That's That!

Tape Test - That's Cassettes

Manufactured in Japan by Taiyo Yuden in the 80s, these cassettes certainly

looked different and sounded superb.

The Magnificent Seven

I like the way the recommended recording specs were

written on the shell.

Deck - Pioneer CT-S810S 3 Head. No NR used.

Audition Disc - Days of Open Hand by Suzanne Vega (1990 DDD)

Track - "Tired of Sleeping"

#1 RX Type I 

This is the bottom of the range and it boasts 'very high performance' on the shell.

The vocals were very clear and focused but the subtle details were a little lost and the percussion not as clean and clear as I like. Bass was good but again lacked tightness in the mix. This tape may be good enough for the casual listener but under par for the Hi-Fi buff!

#2 AS:I Type I 

Now this is more than a step up the ladder. The clarity was stunning, the focus excellent and I thought I was listening to a Type II. The bass is punchy and tight and the performance hairline close to the original. A superb tape indeed and a joy to listen to.

#3 FX Type I 

This tape delivered the vocals in an excellent manner, with closed eyes the singer is in the room. The drums and bass were tight and focused with the percussion and rim-shots crystal clear. It was hard to tell the tape from the source with the monitor. This is a serious ferric for those into Type I tapes. 

#4 VX Type II 

Now we're in the Type II camp and the first thing you notice about this superb tape is there is hardly any hiss at all. You have to hone your ears to find it. Bass is plumb and tight and you can here the singers lips between syllables. This is a stunning tape and the music just floats out in high precision. No wonder people rave on about these cassettes.

#5 EX Type II 

This is an oddity amoung Type IIs as it offered Metal sound in the Chrome Position!

The source was almost impossible to tell from the tape and even sounded more musical and jaunty. The precision of the drum kit was outstanding, the vocals thrilling and the bass plumb and bouncy but never slack. This is a serious tape and it must have both delighted listeners and frightened the competition it's heyday!

#6 MG-X Type IV 

Now its metal time! The first thing you notice with this tape is the depth and richness of the overall sound. There is no colouration of the sound whatsoever. The drums are big, the bass is deep, the percussive detail is exactly where it should be and how it should sound. The vocals are in your face and its a long way up the ladder we have come with this super sonic wonder of audio engineering! I used this tape as a 4 Track master in 1991 so it's time-locked and I can't record over it, and there was only a little space left at the end of the tape left to make the test on. I wish I had another one for the sheer brilliance it offers up.

#7 CD/IVF Type IV 

This is the Suono Format that is so sought after now. This is from the 90s and its a monster. The quality is unsurpassed by other metal tapes from the time. The sheer muscle and boom this offers is breathtaking. It makes the source sound even better as it takes the flatness out of the recording. It would be very hard to try and top this, maybe the TDK MA-XG or the Sony Metal Master may pose a threat. Who knows. Possibly one of the greatest cassettes ever made and every tapehead should own one!