TDK SA-90, I picked up what appear to

[gonzo]

be gently used home recorded tapes. 44 tapes for 2$ so the price is right. It is a high bias type II tape, but in googing it I can't find out much about it. Is this a decent tape, fair, poor? What 's the difference between this and earlier tapes like a TDK SA C-90? Also picked up same MAXELL XLII, from what appears to be a newer vintage. How do these differ from earlier tapes? Thanks Norm

[Mr. Lin]

Norm,
It would be helpful if you could post a picture of the TDK tapes. If they're the newer ones they don't have the best reputation, but I've used them and I think they're really underrated.

[Marc Hugo]

Agreed Mr Lin - current SA90s haven't let me down. The majority of mine are from the 91-93 era though, but I have newer and older. If anything, the ones from 1984/5 are a tad dull and uninspiring, albeit without physical problems or specific loss issues such as drop-outs.

Gonzo, there's no difference between a TDK SA90 and a TDK SA C-90. The letter formality of calling a tape "C" this or that referring to the amount of minutes recording time was gradually dropped at some point - perhaps in the early eighties. Maybe the marketing gurus decided it was too pendantic.

As for Maxell XLII, I have them from throughout the many years they have been in production. I have never found them, of any vintage, to be anything less than excellent. I know Matt has a preference for the XLII circa 88/89, if I'm not mistaken. I have unwittingly escaped quality issues that seem more prevalent in models more recent than mine. Not sure. Anyhow, the XLII was for years the mainstay tape for tape traders. I prefer it's sonic style to the SA.

Cheers - Marc