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Maxell or TDK?
- Thread starter analogman64
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- Fondler errrr... fan of all Nav's avatars
- Joined
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- Gloucester, Massachusetts
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- Remember keep a leg up on the Luxmans
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- Fondler errrr... fan of all Nav's avatars
No Luxman's, but I have been thinking of a smash and pillage trip to Tucson. I hear someone there has been mating SAE equipment with ML's.
Been mighty busy the last few years going to multiple Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts every week.
Been mighty busy the last few years going to multiple Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts every week.
analogman64, we are a great bunch here, I too would offer up some fine tapes for you to try on your very nice decks. I have found over the years that each has it's own sonic signature and on each deck it varies for many reasons. It's a bit like different phono carts on a turntable and arm and that makes it part of the fun, dialing it in and getting it right!!
To answer your post question, I strongly prefer vintage TDK MA-XG's because they just got the sound sooo right, I have 40+ of them for good reason
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Welcome to our forum, analogman64. You own a pair of good cassette decks. With the manual calibration features on each of your decks, you should be able to dial in cassettes of the same vintage as your decks' manufacture without problem, provided the decks haven't already been internally calibrated to another specific tape. Although I don't limit myself to just two brands of tapes for recording (Type II), I have had more experience recording to Maxell XL II than with TDK. In mix tape exchanges, some of the best recordings I've heard from other members, have been recorded on TDK SA-X, most of the earlier edition cassettes from the 80's. I recently recorded a mix tape to a newer TDK SA 90 (1997-2001) and it turned out fine.
There are so many good brands of older cassettes out there, as long as you can still find a supply of decent ones at an affordable price. For new cassettes, I've delved into Polaroid C-90. But, I have plenty of stock of older, sealed tapes to use. My recommendation would be to try other brands, such as the Sony UX-Pro or BASF Chrome Extra II.
Nando.
There are so many good brands of older cassettes out there, as long as you can still find a supply of decent ones at an affordable price. For new cassettes, I've delved into Polaroid C-90. But, I have plenty of stock of older, sealed tapes to use. My recommendation would be to try other brands, such as the Sony UX-Pro or BASF Chrome Extra II.
Nando.
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SA-X
I used a lot of (mostly) TDK SA-X tapes, and the older versions from the late seventies/early eighties were the best in my opinion.
They are very hard to get these days (unless you are willing to pay a fortune for it on the Bay..) but I still have quite a few of the late seventies editions.
Nando was the lucky one to receive one of them with one of my mixes recorded on it.
I used a lot of (mostly) TDK SA-X tapes, and the older versions from the late seventies/early eighties were the best in my opinion.
They are very hard to get these days (unless you are willing to pay a fortune for it on the Bay..) but I still have quite a few of the late seventies editions.
Nando was the lucky one to receive one of them with one of my mixes recorded on it.
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My reference to the TDK SA-X tape was indeed Miles' recording of "Around The World In 90 Minutes." It stands out as one of the best-sounding tapes I've have had the pleasure of receiving.
It's worthy to note that I rarely find TDK SA-X tapes of this vintage out in my travels. I do, however, find plenty of Maxell premium chromes of the same vintage.
Nando.
It's worthy to note that I rarely find TDK SA-X tapes of this vintage out in my travels. I do, however, find plenty of Maxell premium chromes of the same vintage.
Nando.
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- Joined
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- Gloucester, Massachusetts
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- Remember keep a leg up on the Luxmans
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- Joined
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Miles & Tony: I certainly hope to get a few more Challenges and mix tape exchanges completed next year with each of you. Will it be as epic as the Memorex Challenge? We can only try. In the context of this thread, why not put up your best Maxell or TDK, of any type including Type IV, up for the Challenge?
Photo artistry credits to Daren (Dazen1):
Nando.
Photo artistry credits to Daren (Dazen1):
Nando.
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