MA-XG 60 (Type IV)
Japanese Over-engineering is always welcome!
When I first saw this in 1989 I knew I had to have it. It looks good on paper but when you feel how heavy it is it will make you gasp. It was over-engineered by TDK in Japan and I have disassembled it a few times just to reassemble it. Yes, that is an alloy metal frame the clear plastic shell is screwed onto. It sounds fantastic and was pretty expensive at the time. I wish I had a stack of unopened ones now as they change hands for silly money on eBay, then again it's hard to let go of a work of art this amazing, even if it is just a tape!
MA-XG 90 (Type IV)
Japanese Over-engineering is always welcome again!
This was the 1991 version that was not as stunning, but again a must have. This was almost £20 when I bought it at Seven Oakes Hi-Fi in Kent in 1991 while visiting London. It lacks the weight of the earlier models but is still an alloy framed beast!
SA-XG 90 (Type II)
The BMW of Chrome Cassettes!
I cannot remember where I bought this but it was in the early '90s. It is a step below the
MA-XG obviously being Type II but it's still a looker!
SF 90 (Type II)
Good bright and clear Chrome!
This is an early 80s SF which was a notch below the famous SA.
The dark blue shell is a nice touch for collectors such as I.
SF 60 (Type II)
The rare dark blue SF from '86!
These are unusual and pretty rare today, just try find one and you will be looking!
I love the colour, and it makes this one pretty cool and desirable.
SA 90 (Type II)
The Chrome standard of the 80s!
The Super Avilyn was the tape of choice for good quality decks. It was a high quality cassette made to a laboratory standard believe it or not! No Hi-Fi system was complete without a stack of them either taped or waiting to be taped.
SA 90 (Type II)
The Chrome standard of the 80s!
Just an earlier version of the above the SA was a combination of great quality at a good price.
AD90 (Type I)
A good quality tape.
The AD was a notch above the D and was suitable for everyday use and mix tapes.
This is from the early 80s.
SA 90 (Type II)
Limited Edition
This is from 1988 and came in a soft plastic clam shell style box.
AR 90 (Type I)
Limited Edition #1
The AR was a high quality Type I that offered great treble and strong bass.
This is from 1988 and came in a black soft plastic clam shell style box.
It was very stylish to say the least.
AR 90 (Type I)
Limited Edition #2
This is from 1988 and came in a white soft plastic clam shell style box.
Judging by the colour it was the feminine version I guess. His and Hers, TDK style!
SA-X 90 (Type II)
The chrome giant in another guise!
This is from the early 90s.
SA 90 (Type II)
Mid 90s version.
The window narrows and there is a symbol of a CD on the lettering.
SA 90 (Type II)
Late 90s version.
This version offerers a nice little arched window for us to admire!
SF 46 (Type II)
The tape with the oversized hubs!
This 1988 SF is a beauty simple because the hubs are slightly bigger
than normal. A nice little touch I must say!
D 90 (Type I)
The standard workhorse tape.
The D was your bog standard cassette for dictation, home recording, the car and the walkman. It was a great cheap tape from TDK that suited a general purpose role.
AD 90 (Type I)
The good standard Type I tape.
The AD was a popular tape that offered value and performance.
It was a notch above the norm. This is the 1988 version.
AR 100 (Type I)
The longer lasting Type I.
When CDs began stretch the length of albums, tapes had to move with them. Gone was the day when 45 minutes a side was enough as CDs may offer bonus mixes to attract buyers.
54 , 74 and 100 minute tapes were born out of this. The AR was a top Type I tape
and this version is from 1988.
AR-X 90 (Type I)
The holy grail of Type I tape from 1988.
The AR-X was as good as Ferric got and this is a serious
contender to some Type IIs on high end decks.
CDing 90 (Type II)
Playing to the market.
When CD began to appear on the wrapper you could see the writing on the wall. By the mid 90s PCs offered CD writers so it was curtains for the good old compact cassette and the irony is it was advertising it;s own demise by carrying the CD on the artwork. Talk about home taping killing music!
SA 90 (Type II)
The late 80s version.
This is from 1988 and has a nice big window so you can see it in action!
SA 90 (Type II)
The early 90s version.
The window is narrow in this version.
SA-X 90 (Type II)
The SA's bigger brother with the dual layer!
This was a high end tape that offered great clear treble, detailed mids and bass to bounce off the walls. This is the late 80s version and a very mean looking tape it is too!
AD 90 (Type I)
The high quality Type I tape.
The AD-X was a top quality Type I that was launched in 1982.
It was eventually replaced by the AR and AR-X.
D 90 (Type I)
The Workhorse
This D is from the mid 90s.
FE 90 (Type I)
The Workhorse
This mid 90s Ferric was sold in multipacks and offered as a dictation tape and also for general use. These are still available today and have a purple wrapper.
D 90 (Type I)
The standard workhorse from the early 80s.
The D looked like this in the early 80s. These were a very popular Type I
and every home must have had them!
D 90 (Type I)
The standard workhorse from the mid 80s.
The clear shell was all the range by the time this came out!
CDing 90 (Type II)
Playing to the market early 90s style!
A middle of the road Type II for CDs with boring graphics.
D 46 (Type I)
In short length from 1991.
Another day another TDK D!
Head Cleaner
The Headmaster!
You just got to love cleaning tapes and this has hot looking wheels!
Tape 90 (Type I)
Looks like a D in another guise!
This is a mid 80s TDK that just says 'Tape' on it.
It has the shell of the mid 80s D.
MA-X 46 (Type IV)
A very high quality 1988 tape!
Now this is what I call a tape. I love the oversized spools, the visible
rollers and shiny finish. One of the sexiest tapes I own!
CDing 60 (Type II)
CDing with busy artwork!
These came in multipacks and I never liked the artwork!
D 46 (Type I)
In short length from 1988.
Another D in LP munching length!
SF 90 (Type II)
Early 90s style clear Type II
This was not my favourite TDK shell, I don't know why,
maybe it's the way it narrows in the middle.
CDing II 50 (Type II)
CDing with subtle artwork!
A 50 minute CD capturing Type II tape that was middle of the road
in the early to mid to 90s! I was never really fond of this malarkey!
CDing II 70 (Type II)
Average cheap Type II.
In 70 minutes for copying CDs, but they didn't sound too great!
CDing II 100 (Type II)
Another long play version!
100 minutes for that longer, longer listen!
SA 60 (Type II)
The Chrome standard of 1984!
This would be a good choice 30 years ago! It was a great tape
that offered low noise and excellent dynamics!
SA 60 (Type II)
The Chrome standard of 1988!
This is the 1988 version in a 60 minute version.
D 90 (Type I)
The mid 80s all-rounder!
This D is possible for the U.S. market as the European version
has Made in Japan on the bottom right of the label.
SA 60 (Type II)
Early 90s super slick style!
The early 90s look of the SA is understated, smooth,
stylish and the sound remains the same, great!
CDing II 74 (Type II)
The Gimmick returns in 74 minutes!
CDing. How naff does it sound? Very. And the fact that it was tacked
on to more expensive tapes near the end was the writing on the wall.
SA 60 (Type II)
Mid 80s super-style!
The SA came in many designs but it always sounded sharp
and clear, this is not my favourite style with it's white label area
but it's still a great tape.
MA 90 (Type IV)
The bar raising Metal Master!
When this came out in 1982 it was given high accolades but it was
also a high price. A tape for serious hi-fi buffs back then.
SA 60 (Type II)
The SA when it was called the C90
A late 70s version of one of the most famous Type IIs of them all.
MA 90 (Type IV)
The 1988 version of TDK metal mastery!
Metal tape has it's own special following and this would delight
any serious metal-head with it's superb performance!
AE 30 (Type I)
Short tape running from 1998
This is for the Japanese market. Spray paint not mine!
D 90 CD (Type I)
The D remains the same!
Basically a D with fancy logo on it!
CD BASS 74 (Type I)
Another D in Bass CD disguise?
In the 90s TDK came out with all kinds of logos and gimmicks
for their basic ferric tape, this is no exception!
AR 60 (Type I)
60 Minutes of Super-Normal!
Early 90s high quality Type I.
SA-X 90 (Type II)
The Chrome King in mid 90s guise!
TDK get stylish with a great tape!
SF 60 (Type II)
Trusty SF in early 1988 guise.
The SF is a good, clear Type II that always sounds great.
SD 90 (Type II)
The Yankee SF!
The SD was the SF for the U.S. market and introduced in 1987
as far as I can gather. The red and gold label is very tasty indeed.
SA-X 60 (Type II)
The High Resolution King!
This is from the early 90s and is fine if bright sounding.
SA-X 90 (Type II)
Class of '87 for the U.S.!
This attractive cassette is what you would expect from TDK
in their hey day. A black beauty!
MA-X 90 (Type IV)
Take it to the MA-X!
This is a very stylish tape indeed, and the top of the line TDK metal
apart from the MA-XG which used the same tape and a bionic build.
I like the navy plastic and transparent touches.
SA-X 60 (Type II)
U.S. Market magic!
Very attractive cassette by any means!
AR-X 60 (Type I)
TDK high end Super Ferric
The AR-X was the top ferric that offered Type II clarity with Type I bottom.
For serious Type I buffs then!
MA-R 90 (Type IV)
The Super Tape by TDK
When this appeared in 1979, it must have caused a stir. Cassettes were made
of plastic regardless of position but the MA-R had an alloy frame that the shells
were screwed onto. It was also heavier than any other cassette. They were
expensive but over-engineering comes at a price!
SA-X 90 (Type II)
The Super Chrome from TDK from 1982
At first this looks like the SA in colour but a a closer look
it is in fact chocolate brown!
SF 90 (Type II)
Super Fidelity from mid 90s
A smokey gold shell, a nice clear sound.
AR 90 (Type I)
The superb Acoustic Resonance superferric from the early 90s.
On a good deck, this baby can outperform an average Type II.
Big ass bass with sizzling treble.
AR 90 (Type I)
Superferric 1988 style!
These really do deliver sonic detail with warmth and clarity.
SA 90 (Type II)
Mid to late 90s with tacky blue artwork!
The workhorse Type II from TDK heading for the end!
If You Say Yes! AR 46 (Type I)
The cassette that aims to seduce!
This is a special edition AR from the 1988 Japan market
and it comes in a super cool capsule shaped box.
C-60 (Type I)
A blast from the late 1960s!
This one is a very early TDK with the Compact Cassette logo on it
and the generic C-60 should you be uninformed!
AD-60 (Type I)
The Acoustic Dynamic from 1984
This was the upmarket Type I from TDK
D-C90 (Type I)
The standard D in the late 70s.
This good all rounder!
AD-C90 (Type I)
The AD in the late 70s.
The higher quality Type I.
AD-46 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1988 with jumbo hubs!
This is Japanese market class!
AD-50 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1988 with jumbo hubs!
Japan market with CD friendlness!
AD-54 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1988 with CD friendly length!
Japanese market.
AD-60 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1988 in standard 60 length!
Japanese market.
AD-80 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1988 in handy 80 length!
Japanese market.
AD-90 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1988 standard 90.
This is Japanese market class!
SA 100 (Type II)
1988 king size Super Avylin
With it's extra length it caters for CD!
CDing I 10 (Type I)
Mid 90s arty short length.
These were for speech or very short albums in Japan!
AE 20 (Type I)
1998 short length.
Used in Japan for sending greetings I think!
AE 10 (Type I)
A short length from 1998.
Popular in Japan!
AD-90 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic standard 90.
1988 style will always be a winner!
AD-46 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1991 in sleek grey!
46 are cool, you know they are!
AD-70 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from 1991 in dark grey.
70 min cassettes are not as common as you think!
AD-54 (Type I)
Acoustic Dynamic from mid 1990s in dark grey.
54 min is an odd size but came along to capture longer CD running times!
MA-X 90 (Type IV)
A very high quality Finavinx tape!
This is from 1986 and is top quality. These are now very sought after by collectors!
I scored seven unopened, in a flea market for the price of McDonalds meal deal!
I'd rather the MA-Xs any day!
D 120 (Type I)
Long tape running from 1991
These were aimed at the speech recording market but can be used for
recording everyday stuff also.
SF 90 (Type II)
Good bright Chrome in the 90s!
This is when the cheaper Type II tapes started appearing in clear or smokey
plastic shells and gone were the sophisticated designer shells!
T1 90 (Type I)
A Normal in a fancy wrapper!
This is from the mid 90s and is a as normal as they come!
D 90 (Type I)
The ever popular TDK D in 1997 guise.
The D must surely be one of the biggest selling Type I tapes
of all time along with the Maxell UR.
CDing II 60 (Type II)
Fancy Japanese market wrapper!
The pleasant, swimming with nature imagery is
somewhat baffling! That was 1998!
SA-X 90 (Type II)
Class of '87!
U.S. Market high quality cassette!
SA-X 60 (Type II)
The SA's bigger brother!
This is from 1987 when tape was king!
SD 90 (Type II)
U.S. Market Super Dynamic.
This is from 1987 and was the U.S. market version of the SF.
AR 50 (Type I)
The High End Type I
Mid 90s AR in it's wrapper!
FE 90 (Type I)
Mid 90s low end TDK Ferric
These came in bulk packs of 5 and 10 as far as I can remember.
Cheap and ideal for speech and taping from the radio with a boom box!
D 90 (Type I)
D Standard from 1991
In it's wrapper!
D 60 (Type I)
A nice TDK D from 1985
Still under wraps. How stylish!
AE 60 (Type I)
Mid 90s for Japan.
This is for the Japanese market. Spray paint not mine!
AE 30 (Type I)
Short tape running from 1998
This is for the Japanese market.
AE 46 (Type I)
LP length tape!
This is for the Japanese market.
AD 60 (Type I)
Early 90s Super Ferric
This is for EU market in it's wrapper.
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