Huge cassette purchases made

[NAD613]

Well, I've finished my blank cassette buying frenzy....for now. Here is what I've bought:

3 20-packs of Fuji DR-I from Total Media
5 boxes TDK Pro Media Studio Master 90 from R & M Pro Audio
10 boxes of Akai GX-90 & 4 boxes of Akai SX-90 from Batteries & Butter

This will give me a stockpile of tapes that should last me for a while. I'll probably still buy at least a few boxes of the Akai every month until they run out.

[NAD613]

This morning I called A to Z Audio & bought out the rest of their TDK SM-60 (only 6 tapes!), a box of the TDK SM-X 20, & 3 boxes of the TDK SM-X 30. But don't worry, Mr. Lin; I didn't buy out their whole stock. They have some TDK SM-X left, not to mention the regular TDK SM 20 & 30. If you do get around to calling them & they're out of stock, PM me. I don't think I'll go through all those boxes.

[braxus]

It blows my mind on how many of us have bought tapes from B&B recently and they still have stock left. Did they buy the whole semi full of them?

[NAD613]

It blows my mind on how many of us have bought tapes from B&B recently and they still have stock left. Did they buy the whole semi full of them?

Yeah, I don't know what's going on there & chances are we'll never know. Are they NOS & B&B got a warehouse filled to the roof with those cassettes? Are they still in production & B&B has an exclusive agreement with Akai making them the sole retailer of those cassettes worldwide?

I've said it before & I'll say it again, it's one of the biggest mysteries of the hi-fi world.

[Mr. Lin]

This morning I called A to Z Audio & bought out the rest of their TDK SM-60 (only 6 tapes!), a box of the TDK SM-X 20, & 3 boxes of the TDK SM-X 30. But don't worry, Mr. Lin; I didn't buy out their whole stock. They have some TDK SM-X left, not to mention the regular TDK SM 20 & 30. If you do get around to calling them & they're out of stock, PM me. I don't think I'll go through all those boxes.

Thank you, because when I read that it made my heart stop for a second. It's mostly the SM-X that I'm looking for. You can get the SM Pro 60 on other sites at the moment.

Sounds like you're not likely to ever run out of the Akai tapes!

Did A to Z say anything about how much stock they have left of the SM-X tapes?

By the way, sorry to go slightly off-topic, but since we're talking about TDK I have a question. Anyone know what the deal is with the TDK DS-X? I bought a NOS one on ebay for 99 cents. Just wondering. I assume it's some kind of special normal bias tape.

[Mr. Lin]

And one more question: What method of payment did you do with A to Z?

[Des-Lab]

By the way, sorry to go slightly off-topic, but since we're talking about TDK I have a question. Anyone know what the deal is with the TDK DS-X? I bought a NOS one on ebay for 99 cents. Just wondering. I assume it's some kind of special normal bias tape.


No. There isn't anything special about DS-X. It is/was the replacement for AD/AR/AR-X when they pared down their line back in '91 or '92. I was told direct from TDK that DS-X (at least the first version anyway) was the *exact same tape* as AR (which itself was the sucessor to AD-S). I guess when trimming down the Type I line from four to two products, keep the lowest going and split the difference between the rest for the "new" "Best" Type I.

It was basically the same move with Maxell, when they dropped the UDI and XLI-S from the roster and re-introduced the short lived XLI.

[NAD613]

And one more question: What method of payment did you do with A to Z?

I paid w/a credit card.

As for the TDK SM-X, they told me they had over 40 of the TDK SM-X 30 & a couple dozen of the SM-X 20. Going by their closeout list, after my purchase, they should have 16 of the SM-X 20 & 13 of the SM-X 30. I got kind of greedy & bought 30 of the TDK SM-X 30, but I don't think I'll use that many. It's just that for $7.50/box, I couldn't pass it up. If you ever have a problem trying to locate some, contact me. I seriously doubt I'll even use half of those SM-X 30's.

[Mr. Lin]

I paid w/a credit card.

As for the TDK SM-X, they told me they had over 40 of the TDK SM-X 30 & a couple dozen of the SM-X 20. Going by their closeout list, after my purchase, they should have 16 of the SM-X 20 & 13 of the SM-X 30. I got kind of greedy & bought 30 of the TDK SM-X 30, but I don't think I'll use that many. It's just that for $7.50/box, I couldn't pass it up. If you ever have a problem trying to locate some, contact me. I seriously doubt I'll even use half of those SM-X 30's.

Great thanks, because one way or another I really want to get some of those.

[Mr. Lin]

No. There isn't anything special about DS-X. It is/was the replacement for AD/AR/AR-X when they pared down their line back in '91 or '92. I was told direct from TDK that DS-X (at least the first version anyway) was the *exact same tape* as AR (which itself was the sucessor to AD-S). I guess when trimming down the Type I line from four to two products, keep the lowest going and split the difference between the rest for the "new" "Best" Type I.

It was basically the same move with Maxell, when they dropped the UDI and XLI-S from the roster and re-introduced the short lived XLI.

So what's the difference between those and the current production TDK D?

[braxus]

The DS-X was a higher grade type 1 closer to say AD or AR as Matt mentioned. It can also take high levels like the AR-X can from what one said in a review. The DS-X was the last horrah in type 1 premium tapes. It was also designed for high speed dubbing on dual decks.

I just placed another order at Batteries and Butter. I noticed they are selling TDK D tapes for $5.50 for a box of 10 90 minute tapes. Thats the same price as the Akai SX. So I ordered a box. I don't know if they have gone down hill like others have, but for 5 bucks who cares. I also ordered a couple Betacam tapes which will work in any consumer Betamax vcr, plus 2 PX 19 (531) batteries for my old Polaroid Land camera 100. Funny thing is the batteries were the most expensive part of the order. The tapes were next to nothing.

[Mr. Lin]

The DS-X was a higher grade type 1 closer to say AD or AR as Matt mentioned. It can also take high levels like the AR-X can from what one said in a review. The DS-X was the last horrah in type 1 premium tapes. It was also designed for high speed dubbing on dual decks.

I just placed another order at Batteries and Butter. I noticed they are selling TDK D tapes for $5.50 for a box of 10 90 minute tapes. Thats the same price as the Akai SX. So I ordered a box. I don't know if they have gone down hill like others have, but for 5 bucks who cares. I also ordered a couple Betacam tapes which will work in any consumer Betamax vcr, plus 2 PX 19 (531) batteries for my old Polaroid Land camera 100. Funny thing is the batteries were the most expensive part of the order. The tapes were next to nothing.

My experience with the newer TDK D's has always been positive, so I wouldn't worry about it. Of course, you paid about $5 so I doubt you're actually worried about it.:D But I've discovered that I'm a TDK guy, and no TDK tape I've tried so far has let me down, so I'm biased.

[Marc Hugo]

My experience with the newer TDK D's has always been positive, so I wouldn't worry about it. Of course, you paid about $5 so I doubt you're actually worried about it.:D But I've discovered that I'm a TDK guy, and no TDK tape I've tried so far has let me down, so I'm biased.


True Mr lin,

TDK D remains the breezy and balanced sounding type I benchmark as ever. Their mechanisms always hold up well and the tape itself is durable. Dolby-friendly too. They are a bit more upbeat than Maxell UR and more competent overall than the Sony HF being quieter yet more sensitive. They have a slight edge on Sony EF - more animated I would say. Sony ZX (in the green wrapper) remains the zestiest of all cooking type ones from the majors if you can find it. Unlike many of you I have not tried any of the latest Fuji DR I or Akai SX.

Cheers - Marc

[Mr. Lin]

Marc,
I've never heard of or seen a Sony ZX.

[NAD613]

Marc,
I've never heard of or seen a Sony ZX.

http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=55258

[Marc Hugo]

Hi NAD,

That's the one - Mr Lin - I have had a lot of satisfaction out of this one. I will post some pics of fronts and backs of Sony type Is to be seen in this neck of the banana plantation.

Cheers - Marc

[qubeular]

i bought a few zx tapes a few months back.

punchy sounding, but slightly noisy, relativity easy to bias for a sony tape.

one problem with the tape i recorded on tho, the tape was ok till about half way through, when the tape seemed to form blister shapes and was unrecordable.

it could have been bad storage. as i bought the tape from a dollar store here in California, and the tape is made for distribution to aisa.

i bought two and the other is still in its wrapper.



i bought some new stock of ur.

kinda dull/ laid back sound. pretty smooth, but doesnt have the oomph even the newest tdk d seems to have.

the new ur has a four screw shell, while the d is fused.

the new tdk d stock in a new ur shell would be nice.

im listening to in rainbows on a tdk d, and my levels peak at +5

although with this album i hardly see the meters outside of the red.

[Mr. Lin]

im listening to in rainbows on a tdk d, and my levels peak at +5

although with this album i hardly see the meters outside of the red.

That's an interesting one - recording In Rainbows onto a normal bias tape. I think I may try that. Considering how well-produced that album is, I'd really like to hear what it would sound like on a type I tape.

Mark, I'm going to give the ZX a try soon. I'll let you know if it gets along with my Nak.

BTW I haven't heard a single good thing about the new UR.

[NAD613]

BTW I haven't heard a single good thing about the new UR.

I don't know if it's considered a "new" UR, but I have one I bought new in the red wrapper about 8-9 years ago. I recorded a CD of Eugene Ormandy & the Philadelphia Orchestra playing music from the opera "Carmen", from around 1957-58. The sound is pretty good, but based on my latest experience with the new Maxell tapes, I'd believe it about the new UR's.

[Mr. Lin]

I don't know if it's considered a "new" UR, but I have one I bought new in the red wrapper about 8-9 years ago. I recorded a CD of Eugene Ormandy & the Philadelphia Orchestra playing music from the opera "Carmen", from around 1957-58. The sound is pretty good, but based on my latest experience with the new Maxell tapes, I'd believe it about the new UR's.


I don't bother with them, but I did just order some of those 20 minute Maxell MS tapes. *Spin*

[NAD613]

I don't bother with them, but I did just order some of those 20 minute Maxell MS tapes. *Spin*

Yep, those are pretty good tapes.

[mmay519]

Not to drive you crazy, but here are some nice comments about Maxell UR tapes:

1. They're plentiful (and let's face it, that means alot today.)
2. They're inexpensive ($6.99USD for a seven pack of C-90s at the local RiteAid, and no shipping charges, to boot.)
3. Sonically, they're not bad. In fact, I've been using UR-120s to archive "Thomas Edison's Attic" radio programs (all stored as RealAudio files on the internet,) and the sound quality on the tape is comparable to the sound quality of the broadcast.

YMMV, but I am sharing my current experience with these tapes.

Take Care,

Mike

[Mr. Lin]

Not to drive you crazy, but here are some nice comments about Maxell UR tapes:

1. They're plentiful (and let's face it, that means alot today.)
2. They're inexpensive ($6.99USD for a seven pack of C-90s at the local RiteAid, and no shipping charges, to boot.)
3. Sonically, they're not bad. In fact, I've been using UR-120s to archive "Thomas Edison's Attic" radio programs (all stored as RealAudio files on the internet,) and the sound quality on the tape is comparable to the sound quality of the broadcast.

YMMV, but I am sharing my current experience with these tapes.

Take Care,

Mike

Thanks for letting us know that Mike, we're always interested in people's experiences with various tapes, of course.

[Marc Hugo]

That's true. (The personal experiences). I have been OK with UR (a bit on the laid back side compared with TDK D but not bad). It's the UE with which I'm not too impressed.

Anyhow, brace yourself for a bunch of pics of type Is picked up on this continent in the last few years (unless I mention otherwise). I'll give each a very brief intro.

Cheers - Marc

[Scorpion8]

Anyhow, brace yourself for a bunch of pics of type Is picked up on this continent in the last few years (unless I mention otherwise).

Oooooo, Tapeheads eye candy! ....raucaus applaud!....

[Marc Hugo]

Oooooo, Tapeheads eye candy! ....raucaus applaud!....

Scorps you're a hooligan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More raucous applause, screaming, music and sound of breaking beer bottles. Send for pizza

[Marc Hugo]

Hi all,

Just to arrange these pics..will take 15 minutes.

These are the edges.

MH

[Marc Hugo]

The HF is (I estimate from about 1990 - perhaps slightly earlier). Got half a dozen of this marque at a Cash Crusaders.

Sony ZX is an oddity within the range, but I suspect it might contain repackings of early high performance Sony type I stock. I would agree with an earlier assessment of "qubeular" as to its sound, quite high bias noise, but strangely close to an early HF-S. I have not had any hassles with it physically. The tape itself is much lighter brown than more modern formula. A good one - with what seems like a pedigree.

MH

[Marc Hugo]

The Sony EF is a reliable, well sorted, Dolby friendly tape - easy to calibrate too.

EF Super is an altogether different animal - big powerful bass, generous MOLs (reminiscent of a Scotch BX) and difficult to find. This one dates to '97. Picked this remnant up at Nel and Unwin in Kroonstad.

EF Premium I have not seen in RSA - it was bought by my ex-wife in Uganda 6 months ago, along with this iteration of Sony HF. Note the remark on the front "with screws" as if to make this a mark of quality. Seems the shamba dwellers of East Africa have the same concerns as us.

MH

[Marc Hugo]

These are quite interesting.

The forerunner of the current Akai SX, I would guess. I quite like them, best to use NR due to the MOL.

The classic old Sony HF - a bit noisy by modern type I standards, but agreeable to NR and tonally balanced. Mine have lasted the years with no ill effects.

Gang Xin - a mainland Chinese product, best for voice repro - I have just one for collection purposes. No better (or worse) than Certron, Sonic and Sankyno.

The Fuji DR (note it does not say DR I for some reason). Check the back - its made in China. I don't know about the ones you're picking up in the States. It's an excellent type I. The wrapper must be a top 10 finalist for most colourful cassette wrapper of all time.

MH

[Marc Hugo]

GolfStart is a ripoff obviously of Maxell XLII (and the GoldStar brand)from its heyday - Matt this will make your hair stand on end being a fan of XLII from this era - we are used to a market full of fakes here. It's a type one though and as such, is a tolerable voice-standard type I.

The JVC GI is a very nice type I - quite neutral like a UR (sensitivity is flat etc) and very durable and heat resistant.

TDK D - assembled in Thailand from Japanese parts and tape. A reliable, fresh sounding standard.

Maxell UE - a tape that Maxell managed to make less enervating than its own UR. Not to condemn UR needlessly, but neutrality is now taken to the point of blandness. Could it be a drooping sensitivity curve? A market counterpoint for TDK's B.

MH

MH

[Marc Hugo]

This Maxell UR was also found in East Africa by my ex - in Uganda or Kenya. This one is a British one - they sound fine - indistinguishable from any other URs I have. They run silently and seem durable.

TDK B - could be the least desirable tape ever made by TDK. B for bottom of range. However, it runs smoothly, reliably and I have used many for radio recordings that fell off the back of union negs. and arbitrations. In this role(radio), they performed most acceptably (like Maxell UE).

This TDK D is a Chinese-made fake - bought in Thaba Nchu, Free State. I picked up 2 or 3. I used one and it (a 90) was all of 50 minutes - 25 per side. Strangely enough, it performed pretty well. Our eastern friends were also smart enough to fake the wrapper from a good TDK vintage - circa '90-'93.

TDK AD - this fine type I was picked up in East Africa by my ex. Great quality, enhanced type I.

Denon LX - I have a few of these and they perform very well - no DX-3/4, mind you, but built to last, with a smooth, exuberant sound. Also from Nel and Unwin, dated 10/86.

Maxell UD I - a classy type I, smoother at the frequency extremes than TDK AD and overall, so good, (although short of an XLI-S), it helps explain the early demise of XL I. It uses the beautiful Spintech mechanism. What a shame the UDII of the same series was so lethargic sounding.

MH

[Flyquail56]

Thanks for the cool pix Marc! One thing that puzzles me though: why would someone make a fake TDK D of all things? Isn't that a little like printing counterfeit one dollar bills?

[Mr. Lin]

Maxell UE - a tape that Maxell managed to make less enervating than its own UR. Not to condemn UR needlessly, but neutrality is now taken to the point of blandness. Could it be a drooping sensitivity curve? A market counterpoint for TDK's B.

MH

MH

This sounds like my worst nightmare.

[Marc Hugo]

Thanks for the cool pix Marc! One thing that puzzles me though: why would someone make a fake TDK D of all things? Isn't that a little like printing counterfeit one dollar bills?

Pleasure. It's a good question FQ56 - I assume that they applied their minds and came up with any or all of the following:

1. We will make TDK D because it is the world most popular cassette;
2. If we make (claim to make) a SA or SA-X, the guys who buy that would notice that it's a fake in a nanosecond because they are enthusiasts;
3. Its technically easier for us to make a convincing fake type I than a convincing fake type II;
4. Enthusiasts would notice ultra cheap premier type II and metals and immediately be suspicious before theybuy our fake;
5. Many customers are so switched off that they actually think TDK D is the best tape you can buy. Other "funny" looking ones are "not for music", or "not what I used last time" or "bad for my tape deck" etc.

Cheers - MH

[Scorpion8]

Great pics! Lots of stuff I'd never seen before. Cooooooooooooooooool!

More raucous applause, screaming, music and sound of breaking beer bottles. Send for pizza

Par-tay!

[NAD613]

Nice pics, but I was kind of hoping for some pics of cheesy rip-offs, such as Maxwells, TKD, & Soney.

[Marc Hugo]

This sounds like my worst nightmare.


Ah-Ha!! Mr Lin, I take it you like a tonal balance on the bright, fresh and explicit side of neutral!! I also.

This is why I enjoy our hobby so much. I'll tell you another thing - having been in the entertainment industry (live theatre and shows etc) for a while: trying to get a recording to match the source is dross. It really is. You should see these hearing impaired misfits that do the mastering and final mixdowns. I mean that may sound over the top, but I can say that because some of these guys are my best friends, and they would probably agree. The point is, their opinion (as your signal meanders its way through the mixing desk) is affecting the output to the final 2 tracks. They monitor it on headphones. Now, put that in some kind of context. Let me tell how hard these blokes party!! And the next morning they are finalising one or two tracks on the next CD you buy? I remember us coming to work with hangovers that interfered with air traffic. Heck, if you think the sound in any way or form should be changed and its within your power to change it through your choice of tapes, and consequently eshew some or all the calibaration options you have to hand, go ahead I say. This not adding distortion and neither is it sacrilege.

Micro-signal degradation through, say, using long loops like graphic equalisers or excessivly long signal runs between components is something else - and of course should be avoided.

Speaking of all this I will post somewhere here the Rane PI 14 product overview. Guaranteed to make you roll in the aisles.

Cheers - Marc

[Web Police]

Great pics of some obscure tapes at least in these parts.

[Marc Hugo]

Nice pics, but I was kind of hoping for some pics of cheesy rip-offs, such as Maxwells, TKD, & Soney.


Wow, don't you just love those NAD. Watches from Rolux and Omego. I know a guy who had a Swach (no T) watch that he said works "annoyingly well".

MH

[Dazen1]

EF Premium I have not seen in RSA - it was bought by my ex-wife in Uganda 6 months ago, along with this iteration of Sony HF. Note the remark on the front "with screws" as if to make this a mark of quality. Seems the shamba dwellers of East Africa have the same concerns as us.

Picked up a couple of those Premium EFs the other day. I like the "with SCREWS" on the front too. *lmao*

Would I be right in saying that this is pretty much the same tape as the Super EF?

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dpQ6EYHIci4/TGlj6RfIX1I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/oENsK1mYC_k/s640/DSC00942.JPG

[bruckner9]

hey, i'm with ya;

"with SCREWS" is classic!

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Dazen,

I would say, quite possibly (same as EF) but its hard to say. Quite clearly, Sony came up with a quite a number of varied "presentations" over the last 10 years, no doubt, amongst other things, to soak up whatever pancakes of type I tape they had lying around the world. And in certain cases, I am estimating that the unused warehouse stock that was available for this exercise dated back over the years - not just very recent times. For instance, I would venture to suggest that the ZX of 1998-2006 (+-) was in fact HF-S, but of a very early vintage. (Such as a CHF). Its brown, noisy and bright. Therefore a typical early enhanced type I.

MH

[Dazen1]

Hi Dazen,

I would say, quite possibly (same as EF) but its hard to say. Quite clearly, Sony came up with a quite a number of varied "presentations" over the last 10 years, no doubt, amongst other things, to soak up whatever pancakes of type I tape they had lying around the world. And in certain cases, I am estimating that the unused warehouse stock that was available for this exercise dated back over the years - not just very recent times. For instance, I would venture to suggest that the ZX of 1998-2006 (+-) was in fact HF-S, but of a very early vintage. (Such as a CHF). Its brown, noisy and bright. Therefore a typical early enhanced type I.

MH

Thanks Marc.

They certainly seem similar and what you say does sound very plausible.