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Does anyone else have more problems with Maxell cassette's than TDK or is it just me?Everytime i purchase or win older Maxell cassettes (1985-1990) off ebay the tapes record like S@#T!!And these are NOS still in the wrapper tapes.I have never once yet gotten burned with a TDK purchase off ebay,and i have won some TDK SA and SA-X tapes that go back as early as 1980 that record fine.I just received 16 1985 NOS Maxell XLII-S 90's and they all record horrible,they are all muffled with no high end.No matter how i bias them there is no treble response.Do Maxell cassette's not stand the test of time or what?Starting to get dissapointed with Maxell quality.Peace to all,Ronny..
Follow Ups:
Well, I would say oldglide is on the right track - not quite as precarious as a crapshoot, or to put it another way, storing many things in hot, exposed or dirty environments - humid/wet is bad too of course - will wreck lots of things. Tape is actually more durable than most consumer goods provided you are reasonably mechanically sympathetic.I have had no such problems ever with my old tapes of nearly every sort. The nastiest, such as EMI, Scotch and one or two Konica's experienced some running problems. Pre-recorded tapes have been a bit dicier but the percentage of mechanical failure and magnetic retentivity etc - is still vanishing low. The brand is not one of the variables frankly - not amongst the majors. Looking for accuracy out of sweeping statements such as this name is good, this name is bad or this one is always better than the other - theres no validity there. Much like cars, if one falls apart faster than the other, 5% goes to the brand, the type and the Wednesday theory and the rest - look to the owner.
I agree, a little care and the tape should last a long time. I have over 100 tapes with radio recordings that are over 20 years old and still sound great. All that's needed is a little care. Has to be less risky than buying a used cartridge
Hi Oldglide,I bet you're right!! I see these used cartridges going for sale - even MCs!! In the mags, e-bays etc - MMs I could understand if the replacement stylus is still available and it's priced quite low.....
Just like you - have some greast old tapes - just before coming out to write this - I was playing a Hitachi ME (clone of a Maxell MX) recorded in November 1985 on an Alpage AL-50 - it's as clean, vibrant and exciting as it was the day it was done - just over 21 years ago - and this tape has lived down by the coast (hot and humid) but obviously inside etc. I'm sure the next 21 years are going show no change whatsoever - more than I can say for some of my CD-Rs!!
Take care
Bad storage is the curse of ALL tape.
In fact, I had more problems with TDK cassettes disintegrating on me than I ever had with any of Maxell cassettes ever!Maxell simply rules!!!!
Even NOS, originally sealed and wrapped, every tape may be damaged, If it was stored badly.
Where are problematic tapes made? I had problems with ones made in england.
HI Bobp,The Maxell XLII-S, XLII, UDII and UDI I have presently are all made in the UK at the maxell Europe plant in Apley, Telford. I have been using them since 2001 and haven't had a days hassle. Especially the XLII-S, these are my reference type IIs for demo items on Dolby S - thye are faultless. I ahve recorded many live progressive rock shows using the British XLII on a Tascam 112/1. Top flight - no glitches.
You might have stiff shells on occasion I have heard with the British units but this happens if the shells are packed too fast. It still will not generate any shell sources modulation noise or scrape flutter components.
The TDK from Europe (Luxembourg to be exact)are fine I have found although there were reports that date back about four to five years ago than some batches would not calibrate properly because the shells were imprecise mouldings. This was verified by two very reliable sources on the Nakamichi user group. In one case a perfectly tuned ZX-9 had to be calibrated seperately for side A and B.
However, these no longer seem to be the case at all. European SAs that I have used lately are as fine as ever and a perfect clone for the far-east one which is in any case assembled in Thailand.
Good luck - Marc
Personally, I've had slightly better experience with Maxell tapes. But then, that's just me. I use both.
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