Price of New Blank Cassettes

[floyd]

I haven't noticed any issues with sound quality but some old, unopened cassettes are a bit sticky the first time I try to use them. They don't want to turn in Play or Record mode and will activate the auto-stop. After I spool through each side using FF, they seem to work fine, though.

It's a crap shoot and what Ryan said made sense. I mean I learned the hard way to be more selective in the tapes I use especially in my car stereos because they hate tapes with paper labels they interfere with the tapes ejecting and I can't afford to replace an old school head unit . and trust me I.
don't use junk .

 

[goodman]

...in my car stereos because they hate tapes with paper labels they interfere with the tapes ejecting...

Yes, I totally agree with you. It's so important to easy insert/eject the cassettes:

 

[Transistorized]

What is best for home recordings? I assumed Type II but have read Type I sounds better.

I have noticed that the treble is not as crisp on the Type I but the lower frequencies are better. As I age, my ability to hear high frequencies has diminished but I have always preferred to record onto Type II. That was until they prices went haywire. Now I record primarily on Type I

 

[smeltedcheese]

I have noticed that the treble is not as crisp on the Type I but the lower frequencies are better. As I age, my ability to hear high frequencies has diminished but I have always preferred to record onto Type II. That was until they prices went haywire. Now I record primarily on Type I

Word!

 

[floyd]

I have noticed that the treble is not as crisp on the Type I but the lower frequencies are better. As I age, my ability to hear high frequencies has diminished but I have always preferred to record onto Type II. That was until they prices went haywire. Now I record primarily on Type I

If you use an equaliser when making the recording you can boost the frequencies that are lacking .its not a perfect solution but it does make a difference.

 

[smeltedcheese]

If you use an equaliser when making the recording you can boost the frequencies that are lacking .its not a perfect solution but it does make a difference.

You send the signal that's going to the tape deck through an equalizer first?

 

[floyd]

You send the signal that's going to the tape deck through an equalizer first?

Yes .
Also with eq's the more bands it has the better. This allows you to Taylor the sound even more .

 

[Transistorized]

Yes .
Also with eq's the more bands it has the better. This allows you to Taylor the sound even more .

This is what I have been using to adjust the sound on lower end cassettes to get the desired sound. This method works quite well. Most of the time the eq is neutral but some recordings and/or cassettes need a little help.

 

[smeltedcheese]

You send the signal that's going to the tape deck through an equalizer first?

Damn, that's cool and never would've occurred to me. It's like remastering the record!

 

[Transistorized]

I was in my local Wal-Mart today because they used to sell new blank type I Onn cassettes. Not anymore. I was going to try one and see how it sounded. The only thing they sell now is records and cheap record players. Vinyl is more popular obviously. I did find a Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Gold collector edition cassette that had fallen behind the rack of LPs. They wanted $17.99 for it.

 

[Transistorized]

I was looking at NAC (National Audio Company) and RTM (Recording The Masters). Of the two, most say that RTM cassettes are better so I purchased 10 of those. We will see how they perform.

 

[hopey]

My OG recordings on type 2 (TDK, Maxell, BASF) are still perfect 30 years later. TDK D90 are the best type 1. Always at 6db level.

I have discovered that tapes can harbor mold and can crash your deck. It is distributed along the tape and is picked up by the roller. I think these are tapes left out in the rain. Once they dry you would never know.

 

[Transistorized]

My OG recordings on type 2 (TDK, Maxell, BASF) are still perfect 30 years later. TDK D90 are the best type 1. Always at 6db level.

I have discovered that tapes can harbor mold and can crash your deck. It is distributed along the tape and is picked up by the roller. I think these are tapes left out in the rain. Once they dry you would never know.

I got a lot a while back off of eBay and quite a few of them had mold on the edge of the tape as viewed from the side. I got everything for really cheap and so what I use the tapes for is just their shell for other cassettes that need them.

I would have never guessed back in the day that I would be harvesting parts from old cassettes to revive another yet here we are

I like what Floyd said earlier. We have been so focused on the machine, we forgot about the media. It is as important.

 

[Transistorized]

Well, they arrived. 85 dollars worth of new type I cassette tapes. I sure hope these are worth it.

 

[hopey]

Well, they arrived. 85 dollars worth of new type I cassette tapes. I sure hope these are worth it.
View attachment 60979
View attachment 60980

Look good how dark is the polyester? Darker the better.

 

[goodman]

Well, they arrived.

I like that they are in a cardboard box. Now it's time for recordings and tests. We expect you to share your observations.

 

[Transistorized]

Look good how dark is the polyester? Darker the better.

They are medium. Not poo poo brown and not dark but in between. I have read that their formulation is based off the BASF standard. The spools move freely which is a good sign. I like that the cases all have screws.

I like that they are in a cardboard box. Now it's time for recordings and tests. We expect you to share your observations.

Yeah. They shipped that inside a bubble bag so when I got it, the box was split open and 2 out of 10 jewel cases were cracked. Got to love the attention to detail with shipping and care in the US.

It may take me a week or so to get any recordings/testing done but I will give my thoughts on these when I do. They look promising. They are new as the boxes date is stamped 2025 so I hope for them to record perfectly.

They lack the smell that can only be described to those of use who were raised on opening new cassettes back in the day I miss that smell.

 

[goodman]

They are medium. Not poo poo brown and not dark but in between. I have read that their formulation is based off the BASF standard.
The spools move freely which is a good sign. I like that the cases all have screws.

The color of the tape looks good.
Too bad the reels(spools) are black. They won't be visible when playing the tape. That's what I like the most:

 

[Transistorized]

The color of the tape looks good.
Too bad the reels(spools) are black. They won't be visible when playing the tape. That's what I like the most:

I hope to be able to do some test recordings on these RTM cassette soon in the next week.

 

[hopey]

I hope to be able to do some test recordings on these RTM cassette soon in the next week.

Not quite TDK D however if you use a good deck should sound Ace.