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TDK "CD Power" Cassettes?

mhardy6647

mhardy6647

Lunatic Member
Interesting dump find yesterday - a bunch (a dozen or more) 10-pack TDK cassette boxes. The 10-pack boxes are all labeled "TDK D90", but most of the tapes in the boxes are 110 minute high-bias TDK cassettes labeled "CD Power". This is a TDK brand with which I am not familiar.

The tapes aren't blank; they are air-checks but look like they've been minimally used.

Is anyone familiar with this tape formulation? Are they worth keeping, or should I just pass them along to someone else?

Thanks for your attention!
 
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I believe they are a mid 90's chrome. Not sure if they're better than SA or not. I got some of these in a lot off ebay - haven't had a chance to try them.
 
If they are air check tapes, you might try and find someone interested in collecting those. I know a couple of radio guys in DFW area who collect air check tapes. They might even be interested themselves. What station and when were they recorded? You might take a look at http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php for someone in your area who would want those.
 
Looks like folk and Celtic music from WGBH here in the Bahsten area...
I have since checked - there are 16 boxes (i.e., 160 tapes).

I have a feeling that their original owner probably subsequently digitized them.
 
From what I have heard (hearsay and personally), they are inferior to the SA's, at least the older production. I've got a few 'CD Power's, maybe I'll put one up against the current/last production SA. As I recall, they had a surprisingly low saturation level. Nevertheless, that many is a great find.
 
I have some of these "CD power" tapes and they've worked well for me. I know that they are a high bias formulation, but believe that due to the length that the tape is thinner than what you would get with a 90 min tape.
 
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CD Power 110

I found a 4-pack of still sealed TDK "CD Power" Cassettes last summer at a Yard Sale for a buck.

According to the label, the tape was made in Japan and the cassette was assembled in the U.S.A. Evidently, at the same time, they were marketing a cassette tape with the name of "CD Bass". According to the label, the "CD Bass" tapes were available in 74 min and 120 min lengths. The "CD Power" tapes were available in 90 min and 110 min lengths.

Also, according to the label, the "CD Bass" tapes emphasized "Heavy Bass Performance" and the "CD Power" tapes emphasized "High Energy Performance".

Good score on 160 of them!

MVC-002F.jpg
 
Just remembered I gave one of these a listen after reading this post the other day.
It's a tape of Bush form the mid 90's. Not really my fav band I borrowed and copied alot of cd's back then. Not the worst sounding. A little harsh in the high end. Probably due to the bias settings of the deck than the tape. I had a 2 head HK setting the bias was kinda hit and miss.

I have a mixed bag of tapes from back then. Fuji's,Sony's JVC's to name a few Some Maxell and TDK metal too. I have some unopened TDK CD powers I bought awhile back too.
 
Considering the latter end of cassette production, the TDK CD Pwer wasn't a bad tape. It didn't rival earlier production, but compared to the last versions available, it was a decent tape.
 
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