Any TDK Fans Here?

[valman13440]

And how would you rate TDK vs Maxell cassettes?

[NAD613]

I'm a big fan of the TDK Pro Media Sound Master (SM) studio cassettes. Back in the early-mid 90's, I'd buy the TDK SA on ocassion, but mostly I'd buy the Maxell XLII-S if I could afford it. Nowadays, the Akai GX & SX, along with the TDK Pro Media SM, are my preferred cassettes. I have a couple of boxes of the newer Maxell XL-II, but haven't tried them yet; haven't heard many good things about them.

[Scorpion8]

Early on, TDK SA was all I bought. Those tapes still sound good and have stood up to 28 years of life. I still have two boxes of NOS older SA-tapes and a bunch of recent SA and SA-X stuff. The SA-X to my ears sounds every bit as good as UDXL-IIS and almost as good as TDK's MA-metal series. Well worth it to also pick up used tape at thrifts if they are in good shape.

[Web Police]

I have pretty much used TDK tapes for the past 25 years also. I have used TDK MA, MA-X or SA and SA-X tapes for the most part. I have nothing against the Maxell equivalent tapes but in my area TDK tapes were more widely available. :)

[Mr. Lin]

Yes, so the TDK Pro Media SM is my favorite tape right now. The Maxell Audio Pro Studio Tape holds its own against the TDK though.

[Scorpion8]

Yes, so the TDK Pro Media SM is my favorite tape right now. The Maxell Audio Pro Studio Tape holds its own against the TDK though.

I just traded two of these Maxell's for two of those TDK versions to NAD613. I hope we get a decent side-by-side review soon.

[NAD613]

I just traded two of these Maxell's for two of those TDK versions to NAD613. I hope we get a decent side-by-side review soon.

I'm about to go on vacation, so probably late next week I'll have a review.

[Scorpion8]

Where's that munching-popcorn smiley when you need one ..... :D

[stuartypoorty]

Very little in it, used to go for TDKs because they were such an excellent match for the Nak., plentiful and reliable. Still favour them over the Maxells on price alone.

However, my best sounding blank is a Maxell Metal Vertex which shades the TDK MA-XG/MA-R and, as such, I'd consider it my reference - they're fairly expensive now, if you can find them.
Ebay Germany is a good source for procurement.

I use the metal type IVs for archiving the vinyl collection, some recordings at least twenty or so years plus with no audible degradation or mechanical issues with the shells.

[Mr. Lin]

I just traded two of these Maxell's for two of those TDK versions to NAD613. I hope we get a decent side-by-side review soon.

Which Maxells, the Studio ones?

[Des-Lab]

Ahh yes....the classic Maxell versus TDK debate. Ranks right up there with Ford vs Chevy, Coke vs Pepsi, Dominoes vs Pizza Hut, and Airbus vs Boeing.

Well for the record, I have a preference for Maxell. That's been the bulk of what I've always used. And that's what most of my stash is. And that's ALL I have in tribute in my cassette frame displays.

I think it's fair to say that for the most part, TDK tapes were just as good, and perhaps in some cases, superior to the Maxell's. It all depended on the application and the decks being used. Some sound better with Maxell. And others with TDK.

The one area that TDK was never really strong in was the Type I field-despite having a full line of them. I believe that Maxell definitely made a superior tape there. And the Type II's and IV's?

Like I said.....depends on the deck. And the person using it.

But as for VARIETY, I think TDK definitely won hands down. As I recall, they hold the record for most grades in a single lineup. It was the 1987 line. They had no less than twelve (one dozen) grades of tape avilable:

Type I: D, AD, AD-S, AD-X

Type I: SD, SA, SA-X, SA-XG, HX-S

Type IV: MA, MA-X, MA-XG