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View Full Version : Cassette review: Denon HD8 100 minute type II


NAD613
07-17-2008, 10:46 PM
These are the tapes that I cleaned Eggers Audio & Video out of this past week. In all, I got 30 of the HD8 & 2 of the HD7. 24 of the HD8 tapes are going out to other TH's who took me up on my offer to get them 4 packs of HD8's for $12 from Eggers if they sent me some money to buy & ship them. Everybody came out a winner on that deal!

In keeping with my love of easy listening music, I decided to record some selections from that great German bandleader, Bert Kaempfert. Along with Herb Alpert & Al Hirt, Kaempfert was the 3rd member in that trilogy of trumpet-infused pop instrumental music makers that were popular in the 60's. He also wrote a number of hit songs, such as "Danke Schoen", "Spanish Eyes (originally called "Moon Over Naples"), and Frank Sinatra's first #1 hit, "Strangers In The Night".

The CD I recorded from was the Bert Kaempfert installment of the Time-Life collection "Instrumental Favorites". The wrapper of the Denon HD8 said you can allow the levels to hit almost +8. I sort of thought that would be a mistake, that I was sure to get distortion, but I did like the wrapper said. The tape was recorded using Dolby C and, as seems to be the case with all my type II tapes now, I recorded side A with the bias @ 0, then side B with the bias @ -1.2. Why? So after I'm done listening to it, I don't have to rewind. Also, to mix it up a bit. If it turns out that one way is too dull sounding or too bright, I have a better version on the other side. I know...crazy.

The verdict is, as I expected, a very good sounding tape, with a nice, rich sound. Even though the meters hit +8 a few times, there was no distortion. The low end came in good & the highs were there, even with Dolby C. Needless to say, there was no hiss. A fine tape indeed.

I hope this review was helpful.

Scorpion8
07-17-2008, 11:24 PM
It is, and it confirms my love of Denon tapes. Man, I wish they were still alive and fighting in the tape arena....

Mr. Lin
07-18-2008, 05:06 PM
Makes me even more eager to try mine.

Des-Lab
07-18-2008, 05:13 PM
They are indeed wonderful tapes. I know I love them.

Marc Hugo
07-19-2008, 06:10 AM
That sounds good Scorpion,

I have just the type Denons I but they too are great. What deck were you recording with?

Cheers - Marc

CottonSwab
09-27-2011, 09:20 AM
I have four HD8 tapes in a bundle sealed and I just can't decide what to record on them. I believe they are 100's too. Not positive. I have heard as others say here they are beautiful and serious tapes. eventualy I will give one a try after picking the right material and post the results. I will be using the 730ES.

vince666
09-27-2011, 10:05 AM
i recently tried to record on a HD8 c60 from late 80's...

this version:
http://vintagecassettes.com/denon/denon_files/image1399.jpg

of course, i was positively IMPRESSED by its quality... and i tried it "only" with my (slightly modified) Sony TC-K750ES... and i'm sure the (heavily modified) Technics RS-B965M will do even better on this great tape! *devil*


CHEERS,

Vince.