best tape for Technics tape deck HELP WANTED!!!!!!!!!

[josephdaniel]

was wondering what would be the best tape to use with my new old technics tape deck im useing tdk superiop D90 tape and it sounds ok but there must be something better it has a swicth for a tape selector it says normal, CrO2, and metal? would any of these be better????? please help

 

[jan_stevns]

Besides the missing info on which model of Technics you have, you have to have one thing in mind : What can i get !

There definitively are better tapes than the TDK D90, but only as used or NOS

and last - to get the real macCoy - you may need to get your deck aligned for the tape, unless it's a autocalibrating kind of deck

 

[AnalogDigit]

Metal tape is the best kind of tape for your deck. But it is more scarce and very expensive. It is good when you record music with a wide dynamic range like classical music with loud and soft passages. However if you record rock/pop music, CR02 tape should suffice and better formulations of normal tape. The tapes I use for my deck are Maxell XL II and TDK SA that are CR02 or Chrome tape.

You did not mention what kind of Technics deck you have. Since you mention it has switches for tape selection, it must be a old deck since more modern ones have automatic tape selection that is detected by the holes on top of the tape shell. Some decks have bias adjustment which you can adjust to match the best sound from the tapes you are using. If you deck does not have bias adjustment, you might have to experiment with some different tape brands to get the sound to closely match the source material that you are recording on.

 

[Jonny Ramone]

Try TDK SA tape. It worked best on my Technics deck. Metals sounded bad - apparently a design flaw, that I've read about.

 

[josephdaniel]

it is a Technics m224 tape deck

 

[josephdaniel]

where can i buy chrome or CrO2 tap and are those the same thing? and where couldi get metal tape if its still made???

 

[Jonny Ramone]

Akai GX90 tape , and TDK SA tape is still available - google them, and find the best prices. Maxell XL-II is available on Amazon. Radio Shack SHD tape is on Easy Street electronics, which is re-badged Maxell XL-II. You can also check Thrift stores. Ebay also has lots of New Old Stock(NOS) type II tapes, for reasonable prices, when you're patient. Metals too, but not so cheap - $8 to $80 apiece.