Axia cassettes

[stuartypoorty]

Is anyone familiar with this brand?

Can't ever recall seeing these in any hi-fi outlet here in the UK, perhaps they were produced for the Japanese domestic market only.

[Scorpion8]

Not familiar with them, and can't say I ever saw or heard of them over here.

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Stuart,

Axia are the brand identity for Fuji from the Middle-East going east. Throughout Asia, it's Axia -also in Japan. They are therefore terrific tapes!!

SKC also had some other name for their products in Asia.

Cheers - Marc

[stuartypoorty]

Hello Marc,

Welcome to TapeHeads.

Regarding the Axia I was going on a hunch and you've confirmed it.

Why are they so difficult to come by in the west - has production ceased?

Regards, Stuart

[Web Police]

Very interesting. Thanks for the info Marc. :)

[Scorpion8]

Gawd ya love it when info pours in from all sources! Thanks, Marc!

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Stuart and thanks for the welcome and all the kind words !!

Has Fuji/Axia ceased production?

The last I looked, the brand still was soldiering on with analogue media in the shape of the DR1 and II, the K series in the east and one other model. I will check. The extremely nice ZII was discontinued two or three years ago and Metal-Z at least two years before that in about 2001 if I can recall correctly.

My ex-wife scavenged a handful of both in Madagascar a year ago (in the Fuji foto cetres which on every corner in Tana). Now, that's a ex to have!!

The problem with distribution anywhere, and the west is no exception, is that the manufacturer has to depend on retailers that will carry the stock. The retailer wants stock that turns over quickly and unfortunately, it is as much the seller as the buyer that puts the coffin-nail in the continued availibility of anything.

I'll revert on Fuji!!

[stuartypoorty]

Marc I'm grooming a contact who assures me that he can lay his hands on Axias, only time will tell and I'm prepared to wait.

Could be very good news indeed, as long as it does't turn out like the Sony Super Metal Master fiasco - duds sourced from the far east...............

If I can procure enough - in this day and age a lot is too little - I'll see who's looking to swap and take it from there.

I'm looking at a Fuji FR Metal 90 right now, has Nils Lofgren's first couple of solo albums on it, think I'll give it a spin.

Regards Stuart

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Stuart and those following this tack,

I have checked out what Fuji are doing to this end thesedays. You might know that Fuji is a massive company, very diversified and with bits and pieces all over the world. Fuji Electric, Fujifilm including cameras etc, Fuji Heavy Industry and Fuji Computer division which is itself divided into three divisions. One of them is Optical which handles all the software such as Blu-Ray, DVD and CD-R etc. Fuji Magnetic is another division - visit them here at:

www.fuji-magnetics.com/

The Axia sub-brand is seemingly non-existent anymore. The name is being used by a midrange (peripherals and connective architecture) computer company that is marketing Livewire. I just glanced there - there may be more to them.

Fuji Magnetics made two tapes and according to this site have branches/distributon worldwide:

The models are: DR Audio and DRII Audio.

They also make videotapes, camera tapes, computer mass storage media etc.

Sorry about the apparent dearth of new Aixa. What you see for sale, that's pretty much what remains.

Incidentally - my experience with those two tapes above has been pretty positive - I especially like the DR (was the "DRI" I seem to remember) - it was very lively and forthright in its presentation.

I should think Total Media or Tape World have some...

Cheers - Marc

[stuartypoorty]

Man you Orange Free State lot are nothing if not thorough!

I think the Axias that my source might be able to get hold of are probably "new old stock" which is fine providing they've been stored properly.

I'll keep you posted.

Incidentally Marc, have you looked at www.vinylsa.co.za which is an excellent analogue themed site.

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Stuart!! Thanks!! Thorough ......and cold. Heck, it's minus 5C here!! Thanks for the link - I just visited it and there's some good stuff there - that's for sure. MY vinyl front end needs revitalisation. (Just a TEAC PX550 DD unit from 1983 with a Shure Me75EJII. It's all as good as it ever was going to be....... I also have a refurbishment project lying there - a Pioneer PL-15 belt drive unit from circa 1973. It needs a new belt and cartridge and perhaps some black magic too!!

I think you'll come right with those Axia's-worth the wait. I'm just going to locate some data on the erstwhile JPII from Fuji for Scorpion!!

Take care - Marc