What cassettes to buy ?

[polsta]

Hi everyone

i need to purchase some cassettes, to play/record in boomboxes and a car stereo

just wondering what type i should be looking for ideally ?

thanks

 

[polsta]

heres some on uk ebay, there are loads !!! i just want a good staple choice to use rather than to collect up a lot of different ones, a crash course in whats what would be handy or some pointers what to go for and avoid

tdk fe 90

basf cs II chrome

basf ce II chrome extra

tdk d120

memorex db

fuji dr

philips fx ferro

sony fx 90

maxell ur 120

tdk d90 ferric


-also what are very good/the best types to buy ? (that are still easy obtainable rather than rare and expensive) that obv cost more but just to have a couple of top quality

looking on ebay, there are a lot to choose from

thank you

 

[Fatdog]

Type IV (Metal bias) cassettes offer the best quality. However, if you are only going to be playing in boomboxes and car audio, then Type II (CrO2 aka Chrome) will be just fine. Chrome tapes are almost impossible to find new in stores, but can occasionally be found in thrift stores and boot sales. My favorite for CrO2 tape is Maxell XL II-S, but the Maxell XL II works just fine. We really need member jaetee to chime in. He's sort of a cassette quality expert.

 

[goodman]

You can use Crom or Normal, 60 or 74 min. cassettes. Don't use 90 or 120 min.

 

[polsta]

thanks for the replies keep them comming,i need an education in tapes !

why not use 60/90 min tapes exacty ?

are ones like the tdk fe 90 no good ?

 

[goodman]

Of course you can use 90 min. cassettes, but they are more weight. Some cassette decks can have problems.
I have only 7-8 90min. cassettes. The rest are 74, 60 , 46 min.

 

[Reli]

thanks for the replies keep them comming,i need an education in tapes !

why not use 60/90 min tapes exacty ?

are ones like the tdk fe 90 no good ?

I don't think FE tapes are going to be as good with treble as CrO2 tapes

And the longer the tape, the more likely it will cause the belt to slip. That being said, 90 is the most common tape.

 

[polsta]

ah a weight issue,more strain !!! i get it, makes sense

 

[goodman]

Example for very good audio tape: TDK SA 60


Example for standart audio tape: TDK D 60

 

[jaetee]

From that list, I think TDK D 90 and Fuji DR will give you the best bang for the buck in terms of sound and build quality. If I had to pick just one, it would be TDK D.

Tapes upwards of 110 or 120 minutes can sometimes cause problems because they are very thin. C60 vs. C90 shouldn't be an issue.

The BASF Chormes listed are indeed "better" tapes, but you are not likely to notice much difference recording on those using a boombox. Unless you have a really good component deck that will allow bias adjustments and real-time monitoring of the recording, you will not get the most out of that tape.

 

[polsta]

thanks guys, keep them comming its all soaking in , that list was just some i saw on ebay, please by all means give me some to look out for ?

im restoring an 80s car at the moment and its going to be amazing, original stereo going in, a tape holder console too, and with my boombox and another one on its way, - i wont be using them to record tapes, more just play back, so i can see myself soon being on the hunt for a nice component tape deck to record with, been thinking for a while now a nice old school hi fi component machine would be good to aquire, i sold a decent one about 6 years ago , but on the flip side they can be bought now for very cheap still

 

[jaetee]

If you are going to get a decent component deck, I would seek out Maxell XLII, TDK SA, Fuji ZII, and and pretty much any from the Sony UX line.

Also, if you can find these tapes gently used, you can save yourself LOTS of money.

99% of the used tapes I have recorded on have performed perfectly.

 

[ClaretBadger]

NOT using 90 minute tapes is the most bizarre thing I have heard - as someone else said, it's probably the most common format

NOT only that, the duration allows most VINYL albums to be recorded to one side

IIRC
74 minutes were the modern tapes designed to fit one Audio CD - as 74 used to be the believed maximum of an AUDIO CD (forget mp3's here)

120's are the long thin tapes that you should avoid

In regard brnads - this is entirely down to your hardwares preference

Most manufacturers USED to use TDK as reference - and calibrated their tape mechs to work satifactory with the D "cooking" ferric tapes - but more commonly the SA cro2 tapes

I alaways prefered cro2 - but have some ferrics that when recorded on only ONCE still sound mint today - some 30 years on from first recording

To be honest it's best to buy a selection of different manufacturers and see what gives you the best results

I like MAXELL and TDK


happy hunting and trialling - it's all part of the analogue mixup

 

[Giocchino]

Has anyone had any problems with Sony C-90HFL tapes? I saw a box of 10 at a second hand shop for 2 dollars and was debating about picking them up.