NAC 90 min chrome cassettes: Winner!

[NAD613]

I just got a carton of 90 minute chrome cassettes from National Audio Company today & must say, I think they sound pretty good. The shells are better built than I thought they'd be; very smooth FF & RW. I'd venture to say these might be the best cassettes available today. Of course, you have to supply your own labels, boxes, & J-cards. NAC should market these tapes with like TDK & Maxell, in wrappers w/boxes, J-cards, etc... They could sell 10ct. boxes if for $15-$20 & make a killing.

The only flaw, and it isn't really a flaw, more of an idiosyncrasy, is the leader is about 2-3 seconds longer than most other blank tapes I've used. I did my usual 5-second count before playing the source & the first second or two of the song was missing. No problem; I'll just count longer or cue the tape manually.

[Mr. Lin]

Good thing, otherwise you'd be stuck with a heck of a lot of poor tapes! :D Think you could get a picture up? How did the recording come out, and what did you record?

[NAD613]

Good thing, otherwise you'd be stuck with a heck of a lot of poor tapes! :D Think you could get a picture up? How did the recording come out, and what did you record?

I recorded Billy Joel's 1976 album "Turnstiles" on side A & his 1977 album "The Stranger" on side B, both off CD. The cassette sounds pretty good. I'm terrible at describing recordings; I look for clear sound, full bass, crisp highs, etc... Piano sounds very good on these tapes & they have a very good high end. The NAC's are as good, if not better, than the TDK Pro Media SM series cassettes.

The tapes don't look like much, but they are very good. So good, I'm not sure I'm going to by any regular boxed cassettes anymore. Seriously.

[gamve]

I recorded Billy Joel's 1976 album "Turnstiles" on side A & his 1977 album "The Stranger" on side B, both off CD. The cassette sounds pretty good. I'm terrible at describing recordings; I look for clear sound, full bass, crisp highs, etc... Piano sounds very good on these tapes & they have a very good high end. The NAC's are as good, if not better, than the TDK Pro Media SM series cassettes.

The tapes don't look like much, but they are very good. So good, I'm not sure I'm going to by any regular boxed cassettes anymore. Seriously.

This sounds promising. Will let you know my impressions once they arrive.

[gonzo]

These sound very good and an incredible deal for the money. Have you tried the cobalt tapes? And how many did you actually have to end up purchasing? Thanks Norm

[NAD613]

These sound very good and an incredible deal for the money. Have you tried the cobalt tapes? And how many did you actually have to end up purchasing? Thanks Norm

You have to buy them in 100ct. parcels, so these tapes were $69.00 plus about anther $8-$9 for shipping. Of course, that's without boxes, J-cards, & labels; I purchased those separately from various online stores. Still a pretty good deal, especially for tapes of this quality. I haven't tried the cobalt tapes yet, those may be next on my list.

[Mr. Lin]

I recorded Billy Joel's 1976 album "Turnstiles" on side A & his 1977 album "The Stranger" on side B, both off CD. The cassette sounds pretty good. I'm terrible at describing recordings; I look for clear sound, full bass, crisp highs, etc... Piano sounds very good on these tapes & they have a very good high end. The NAC's are as good, if not better, than the TDK Pro Media SM series cassettes.

The tapes don't look like much, but they are very good. So good, I'm not sure I'm going to by any regular boxed cassettes anymore. Seriously.

I know, putting that sort of thing into words is a pain, but I understand what you mean from your above comments.

I have a recommendation: try to get Des to do one of his in-depth tests on these. Yes, the Akai GX and SX failed despite the fact that you and I (and others) really like them, but it would be interesting to see what his conclusions are since these seem to be such solid tapes.

[Scorpion8]

The only flaw, and it isn't really a flaw, more of an idiosyncrasy, is the leader is about 2-3 seconds longer than most other blank tapes I've used. I did my usual 5-second count before playing the source & the first second or two of the song was missing. No problem; I'll just count longer or cue the tape manually.

I have always cued my tapes manually, by pre-winding them so the beginning of the actual tape will be just to the left of the earase head. That way when I set it to record, I know exactly how long before actual recording starts. Such is why I'm annoyed at most Naks that think they are smarter than you and have to pre-tension the tape when inserted --- it throws that nice cueing off. So I've taken to inserting my tapes into my Nak and then turning the deck on. That works.

Nice to hear that you like the tapes. My order is leaving tomorrow.

[macster]

I recorded Billy Joel's 1976 album "Turnstiles" on side A & his 1977 album "The Stranger" on side B, both off CD. The cassette sounds pretty good. I'm terrible at describing recordings; I look for clear sound, full bass, crisp highs, etc... Piano sounds very good on these tapes & they have a very good high end. The NAC's are as good, if not better, than the TDK Pro Media SM series cassettes.

The tapes don't look like much, but they are very good. So good, I'm not sure I'm going to by any regular boxed cassettes anymore. Seriously.


Do you still like these?

M~

[vinyldavid]

Can you give us comprehensive links as to where you got the labels, boxes and J-Cards?

I am thinking of buying a tray of these and taping everything that I want off of the radio.

[NAD613]

Do you still like these?

M~

Yes, I think they're very good cassettes.

[NAD613]

Can you give us comprehensive links as to where you got the labels, boxes and J-Cards?

I am thinking of buying a tray of these and taping everything that I want off of the radio.

Here's where to get some J-cards:

http://www.longselectronics.com/product.aspx?&id=PAPJLINERP

Here's where I got some labels:

http://www.tapeworld.com/product_detail~id~421~title~Sheet%20of%20four%20la bels+Audio%20Cassettes%20%20Normal-Bias%20Type%20I~brandname~~producttype~Audio%20Cas settes%20%20Normal-Bias%20Type%20I.htm

As for the boxes, you can get them at either store or dozens of others online.

[braxus]

Nad,
Can you also post the link to the National Audio Company website to where the tapes are offered? I saw it in another post, but can't find it today. The link would be appropriate for this thread anyway.

[NAD613]

Nad,
Can you also post the link to the National Audio Company website to where the tapes are offered? I saw it in another post, but can't find it today. The link would be appropriate for this thread anyway.

Here you go:

http://nationalaudiocompany.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3398

[braxus]

Thanks Nad. Do those tapes come with shells or is that another cost?

[gamve]

Yes, I think they're very good cassettes.

I think you may be right. I buggered up the bias settings on the one I have taped which makes my observations invalid but having said this the tape still sounds very reasonable. Will try to get the retape done this week and will let you know how it goes.

[macster]

Nad


How do these rank compared to the tapes in their category that you have?
Did ayou get a sample of the Cobalt tapes, if so what are your impressions. I think that may try to get a couple of samples with my order.

tnx

M~

[NAD613]

Nad


How do these rank compared to the tapes in their category that you have?
Did ayou get a sample of the Cobalt tapes, if so what are your impressions. I think that may try to get a couple of samples with my order.

tnx

M~

Nope, I haven't bought any cobalt tapes yet. As for the chrome ones I bought, they're right up there with the TDK Pro Media SM tapes.

[NAD613]

Thanks Nad. Do those tapes come with shells or is that another cost?

Yes, the cassette is whole, comes with the shell, pressure pad, leader tape, etc... You just need to buy the norelco boxes, labels, & J-cards.

[braxus]

Yes, the cassette is whole, comes with the shell, pressure pad, leader tape, etc... You just need to buy the norelco boxes, labels, & J-cards.

Oops thats funny. I meant the cases (boxes), not the tape itself. That was kind of like me asking a car dealer if the car you are buying comes with 4 tires.

[DolbySProject]

Bump...

Seems like this one fell off a little. However, I have the same question Macster had:

Has anyone tried and/or tested the NAC Cobalt's?
Has anyone else tried and/or tested the NAC Chrome's?

Maybe there is another post about this somewhere. If there is, please forgive me and point me in the right direction. Thanks!

[macster]

Bump...

Seems like this one fell off a little. However, I have the same question Macster had:

Has anyone tried and/or tested the NAC Cobalt's?
Has anyone else tried and/or tested the NAC Chrome's?

Maybe there is another post about this somewhere. If there is, please forgive me and point me in the right direction. Thanks!

I bought the Cobalts and I like them a lot, but... most people will probably like the chrome's better. I got a chrome sample to play with, when I got my Cobalts and I can see where that extra little sparkle would better appreciated by most folks. Almost if you have an auto fade function on your deck, make damn sure that you get the 92minutes ones. 90 minutes means 90 minutes with these puppies.

Here is a sample file http://blkmacster.com/test.zip of using the cobalt tape. The recording chain goes like this VPI Classic/Bluejeans LC1 IC > NakCR7A then Revox B215 DLBY C > computer.

M~

[bluegreengold]

I'm a great supporter of NAC cassettes. I've had good results with the cobalts on all of my decks without much need to tweak. I suspect their bias and sensitivity closely match TDK SA. I'll put the direct comparison of them on my to do list.

The Chromes, I was not so immediately impressed with. They sounded good, but the noise level was high for what I was expecting of a true chrome. However, when I did a full calibration to them on my 122mkiis, the noise issue disappeared and they sound lovely. I'd put them in the neighborhood of BASF CE, or better.

The music grad ferrics are also nice. They completely trounce any other currently available type I that I've tried.

[macster]

The Chromes, I was not so immediately impressed with. They sounded good, but the noise level was high for what I was expecting of a true chrome.
However, when I did a full calibration to them on my 122mkiis, the noise issue disappeared and they sound lovely.

Agreed! As a matter of fact, I got off the ebay cassette tape merry-go-round after using the NAC's. They work great on all of my decks.

M~

[Tape Rat]

Lads forget the sound ...Do they have a kinda new Maxell type of smell to them.*reelspin*

[macster]

Lads forget the sound ...Do they have a kinda new Maxell type of smell to them.*reelspin*

They have the same type of smell that you get when you're saving money in the bank. *Hi5*

M~

[DolbySProject]

I bought the Cobalts and I like them a lot, but... most people will probably like the chrome's better. I got a chrome sample to play with, when I got my Cobalts and I can see where that extra little sparkle would better appreciated by most folks. Almost if you have an auto fade function on your deck, make damn sure that you get the 92minutes ones. 90 minutes means 90 minutes with these puppies.

Here is a sample file http://blkmacster.com/test.zip of using the cobalt tape. The recording chain goes like this VPI Classic/Bluejeans LC1 IC > NakCR7A then Revox B215 DLBY C > computer.

M~

Hey Macster,

Thanks for posting the clip. Just listened to the sample. Very nice. That's the last little push I needed. I'll be placing an order. I too have developed a strong distaste for the "merry-go-round" and eBay/Paypal, in general. Any way to side step it and deal direct is welcomed.

[macster]

Hey Macster,

Thanks for posting the clip. Just listened to the sample. Very nice. That's the last little push I needed. I'll be placing an order. I too have developed a strong distaste for the "merry-go-round" and eBay/Paypal, in general. Any way to side step it and deal direct is welcomed.

NP, you are welcome. Remember 92 min, 92 min . Also, you can order a sample size order before you make the plunge. You may have to contact the NAAC folks "micky" though to get it done.

M~

[tcp100]

NP, you are welcome. Remember 92 min, 92 min . Also, you can order a sample size order before you make the plunge. You may have to contact the NAAC folks "micky" though to get it done.

M~

Yep. Mick will set you up with a 25-piece sample order no problem - however the tapes are 20 cents more a tape on a 25-piece sample order. So with the chromes, you're talking 80-something cents. Still, under 25 bucks for 25 tapes. Mickey's a good guy and will get things right out to you.

[DolbySProject]

Thanks to tcp100 I've had a chance to test the NAC Cobalt and Chrome tapes first hand. I'll try to keep things to the point with minimal consideration given to my personal preference.

NAC Cobalt:
With the bias fine tune and record level calibration knobs of the Sony TC-KA1ESa at 12 o'clock, the NAC Cobalt nearly pegged the meters. This is something that only metal tapes and select type II tapes like the Fuji Zii have been able to do previously on this deck. I had a knee-jerk reaction to grab the record level calibration knob and crank it down. Slight tweaking was necessary to bring the highs down, so as to balance with the lows where bias fine tune was concerned. After recording from both upsampled CD and LP thru a tube phono pre, I had no objections whatsoever with the playback. Because I use dbx type II NR, the record levels were always kept tame (0 db with peaks of maybe 2+ infrequently). It seems to me this is one of those tapes that would rightly lay claim to a "high output" moniker. However, if I were using a deck without record level calibration, I could easily see how someone could wind up with an oversaturated and distorted recording, dull highs.

NAC Chrome:
With the bias fine tune and record level calibration knobs of the Sony TC-KA1ESa at 12 o'clock, the NAC Chrome was what I would consider a poor showing. This disappointed and puzzled me after seeing how well the Cobalt had performed. Compared to a Maxell UR, the highs were at the same level and the lows were a tad lower! I retested a recent production Maxell UR just to make sure I hadn't imagined things. I hadn't. The Maxell matched the NAC Chrome in untweaked record level calibration and was better balanced bias wise; between highs and lows. The difference is that the Maxell UR, although decent in some areas, goes hazy real quick when pushed. The NAC Chrome does not. As with many other tapes, the Sony TC-KA1ESa has enough "swing" in the fine tuning adjustments to compensate for the NAC Chrome's weaknesses and since it doesn't get fuzzy, it still makes a very good recording.

The NAC tapes do seem a bit thinner and for the first couple of revolutions I can see the imprint of what appears to be the tape/leader splice. It disappears in the time one normally waits before starting an LP or other source. I noted this; but, it didn't turn into an issue. I haven't had either tape long enough to comment on it's durability or retentivity over time; so, I won't. What I can say is that I am quite impressed with the NAC Cobalt. And, though I am not bowled over with the NAC Chrome, I keep in mind that I have tried name brand tapes in the same decks that would not reach even a close balance with any amount of bias fine tune or reach an acceptable record level no matter how much compensation I tried to apply. What the NAC tapes have given me are two less reasons to chase after "vintage" blank cassettes than I had before UNLESS the price suddenly jumps up and negates the cost/value ratio (keeping in mind even current TDK SA's still nudge out the NAC Chromes). I will be keeping a close eye on both NAC and Phoenix offerings.

NOTE: As has been noted elsewhere, NAC's do not come with a case or j-card and bulk orders are required.

[bluegreengold]

I think the NAC Chromes are really excellent tapes, but you need to play with the record level and bias settings to make them come alive. Their set point is very different from TDK SA and so most decks won't be primed for them. I can make fantastic recordings with manual settings on a tascam 122mkii or a Nak Cr-4. Autocalibration on my akai gx912 and Denon 790r produce good results, but not as splendid as I can get manually on the above mentioned decks. On other decks I've used, the performance is less stellar. I think it's important to be able to tune the record level calibration to set for a proper 0 dB. I suspect if your type II is tuned BASF style you'll get better results without tweaking.
The Cobalts behave a lot like TDK SA and are good to go for most any deck, but I tend to use NR with them, while a well set up Cr doesn't need it (a poorly set chrome is rather noisy).

[Warped Bezel]

I just got a carton of 90 minute chrome cassettes from National Audio Company today & must say, I think they sound pretty good. The shells are better built than I thought they'd be; very smooth FF & RW. I'd venture to say these might be the best cassettes available today. Of course, you have to supply your own labels, boxes, & J-cards. NAC should market these tapes with like TDK & Maxell, in wrappers w/boxes, J-cards, etc... They could sell 10ct. boxes if for $15-$20 & make a killing.

The only flaw, and it isn't really a flaw, more of an idiosyncrasy, is the leader is about 2-3 seconds longer than most other blank tapes I've used. I did my usual 5-second count before playing the source & the first second or two of the song was missing. No problem; I'll just count longer or cue the tape manually.

That's what I do anyway. Now I have to find the link in here to see how to order.

[DolbySProject]

...you need to play with the record level and bias settings to make them come alive... I think it's important to be able to tune the record level calibration to set for a proper 0 dB.

I agree, totally. I didn't realize what a dramatic difference that makes, ummm... years ago.... uhhhhh, during my first go 'round with cassettes, many moons ago...

This seems so fundamental to making a good (dare I say great) recording. Perhaps it was the bean counters that decided more profit in the pocket was better than appeasing tape heads... or maybe it was an evil sub-plot to usher in lossy/compressed audio!! ...part of a bigger blot to replace Dusty Springfield with Britney Spears... ooops, I went there again. Luckily good decks can still be found.

[KatCassidy]

So are NAC chromes good if my deck is all preset? Only thing I can adjust is the recording level. Or should I go for the cobalts?

[macster]

So are NAC chromes good if my deck is all preset? Only thing I can adjust is the recording level. Or should I go for the cobalts?

Kat

Get a sample pak or buy a minium quanity and see how it performs on your deck. Remember now, some people like these and some don't. Since, my decks have Cal functions, I can pretty much get the max out these tapes. You may like the chrome better because of the extra sparkle on the end. They are really not that much different in my system, they both sound great.

M~

[DolbySProject]

So are NAC chromes good if my deck is all preset? Only thing I can adjust is the recording level. Or should I go for the cobalts?

Hmmmmm.... Maybe. The NAC Chrome's are significantly lower output than the better type II tapes we all know and love. According to my deck, the NAC Chromes and Maxell UR are pretty close to each other. So if I didn't have record calibration, I know I could load the tape with at least as much signal as a Maxell UR and then a "twist" beyond that, since the NAC chrome will take more signal than a UR without saturating or getting wiggy (technical audiophile term). If you're used to setting your recording level for better tapes (like metal or older XLII's, SA's, etc.), setting the level the same for the NAC Chrome's will yield a lower output, possibly considerably lower. Ultimately, you'll just have to use your ear and not be afraid to turn up the recording level until it sounds "right", in other words...
CRANK IT UP!!! *punk*

I'm still trying to figure out if I'm going to order all cobalts or get some chromes, as well. If I do wind up getting some chromes, I'd be happy to pay it forward and send you a sample.

[macster]

Well, my Dragon likes these a hell of a lot better than it does the Cobalts. So, I ordered a number of these to use as my type II go to tape for the Dragon. I got the black 5 screw version.

M~

[bluegreengold]

The Chromes may take level like a UR, but the bias setting is very different. I like these tapes, and they are pretty good at typical preset settings (ie in the general range of TDK SA /Maxel XLII), however, it isn't until I do a proper calibration on one of my manual setting decks -- 682ZX, 122mkii, or CR4, that they really shine. I think the cobalt tapes are closer TDK SA in terms of bias and level (pretty much spot no the same as early 90s SAs that I have).

[macster]

I have recorded about five or six tapes on my B-215 using the Chrome. Based on what I'm hearing and in my system, I would recommend buying the Cobalt. The Cobalt has a more extended highend or treble, if you will. The Chrome sound very close to the Cobalt except that the higher frequencies are not as extended. They are both very good tapes, and the comments in the previous are right on the money AFAS I', concerned. They both are excellent values for the money. There is no need to pay outrageous prices for type II tapes with these available. I would however recommend that you purchase your Norelco boxes from tape.com as they have a rounded edge to them and IMHO look better.

M~