Radio Shack Realistic Supertapes

[braxus]

Given the stigma of anything Radio Shack, just wondering how many on here have used these tapes and what were your thoughts on them? As with any tape they seemed to improved by the 90s and are now only sold in normal type 1s. They took the Supertape name off and are just calling them by letters now. The pic from below is from a collection I won off the 'bay last year. These were in the Supertape heyday. I have used some of the 90s versions and they aren't too bad. Not Maxells, but decent for Radio Shack stuff.

Some people use the Supertapes in reel to reel to warm up the sound of CDs.

[Scorpion8]

I picked up a few of the current XR formulation in C-90's just to have and just-in-case. I haven't recorded on them yet.

[NAD613]

I picked up a few of the current XR formulation in C-90's just to have and just-in-case. I haven't recorded on them yet.

Where I live, Radio Shack is about the only place you can buy 90 minute cassettes that aren't Sony HF. However, I think I'm going to check out CVS tomorrow to see what they have for blank tapes.

[Web Police]

I have a small stash of Rad Shack XR's and HC's. A year or so ago one seller was practically giving these away on Amazon. :)

http://home.earthlink.net/~palisadespark/Radio%20Shack.jpg

[NAD613]

Well, I went to CVS today & the actually sell TDK D 60 minute 7 pack bricks for $5.99. They also sold those TDK "CD BASS" 120 minute for $6.99/3 pack. Oh, and they sell 2 packs of Maxell UR for $3.99! For just a 2 pack! For an extra 51 cents I can get a 10 pack of Akai SX-90!

I also walked by Radio Shack, but I couldn't bring myself to walk in. It's just pathetic when I remember what it was like 15-20 years ago. Just sad.

[NAD613]

I have a small stash of Rad Shack XR's and HC's. A year or so ago one seller was practically giving these away on Amazon. :)

http://home.earthlink.net/~palisadespark/Radio%20Shack.jpg

The last time I bought cassettes @ Radio Shack was about 7 or 8 years ago. I think it was supposed to be a knock-off of the Maxell XLII-S, called SHD (Super High Definition) cassette. Well made, sounded good. Another one of those examples where if I had known they'd stop making them, I would have bought more.195

I took down the other picture & put this one in instead; shows the tape better IMHO.

[Web Police]

I wish the HC tapes were like the SHD tape you pictured. These ones are cheaper looking. Although they still have a screw together case, you can see the Radio Shack and the Chinese were cutting corners in the proof reading departments. They are a Type II Tape but they printed Normal Bias Type II on the shells. :rolleyes: At least the wrappers and the J cards are correct and list them as high bias tapes.


http://home.earthlink.net/~palisadespark/RS%20HC.jpg

[braxus]

Funny even Radio Shack tapes are drying up. They no longer sell cassettes at the Rad Shack store. Not many on Ebay either at low prices. Anyone have any XR-60, HD-60, or HC-60 they want to offload- let me know.

[DolbySProject]

I snagged an old Supertape LN60 a couple weeks ago. I wasn't expecting much at all. Nevertheless, it biased up better than the older TDK D's I have and wiped the floor with the Memorex dBs blanks (which are sorely lacking in high's). Even with the frequency lashing dbx (type II) gives a tape, it still made a very acceptable (and hiss free) recording of "The Rascals: See".

I've heard a lot of folks don't think too highly of Radio Shack/Supertape. It would be helpful to know which ones to avoid. Unless the one I got is just a fluke.

[Maxell-LN]

Funny even Radio Shack tapes are drying up. They no longer sell cassettes at the Rad Shack store. Not many on Ebay either at low prices. Anyone have any XR-60, HD-60, or HC-60 they want to offload- let me know.

So, are all these Radio Shack tapes discontinued now? I'd be curious to try some of their LNs if they are still available.

[Warped Bezel]

The last time I bought cassettes @ Radio Shack was about 7 or 8 years ago. I think it was supposed to be a knock-off of the Maxell XLII-S, called SHD (Super High Definition) cassette. Well made, sounded good. Another one of those examples where if I had known they'd stop making them, I would have bought more.195

I took down the other picture & put this one in instead; shows the tape better IMHO.

They might still have some at my franchisee.

[4tified]

Funny even Radio Shack tapes are drying up. They no longer sell cassettes at the Rad Shack store. Not many on Ebay either at low prices. Anyone have any XR-60, HD-60, or HC-60 they want to offload- let me know.

Really? I think they still have some LN'S and XR's at my Radio Shack. They haven't sold HC's for a few years now though. I had to grab mine off the bay.

Let me know how many you want Scott, I can try to grab some for you, if you want.

[Maxell-LN]

Really? I think they still have some LN'S and XR's at my Radio Shack. They haven't sold HC's for a few years now though. I had to grab mine off the bay.

Let me know how many you want Scott, I can try to grab some for you, if you want.

If it's no trouble, I would love to try out some LNs and XRs, if you can PM me your paypal info and shipping costs, (when you get a chance) I would love to try a few packs of each.

[Maskddingo]

I have one experience with these tapes and that was it for me. Upon recently getting back into cassette I discovered an HD-60. It's an older model. My guess is late 80's early 90's. Black shell that looks almost exactly like the ones the new Phoenix metals are in.

Upon trying to record something on it, I found it to be complete garbage on my MR-1. This tape was stored the same as all my other tapes that are still working fine. Upon recording the signal would drop from both channels every few seconds and then come back. I wasn't impressed at all. In fact, I hated the tape so much that I instantly threw that garbage away, salvaging the nice shell to use as a replacement for a more deserving tape. Maybe I just got a bad one, but I won't even touch the things anymore.

[braxus]

Let me know how many you want Scott, I can try to grab some for you, if you want.

If I do want some, I'll let you know. I'm bidding on some HC 60s on the Bay at the moment. The only tape I will buy that they may have is the XR 60. I don't want the LN. Rad Shack's site no longer lists cassettes, which is why I think they stopped carrying them.

[Tapemystic]

I had some XR-120's (same model as the 90's), and they where without offense meant horrible...Whopper hiss, and flimsy made in China *sigh* ...I saw no choice than to throw them away. So much hiss...I opened one and noticed how flimsy the construction was...Cheap plastic, flimsy, easily fall apart...A whopper hiss...Probably too noisy for even lectures. Sorry they are junk to me. Lucky didnt buy many...Better go for the Maxell UR's (Green/red wrapper) I be taping lectures on them today...

[4tified]

Well Scott, you were on to something here. I went up to my local Radio Shack today to pick up some LN's and XR's for maxellLN, and well, they were completley out. Someone bought the last 4 bricks last week and that was the end of it.

Wonder if they'll be back in stock?

If not, then we may be at the end. Maxell UR's, Fuji DR1's, Sony HF's, and TDK D's from here on out.

It's like a dying flame.

Makes me sad *crying*

[braxus]

Frankly I don't buy any currently available tape anymore, since practically anything made today is inferior with any NOS tape you can find. So Im not missing tapes in stores these days. Ebay has so much NOS that I don't think anyone will care if stores run out. Only thing is the deals will be harder to find now.

[Maxell-LN]

Well Scott, you were on to something here. I went up to my local Radio Shack today to pick up some LN's and XR's for maxellLN, and well, they were completley out. Someone bought the last 4 bricks last week and that was the end of it.

Wonder if they'll be back in stock?

If not, then we may be at the end. Maxell UR's, Fuji DR1's, Sony HF's, and TDK D's from here on out.

It's like a dying flame.

Makes me sad *crying*

Thanks for checking it out, much appreciated, I was eyeing some of Dr Bo's tapes, so might go ahead with him, he seems to have some good stuff available at reasonable prices at the moment.

Thanks again.

[4tified]

Thanks for checking it out, much appreciated, I was eyeing some of Dr Bo's tapes, so might go ahead with him, he seems to have some good stuff available at reasonable prices at the moment.

Thanks again.

No problem!

Yeah, Dr. Bo has some good prices.