Maxell SQ

[close652]

Has anybody experience with this type II tape?

[Scorpion8]

never seen it before. Might it be XL-II tape underneath a fancy wrapper outside?

[close652]

No idea.
I found a pic of the cassette itself.

[Scorpion8]

I wonder if that's current production for Europe/EU. Are they for still for sale over there?

[Des-Lab]

No idea either. Never seen that one. It's almost certainly a foreign (i.e. non US) market item. From the looks of it though, I doubt the quality is much to brag about. Looks to be maybe one step above those bulk grade "communicator" tapes and one step below the "UD-CD" series.

[close652]

We have some in Hungarian auction sites, and I saw some on Italian ebay. I haven't seen them in shops.
I don't expect much. I'll buy some and try them.

[close652]

It arrived and I recorded one side from LP (Del Fuegos).
Better than expected.
Even the acoustic guitar parts and the highs are excellent.
It has screws and numbers stamped on the top of the shell, but overall it looks kind of cheap.
No country of manufacturing is stated on the shrinkwrap, just the UK HQ address and it was exported to Poland and the Czech Republic (or at least my copies).
Not as good as the best TDK or Sony Type IIs, but it is worth the price (just above the cheapest Type I Fuji or Maxell).

[D.S. UK]

This is my first post here, so hello to everyone! I've been a regular visitor for ages now and think it's a fantastic site.

Anyway, the SQ was Maxell's tape made especially for Lidl all across Europe, I've read on other sites that Maxell made some batches themselves and Raks made other production runs, it's a bargain basement Type-2 and only ever came in 5-packs as far as I'm aware. The final stocks were sold off for 74p in the UK but they carried on in Europe for a while longer. Interestingly, sometimes stocks of this tape would run out for short periods and a Raks model (not sure which) would appear for a while (possibly the same tape).

I'd put the SQ on a par with TDK's CD-ing 2.

Apologies if this is repeated information.

Regards,

Damon.

[D.S. UK]

This reply was originally about the wrong reply option but it was my display settings causing confusing - please ignore.

[D.S. UK]

5-Pack should have read 3-Pack.

[Dazen1]

This is my first post here, so hello to everyone! I've been a regular visitor for ages now and think it's a fantastic site.

Anyway, the SQ was Maxell's tape made especially for Lidl all across Europe, I've read on other sites that Maxell made some batches themselves and Raks made other production runs, it's a bargain basement Type-2 and only ever came in 5-packs as far as I'm aware. The final stocks were sold off for 74p in the UK but they carried on in Europe for a while longer. Interestingly, sometimes stocks of this tape would run out for short periods and a Raks model (not sure which) would appear for a while (possibly the same tape).

I'd put the SQ on a par with TDK's CD-ing 2.

Apologies if this is repeated information.

Regards,

Damon.

Thanks for the info Damon.

Welcome to Tapeheads. *reelspin*-*reelspin*

5-Pack should have read 3-Pack.

Hit the "edit" button to amend your post.

[D.S. UK]

You're welcome - and thanks for the welcome!

[D.S. UK]

Thanks for the info Damon.

Welcome to Tapeheads. *reelspin*-*reelspin*



Hit the "edit" button to amend your post.

Thanks! I should get settled in now.

Are my posts appearing in the right order by the way or am I just paranoid?

[Dazen1]

Thanks! I should get settled in now.

Are my posts appearing in the right order by the way or am I just paranoid?

Looks fine to me.

[D.S. UK]

Looks fine to me.

Great, I can now get on with meaningful posts.

Many thanks.

[alxwz]

I've read several times that this was a cassette made exclusively by Raks in Turkey (licensed by Maxell), unrelated to any shell or tape provided by Maxell. Never heard of batches made by Maxell themselves.

[D.S. UK]

If I'm wrong, then I stand corrected, but I'm almost certain I read that Maxell made some of them on one of the European boards (possibly Magnetofon or Audiostereo), this was a couple of years ago when Lidl dropped them.

I didn't include it in my original post because I may be confusing tape models but SKC may have even been mentioned as a third supplier of these tapes (but that may be may brain playing up).

Whoever made them, they were a bargain at 74p a pack when they were, sadly, deleted from the Lidl range.

Regards.

[alxwz]

I may have been wrong.

From a small new search I did, I got some indications that there might have been some batches made by Samsung or SKC. Maybe there were some genuine Maxell-made SQs as well, although I doubt it.

So please ignore my post above.

[D.S. UK]

Hi alxwz,

I take your post to be as valid as mine, confirming where some tape models originate from is a very tricky business - and very intriguing. All part of the wonderful world of cassettes - endlessly fascinating!

I also now think I didn't imagine the SKC link thanks to you.

Kind regards,

Damon.

[close652]

I have not seen any tapes in Lidl here in Hungary.
Upon further using I do not recommend for any serious use.
Maybe for a mixtape for the child or for the car.