but nothing new. I will ask them about availability to see what they have in the sm and smx lineup. Great website,, Mark

Who is this "them" you're referring to? If you're referring to R&M Pro Audio, I bought them out of the TDK SM90.
el34guy
09-24-2008, 12:57 PM
Yes, I was referring to R&M. It was still listed on their website so I just emailed them to ask. Shoot, now I will have to look around some more!!

Mark
NAD613
09-24-2008, 01:26 PM
Yes, I was referring to R&M. It was still listed on their website so I just emailed them to ask. Shoot, now I will have to look around some more!!

Mark

You'd be better off calling them. That list is from 2003 & is obsolete. I emailed them once & never got a reply, but I called them & spoke directly with the owner's wife. It's a mom & pop operation. If you do order, they only take a certified check/cashier's check.
Mr. Lin
09-24-2008, 01:33 PM
Mark,
The SM tapes are great, no question, but personally I think the SA-X is better. The best, of course, is the SM-X (combination of both like NAD said), but good luck finding those in anything higher than 30 minutes. If you can live with a 60 minute tape you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one currently in production than the SM60.
NAD613
09-24-2008, 02:17 PM
Mark,
The SM tapes are great, no question, but personally I think the SA-X is better. The best, of course, is the SM-X (combination of both like NAD said), but good luck finding those in anything higher than 30 minutes. If you can live with a 60 minute tape you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one currently in production than the SM60.

Yeah, I would have loved to have bought a few boxes of the SM-X 90's, but R&M was sold out. Don't feel too bad for me, though; I've got about 25 or 30 new SA-X 90 & 100.
Mr. Lin
09-24-2008, 06:24 PM
Yeah, I would have loved to have bought a few boxes of the SM-X 90's, but R&M was sold out. Don't feel too bad for me, though; I've got about 25 or 30 new SA-X 90 & 100.

Same here, I horde any SA-X I can get my hands on, they're all over the place here. The SM-X may be the best tape I've ever heard so far, and you guys know I'm a sucker for a short tape. *hypnot*
el34guy
09-24-2008, 07:19 PM
I did find another source for SM-90's but I actually do have quite a few sax-60, sax-90, and maxell xl-s used. Maybe Im just better off sticking with them. I will check and see if they do have any stock of the sm-90 in the meantime. You guys are really helpful on this stuff, I lost most of my tape equipment and tapes in a flood 10 yrs ago and Im just getting back into it. Mark