braxus
05-21-2008, 08:34 PM
Can anyone truly judge the difference between the different levels of normal tape? I mean how does TDK AD compare to Maxell UD and Denon DX-3? Maybe lets throw in Sony HF-ES into the mix. Or how about TDK AR vs Maxell XL-I? Or how about TDK AR-X/ DS-X vs Maxell XL-IS vs Denon DX-4 vs Sony HF-Pro?
I know the Maxell XL-IS tape in later versions had extended low end with slightly brighter highs. But I can't say if TDK had similar results. I know you can put more signal onto the top tier normal tapes.
Also if anyone is interested- on Ebay there is an auction selling TDK AD 90 min tapes in 3 paks for $15 Buy It Now. Its a good deal for a tape like that. I got 2 of them.
And for reel to reel I wonder why they never had a XL-IS formulation instead of the XL-I version? It would have given more signal plus extended lows and highs for that warm sound tapes give. Funny how in cassettes the XL-I was not around for very long and was only introduced twice as far as I know. In the mid 80s and again in the early 90s.
Some people use the better normal tapes because they "color" the sound giving them a warmer presentation and more analog type of sound which is easy on the ears. Case in point- the last version of the XL-IS tape made in the early 90s had the most bottom end extension boost plus slightly better highs. This tape colors the sound.
The colored sound is one reason many use r2r tapes to put CDs onto to warm up the sound. Chrome tapes were always a compromise. Less bottom end for a better top end. The type 3 tape was a mix of chrome and normal tapes. If you wanted a really good top end with the rich low end of normal tapes, you have to get metal tapes to do this.
I know the Maxell XL-IS tape in later versions had extended low end with slightly brighter highs. But I can't say if TDK had similar results. I know you can put more signal onto the top tier normal tapes.
Also if anyone is interested- on Ebay there is an auction selling TDK AD 90 min tapes in 3 paks for $15 Buy It Now. Its a good deal for a tape like that. I got 2 of them.
And for reel to reel I wonder why they never had a XL-IS formulation instead of the XL-I version? It would have given more signal plus extended lows and highs for that warm sound tapes give. Funny how in cassettes the XL-I was not around for very long and was only introduced twice as far as I know. In the mid 80s and again in the early 90s.
Some people use the better normal tapes because they "color" the sound giving them a warmer presentation and more analog type of sound which is easy on the ears. Case in point- the last version of the XL-IS tape made in the early 90s had the most bottom end extension boost plus slightly better highs. This tape colors the sound.
The colored sound is one reason many use r2r tapes to put CDs onto to warm up the sound. Chrome tapes were always a compromise. Less bottom end for a better top end. The type 3 tape was a mix of chrome and normal tapes. If you wanted a really good top end with the rich low end of normal tapes, you have to get metal tapes to do this.