Cassette Tape Comparisons

Edriz

Edriz

AK Member
I'm trying to get some expert advice comparing cassette tapes. Mostly the TDK brands.

It's been since 1984 since I have done any cassette recording and I have noticed that TDK seems to have added a few different formats of tape to thier line up.

Has anyone heard of and used the SAX and SAD type tapes?

In the past my favorite tape was the SA-90's and on occasion I would use Maxell XLII-90's when the TDK weren't available, however I never heard of the SAD or SAX. Any feedback on those two.

That place that every body here says they don't like has them all brand new but I don't want to try these "new" formats without getting some kind of advice about them first.

Thanks
 
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TDK SA-X's were the top of the line Type II tapes from TDK. The SA-D's I'm not familiar with, there was an AD-X though I believe. If you can get SA-X's they are a very good performing tape. The next grade up is the MA, metal bias Type IV tape or the MA-X's which are above that. Anymore all you'll find new from TDK is D series and SA series, and the professional SM series tapes.

I was a big TDK fan, but I found that the current production Maxell XL-II tapes to be better quality then the current production SA tapes.

Generally here's the order of tapes
Type I Normal
D
AD
AD-X

Type 2 CrO2
SA
SA-X

Type 4 Metal
MA
MA-X
MA-XG
 
I find that Maxell XL-II tapes are the best quality, both in sound and cartridge construction. But the regular Maxell's are still good, and you can buy them anywhere.

Fuji tapes don't sound all that good to me.

And Sony tapes are pure crap. They sound good, but sometimes when the leader ends and the tape begins, the auto shutoff mechanism on the tape deck would kick in, right at the splice.
The plastic that the cartridge is made of is incredibly cheap too. And they rip us off by cutting a minute or two off the tape. Say, if it's a 90 min. tape, it would actually be 88 or 89 min.
 
wilkes85 said:
I find that Maxell XL-II tapes are the best quality, both in sound and cartridge construction. But the regular Maxell's are still good, and you can buy them anywhere.

Fuji tapes don't sound all that good to me.

And Sony tapes are pure crap. They sound good, but sometimes when the leader ends and the tape begins, the auto shutoff mechanism on the tape deck would kick in, right at the splice.
The plastic that the cartridge is made of is incredibly cheap too. And they rip us off by cutting a minute or two off the tape. Say, if it's a 90 min. tape, it would actually be 88 or 89 min.
Click to expand...

As far as anything other then TDK and Maxell, I have to agree with both you and Pioneernut, they are all crap. TDK has always been my favorite choice and up until recently I may have to change my preference to Maxell XLII.

I've been hearing more and more about the TDK SA's having more tape his then the Maxell XL's I never heard anything about better construction but then again, I haven't been involved with cassettes since 1984!!

I think I'll get a box of 5 Maxell XLII and give them more of a critical comparrison. Thanks alot for the input.

What would you think about the TDK SAX compared to the Maxell XLII's? Would you think the tape hiss on the TDK would still be more then the Maxell?

I'm not going to be concerned too much over the price differences. It's not like I'll be doing as much cassette recording like I did back in the 70's and 80's when I bought tapes by th boxes.
 
I just bought a case of new (qty 20) TDK SA-90 (for the low price of $1.50 a tape, shipped) and am pretty disappointed in the shell quality (no screws, light weigt), tho the tape (so far) has been fine. Haven't done an A-B with Maxell XLII, (my normal "good, not great" tape, which was quite a bit more expensive, and out of stock, hence the TDK), but these will find car service and non-musical service at the least. Any future orders will be Maxell.
 
I used to like the Sony UX-Pro tapes with my Denon DRM-80A deck. I never noticed a problem with the shells or being "shorted" on the tape. I haven't listened to a cassette in a while, I'll have to see what I think shortly. BTW, the timeframe when I was using the Sony cassettes was mostly right around 1990.
 
I've found the best quality tapes are vintage TDK type IV metal tapes, I'll post an example later as the model # eludes me at the moment.
 
im a fan of tdk SA myself. i remember the sa-x and think the difference was some fancy case changes.
 
In my opinion, the 1982 TDK SAs have amazing shell construction, they're heavy duty extra thick plastic that I am sure will last years and years.
 
Is there any sound difference between 60 minute and 90 minute cassettes for example Maxell XLII???

What is the preference here??
 
TDK SA-X is worth getting hold of if you can. It's the tape I use most and is noticably better than SA. I actually prefer SA-X to MA on my decks, it's much more forgiving when using Dolby.
There was also a SA-XS of which I have about 20, but never actually taken one out of the wrapper.... 'Good things come to those who wait' :music:
 
slow_jazz said:
Is there any sound difference between 60 minute and 90 minute cassettes for example Maxell XLII???

What is the preference here??
Click to expand...

The difference between the two tape lengths is that the C90 has to be thinner than C60, in the same way that C120 is thinner than both.

Thinner tape is more prone to jams and can be damaged by a slippery pinch roller or an abrupt stop from FF on a not so well serviced deck.

Additionally, the thinner tape has less oxide thickness (or so I was reading back in time) and is more prone to dropouts.

I have been using C90 cassettes almost exclusively and cannot really compare by experience the two lengths.
 
of the sony range...i've had good results with sony ux90, ux-s90 and ux pro 90
the sony hf-s was also a pretty decent sounding ferric
 
I've always preferred TDK myself and then I used the SA's. That was back in the late 70's and 80's . Now since joining this forum, I have been re-born so to speak and have learned that the Maxell XL-II have less tape hiss. I have yet to test this myself but will soon. I still think I may go with the SA X as they were beefed up in the consrtuction side, better tape and I think are CD compatible.

As for case construction, I think they would both be similar,TDK and Maxell. The difference in tape thickness between the 60 and 90 I wouldn't worry to much about. I would stay away from 120's . I haven't tried they 100's and see no reason too.

Most of my recording are of LP's/vinyl and they rarely go over 45 minutes. 2Lps per cassette!! This is JMO and you can take it for what it's worth but I have done quite a lot of cassette recording over the years and the majority of my tapes consist of TDK
 
slow_jazz said:
Is there any sound difference between 60 minute and 90 minute cassettes for example Maxell XLII???

What is the preference here??
Click to expand...

C-60 is always better than C-90 or higher of the same formulation.
However, the length of C-90 makes it more convinient in most cases when you want to record from most LP's.

"dolph"
 
I picked up a prerecorded collection awhile back and it included a few TDK HX-S tapes. It's a metal high-bias formulation. I haven't yet done a head-to-head with my SA and SA-X, but I will soon and see (hear?) what I hear.
 
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