• Please note that Audiokarma will be offline briefly for updates early on Monday morning, September 28th.

80's BASF Chrome Tapes

braxus

braxus

FeCr Type III
First off some are aware that BASF was one of the last producers of pure chrome dioxide tapes vs cobalt doped tapes using type 2 EQ. Anyway the benefit of pure chrome tapes was the lowest noise floor of any tape, and a more natural clearer high end. The low end on such tapes was noted to not be as good as cobalt tapes or type 1 tapes for that matter. That is why they produced for a short while type 3 ferro-chrome tapes which had the benefits of both type 1 and 2 tapes.

Anyway anyone here use pure chrome tapes for certain recordings, like classical music with no Dolby? Also has anyone had any tape shedding or degradation of those 80s chrome BASF tapes? Some BASF tapes were known for shedding. I'm just wondering what peoples experiences are with them. BASF chrome Maxima tape was a pure chrome tape with dual layers. With dual layers one might expect to be able to increase the recording level, but that doesn't seem to be the case with this tape, as it can't take any higher levels then Chrome Super or Pro II tapes.
 
Register to hide this ad
braxus said:
.......Also has anyone had any tape shedding or degradation of those 80s chrome BASF tapes?
Click to expand...

I have a lot of BASF chrome tapes, CR-E II's and Maxima, and Chrome Extra, and haven't experienced degradation nor shedding. (Maybe the north european climate could have some influence)
 
basf chromdioxid II are one of my favorite tapes of all time...bought a few well preserved tapes that had been recorded on once...they sound as good as new even after 25 years..no need for dolby either...
i also have 2 unused 3 packs from 1984 that have yet to be opened...but can't bring myself to tear the silver foil wrapper off just yet...:scratch2:
from what i remember ..basf chromes didn't like high recording levels..and peaks were best kept at 0 db or just under to sound thier best
 
I used various BASF chrome tapes regularly (professional II, Pro II Chrome, Chromimum dioxide II, and Chrome Maximas). They were one of my favorite tapes becuase they were usually cheaper than TDK and maxell, but if recorded properly, they sounded better to my ears. They always had an excellent top-end, and midrange, and that was really important to me. You can't record as hot on with these as you could with TDK-SA, but I always though that they sounded better overall. My favorite of the lot was the Chrome Maximas. Oh...how I wish I could get my hands on a good batch of theses tapes NOS. Some of these tapes I made 20 years ago sound incredible today.

Mine have all held-up perfectly too.
 
BASF chrome was also sold on hubs to duplication houses. BASF CRO2 in clear 'Shape' shells was the standard for high end real-time duplication for many years. It is a very good tape.
 
Cadillac Kid said:
BASF chrome was also sold on hubs to duplication houses. BASF CRO2 in clear 'Shape' shells was the standard for high end real-time duplication for many years. It is a very good tape.
Click to expand...

just moved some stuff around and made a little inventory of my BASF casettes .... the black shell's are dated app 1985, and the clear are definitively later - up to 1995. I haven't heard they was used in duplicating centres though.

basftape.jpg



did compare them to Maxell UD-XL's - that is not an easy task, both are good tapes, so i guess it's a question of what one might favour, they where priced identical here in Denmark due to a serious war between BASF and the guy who was importing Maxell .... actually another really funny story from him.

(He also imported QUAD, and claimed noone could distinguis between a QUAD 405amp and a piece of wire :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom