Aged Sound!

[Rome]

Responding to another forum about how often you listen to your system, I began to ponder about something. I have several old cassette tapes that are about 25-26 years old. They are a couple of Maxell's with the gold labels which has long been erased & another Maxell clear case. Another one is a TDK.

The Maxell Golds & TDK were used with my first system, the JVC 40 watt.
The Maxell clear case was used with a 100 watt Pioneer I had after my JVC. Both systems are long gone. The Pioneer sound is more powerful.

Though these tapes are almost 30 years old, the sound is excellent. They have been through several moves & a fire with some smoke damage, but they never seem to disappoint in sound. The TDK is most impressive with a seemingly punch to the sound. What a statement to quality in build for all of these tapes.

Mind you, these are played through my Philips Magnavox mini system with JBL 2600s & excellent sound. I wonder how they would sound with a cassette player hooked to my Sony TA & Polks? Maybe I will get one soon & give it a try. I can only imagine the Polks would really bring out more clarity.

How many of you still have some cassettes that are at least 20 years old that never disappoint you when you give them a listen? List the brands & their age. I would like to know if any of you have any Maxell's or TDK's still firing off!

Rome

 

[Sandy G]

I have a BUNCH of cassettes going back to 1971. Some of 'em still work pretty well, some of 'em don't . Maxells seem to be the best.

 

[Rome]

I have a BUNCH of cassettes going back to 1971. Some of 'em still work pretty well, some of 'em don't . Maxells seem to be the best.

Hey there Sandy!
Well, I see you got me beat by a few years! :yes:
Indeed the Maxell's sound really nice. Hope you are doing OK.

Rome

 

[OvenMaster]

Rome, I've got about 20 or so TDK SA-90's that I bought 30 years ago when I got my first cassette deck and they still sound great and wear like iron. They outlasted the deck and are a far cry from the SA's from the mid-'90's... those snap, stretch, break, get eaten, shed like crazy, have definitely audible print-through, and you can see light through them: the '70's tape is perfectly opaque, but the later ones light up brown when held up to light.

I still use them over and over again, mainly for FM.

 

[Rome]

Rome, I've got about 20 or so TDK SA-90's that I bought 30 years ago when I got my first cassette deck and they still sound great and wear like iron. They outlasted the deck and are a far cry from the SA's from the mid-'90's... those snap, stretch, break, get eaten, shed like crazy, have definitely audible print-through, and you can see light through them: the '70's tape is perfectly opaque, but the later ones light up brown when held up to light.

I still use them over and over again, mainly for FM.

Hi OM!
Yea, that may be the type of TDK I have. I know it is about 25 years old at least. The sound is very nice. Like I said, even with a bit of smoke damage both brands still exhibit a great sound.

I doubt if tapes of today will last as long & sound better.
Thanks!

Rome

 

[Old1625]

Those Maxell tapes are something. :thmbsp:

But beware: They can play well right up to a short period where suddenly they will go completely to pieces--the oxide will shed, or the substrate suddenly become brittle. Especially if exposed to hydrocarbon fumes such as smoke from a fire.

If they are still "firing off" you would probably want to duplicate the content if you don't already have it in some other medium.

 

[toxcrusadr]

I got a bag of tapes off Freecycle awhile back, weeded out most of the crap but I kept a few home-recorded, vintage TDKs that sounded great and had music I liked and didn't already have. Now these have to be 70s, they are Cr02 AD-C90's with a white case and blue and green label. I was buying TDK SA's in the early 80s that were already black and green. They are in perfect shape and sound great. Always liked TDK.

 

[Rome]

Those Maxell tapes are something. :thmbsp:

But beware: They can play well right up to a short period where suddenly they will go completely to pieces--the oxide will shed, or the substrate suddenly become brittle. Especially if exposed to hydrocarbon fumes such as smoke from a fire.

If they are still "firing off" you would probably want to duplicate the content if you don't already have it in some other medium.

Hi Old!
Yea, I enjoy listening to my tapes very much. I will take heed to your info & make some copies soon. I hope they don't fail before I get the chance. :yes:

Rome

 

[Rome]

I got a bag of tapes off Freecycle awhile back, weeded out most of the crap but I kept a few home-recorded, vintage TDKs that sounded great and had music I liked and didn't already have. Now these have to be 70s, they are Cr02 AD-C90's with a white case and blue and green label. I was buying TDK SA's in the early 80s that were already black and green. They are in perfect shape and sound great. Always liked TDK.

Ahhh Tox!
Indeed, Maxell's & TDK's of old were quality built to last. Glad you found something you can treasure & take care of them, like Old said they can unravel easily.

The one TDK I have is a joy to listen to! :yes:
Rome

 

[mhardy6647]

If one keeps the heads of the tape deck(s) clean and demagnetizes regularly, even cassette tapes can sound good for decades. Tapes I made ca. 1977 on a (used) Yamaha TC-511S (a very unprepossessing low-end consumer deck) still sound quite good. 75% or more of my casssette and R2R tape blanks are Maxell, FWIW.

 

[Rome]

If one keeps the heads of the tape deck(s) clean and demagnetizes regularly, even cassette tapes can sound good for decades. Tapes I made ca. 1977 on a (used) Yamaha TC-511S (a very unprepossessing low-end consumer deck) still sound quite good. 75% or more of my casssette and R2R tape blanks are Maxell, FWIW.

Hi Mhardy!
You are correct & thanks for the info!
I will start looking for some vintage Maxell or TDK tapes to backup my others.

Rome

 

[SolderIron]

I made some cassett tapes from 1970-1975. Did not have much money then so I bought Realistic (radio shack) tapes.
Now when I have time I tried to save the music into wave files one tape at a time. They still sound fine though labels are falling off (glue falling apart).

 

[pioneervato]

I have quite several Maxell XL-II's and TDK SA cassette tapes I recorded LP's onto back when I was in college and they still sound as good as the day I recorded them. Amazing thing is that they were not always stored in the most ideal conditions meaning they were stored in the garage for several years where temperatures during the summers around hear would easily reach 110 degrees plus. And yet when I finally pulled them inside I was amazed at how well they held up and sounded. No shedding or anything.

I wonder if the newer stuff would hold up as well.

 

[Rome]

I made some cassett tapes from 1970-1975. Did not have much money then so I bought Realistic (radio shack) tapes.
Now when I have time I tried to save the music into wave files one tape at a time. They still sound fine though labels are falling off (glue falling apart).

Hi SI!
Yea, RS does not get much respect for their stuff, but as a testament to quality you can say RS makes some good tapes. My tapes have no labels as well. I have remembered which ones has the songs I like.

Nice,
Rome

 

[Rome]

I have quite several Maxell XL-II's and TDK SA cassette tapes I recorded LP's onto back when I was in college and they still sound as good as the day I recorded them. Amazing thing is that they were not always stored in the most ideal conditions meaning they were stored in the garage for several years where temperatures during the summers around hear would easily reach 110 degrees plus. And yet when I finally pulled them inside I was amazed at how well they held up and sounded. No shedding or anything.

I wonder if the newer stuff would hold up as well.

Ahhh PV!
Your sentiment is one treasured indeed. I could only hope that the tapes of today would measure up to the ones we have. Like I said, my tapes have survived moves, inclimate weather, storing conditions, & the worst of all, a fire with evidence of smoke damage, but like the trooper they are, they never fail to fire up.

I hope to make copies of them soon, so that in case the harsh reality of failure creeps in, I will have a copy of some great stuff from my past. :thmbsp

Nice,
Rome