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Are Maxell cassette's more highly praised than TDK?

24.59.117.216
Posted on October 19, 2009 at 10:55:18
Paul P..
 I've been on a few tape forum sites lately like tapeheads.com and it seems that no one talks about TDK on these sites very much,it's all about Maxell Maxell Maxell.I like both brands but generally have gotten better performance out of the TDK lineup over the years than i have with Maxell.Maxell over the years to me have been more inconsistent from year to year and even batch to batch.I would like to find a cassette forum site that was'nt so one sided.tapeheads.com does alot of cassette evaluations but they are all Maxell evaluations from different years of production.Go on some of those other cassette forum sites and see for yourself,i would say 98% of the questions posted on those sites are about Maxell and the few that are about TDK get very few responses..

Only by those who prefer them, posted on October 21, 2009 at 14:58:11
ppopp
Audiophile

Posts: 2076
Location: Southern California
Joined: October 10, 2002
 Both are very good, but after much experience with both, most tend to favor one over the other. It's all about personal preference. No very profound. Sorry..

RE: Only by those who prefer them, posted on October 29, 2009 at 12:38:29
perry.nak
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Joined: October 29, 2009
 While there is a lot of Maxell at Tapeheads, it's only because there were more different Maxells available in more places, usually for less. It's not a Maxell site by any means, lots of Sony, Denon, Fuji, as well as TDK content. But just look on ebay and you will always see more Maxell blocks of tape than TDK, or any other kind. I think the site just reflects what people have, not that they actually prefer Maxell specifically. A case of 10 TDK SA-X 1985 is almost impossible to find, yet Maxell XLII-S cases come up pretty regularly, so that's what you buy, and that's what you ask about. My best, most prized tapes are 3 (5 pack)cases of 1982 TDK MA-R. Better sounding than same era MX-S. I've never tried a Vertex though...;-)

All Brands And Views Are Welcome At TapeHeads.Net, posted on October 20, 2009 at 07:10:11
X-2000R
Audiophile

Posts: 258
Location: SoCal
Joined: March 1, 2006
 If you wish to discuss TDK tapes at greater length, you are by all means welcome to do so. The reason I have not done any TDK evaluations is simply because I don't have any to test.

I'd trust your ears., posted on October 20, 2009 at 05:21:35
soundnut
Audiophile

Posts: 3108
Location: Iowa
Joined: May 7, 2004
 Like you, I have had more consistent good luck with TDK. But Maxell makes (or made) a good product, too. So I'll use either.

I suspect the lack of interest in TDK may have more to do with the fact that Maxell cassettes are more common, therefore get used more. At least they're more common where I live.

I wouldn't worry about it. Buy what you like, and enjoy 'em.

Cheers,
Bobbo :-)

RE: Are Maxell cassette's more highly praised than TDK?, posted on October 19, 2009 at 12:44:03
Paul P..
 Sorry tapeheads.net

RE: Are Maxell cassette's more highly praised than TDK?, posted on October 25, 2009 at 10:36:49
rayr0683@comcast.net
Audiophile

Posts: 60
Location: South Jersey
Joined: January 19, 2008
 I personally like TDK tapes much better than Maxell, and always did. I am speaking generally aboit cassette tapes here. I also use alot of Reel to Reel tapes, and I have used more Maxell Reeel Tapes, just because they were more widely available towards the end of the days when you could still buy Blank Reel Tapes in a HiFi Shop. I never had too many TDK Reel tapes, because they were harder to find towards the end of the 1980's. So it was Quantegy and Maxell for Reel Tapes.

It is also well to note that Nakamichi Used Center Roll TDK Tapes as their own brand, Nakamichi Cassette Tapes. So, when you buy a Nakamichi Cassette Tape, it is really a TDK Tape, regardless of Normal, High Bias, or Metal Tapes. So, if Nakamichi chose TDK as their Tapes of choice, that might be telling you something. Ray

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