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Akai audio cassette question
Akai audio cassette question
I'm planning on recording some music that's only on my computer onto
cassettes for a back-up. One of the reasons is regarding the dubios
durability issues of CD-R's, and also becasue I miss making tapes on
my tape deck, an NAD 613.
My supply of high bias cassettes is a bit low & it seems stores don't
carry them anymore. I remember about 15 years ago, BEST & Montgomery
Wards had the best selection of cassettes, as did many mall music
stores. Now, most stores, even Best Buy, just carry Sony HF or Maxell
UR normal bias tapes. It also seems as though the Maxell XLII-S is no
longer made and Sony doesn't make any high bias cassettes anymore.
Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
* w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product Code=AKAIGX-90&Category Code=ta
That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
appreciated.
Cameron
I'm planning on recording some music that's only on my computer onto
cassettes for a back-up. One of the reasons is regarding the dubios
durability issues of CD-R's, and also becasue I miss making tapes on
my tape deck, an NAD 613.
My supply of high bias cassettes is a bit low & it seems stores don't
carry them anymore. I remember about 15 years ago, BEST & Montgomery
Wards had the best selection of cassettes, as did many mall music
stores. Now, most stores, even Best Buy, just carry Sony HF or Maxell
UR normal bias tapes. It also seems as though the Maxell XLII-S is no
longer made and Sony doesn't make any high bias cassettes anymore.
Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
* w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product Code=AKAIGX-90&Category Code=ta
That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
appreciated.
Cameron
Re: Akai audio cassette question
CLM in ND wrote:
> I'm planning on recording some music that's only on my computer onto
> cassettes for a back-up. One of the reasons is regarding the dubios
> durability issues of CD-R's, and also becasue I miss making tapes on
> my tape deck, an NAD 613.
>
> My supply of high bias cassettes is a bit low & it seems stores don't
> carry them anymore. I remember about 15 years ago, BEST & Montgomery
> Wards had the best selection of cassettes, as did many mall music
> stores. Now, most stores, even Best Buy, just carry Sony HF or Maxell
> UR normal bias tapes. It also seems as though the Maxell XLII-S is no
> longer made and Sony doesn't make any high bias cassettes anymore.
>
> Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
> a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
> site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
>
> * w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AKAIGX-90&Category_Code=ta
>
> That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
> However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
> familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
> anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
> quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
> appreciated.
Probably low end stuff ... They even make Akai vacuum cleaners now !
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akai#New_ownership
Graham
CLM in ND wrote:
> I'm planning on recording some music that's only on my computer onto
> cassettes for a back-up. One of the reasons is regarding the dubios
> durability issues of CD-R's, and also becasue I miss making tapes on
> my tape deck, an NAD 613.
>
> My supply of high bias cassettes is a bit low & it seems stores don't
> carry them anymore. I remember about 15 years ago, BEST & Montgomery
> Wards had the best selection of cassettes, as did many mall music
> stores. Now, most stores, even Best Buy, just carry Sony HF or Maxell
> UR normal bias tapes. It also seems as though the Maxell XLII-S is no
> longer made and Sony doesn't make any high bias cassettes anymore.
>
> Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
> a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
> site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
>
> * w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AKAIGX-90&Category_Code=ta
>
> That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
> However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
> familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
> anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
> quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
> appreciated.
Probably low end stuff ... They even make Akai vacuum cleaners now !
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akai#New_ownership
Graham
Re: Akai audio cassette question
CLM in ND <camarvel8@hotmail . com > wrote:
>Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
>a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
>site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
>
> * w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AKAIGX-90&Category_Code=ta
>
>That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
>However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
>familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
>anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
>quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
>appreciated.
The problem with cassettes is that nobody ever rebiases their machine
properly when they get a new brand of tape. So you will hear people arguing
that one brand of tape has too much high end, and another person arguing that
same brand doesn't have enough high end... and they are BOTH right because
they are both getting completely different experiences on their machines.
I will personally recommend the 65 minute house load tapes from Tape
Warehouse in Atlanta. Get the cheap white shells, not the expensive clear
Shape shells... the cheap shells are more rugged and will not be damaged
by being left in a hot car. You can order house loads with whatever kind
of tape in them that you want. I like the BASF stuff, personally, but
it doesn't matter so much what kind of tape you use, as long as you bias
the machine properly for the kind of tape you use.
I don't recall what I paid last time for BASF loads from Tape Warehouse
but it was definitely under a dollar. Oh yes, and don't go with anything
longer than 65 minutes or so because the tape used is thinner, and less
rugged.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
CLM in ND <camarvel8@hotmail . com > wrote:
>Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
>a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
>site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
>
> * w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AKAIGX-90&Category_Code=ta
>
>That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
>However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
>familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
>anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
>quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
>appreciated.
The problem with cassettes is that nobody ever rebiases their machine
properly when they get a new brand of tape. So you will hear people arguing
that one brand of tape has too much high end, and another person arguing that
same brand doesn't have enough high end... and they are BOTH right because
they are both getting completely different experiences on their machines.
I will personally recommend the 65 minute house load tapes from Tape
Warehouse in Atlanta. Get the cheap white shells, not the expensive clear
Shape shells... the cheap shells are more rugged and will not be damaged
by being left in a hot car. You can order house loads with whatever kind
of tape in them that you want. I like the BASF stuff, personally, but
it doesn't matter so much what kind of tape you use, as long as you bias
the machine properly for the kind of tape you use.
I don't recall what I paid last time for BASF loads from Tape Warehouse
but it was definitely under a dollar. Oh yes, and don't go with anything
longer than 65 minutes or so because the tape used is thinner, and less
rugged.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Re: Akai audio cassette question
Agree with Scott.
BTW, Cameron when i first saw the topic i felt you had an Akai cassette
deck. Had a studio version (3 head, 3 motor, model GX or HX or ??? something
like that) that ran test tones on the tape, then played them back to set the
bias by computer. So Scott's comments about high frequency are correct in a
general sense. Still, i found the TDK seemed to have a touch more highs
(skewed) and the Maxell XLII-S of the time has a more balanced tonal range.
Wow, cassettes...
Enjoy the Music,
Steven R. Rochlin
* w w w .EnjoyTheMusic . com
Superior Audio, The Absolute Sound,
Review Magazine, The $ensible Sound,
The Audiophile Voice... and MUCH more!
"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix . com > wrote in message
news:fv9p9h$ctd$1@panix2.panix . com ...
> CLM in ND <camarvel8@hotmail . com > wrote:
>>Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
>>a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
>>site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
>>
>> * w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product Code=AKAIGX-90&Category Code=ta
>>
>>That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
>>However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
>>familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
>>anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
>>quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
>>appreciated.
>
> The problem with cassettes is that nobody ever rebiases their machine
> properly when they get a new brand of tape. So you will hear people
> arguing
> that one brand of tape has too much high end, and another person arguing
> that
> same brand doesn't have enough high end... and they are BOTH right because
> they are both getting completely different experiences on their machines.
>
> I will personally recommend the 65 minute house load tapes from Tape
> Warehouse in Atlanta. Get the cheap white shells, not the expensive clear
> Shape shells... the cheap shells are more rugged and will not be damaged
> by being left in a hot car. You can order house loads with whatever kind
> of tape in them that you want. I like the BASF stuff, personally, but
> it doesn't matter so much what kind of tape you use, as long as you bias
> the machine properly for the kind of tape you use.
>
> I don't recall what I paid last time for BASF loads from Tape Warehouse
> but it was definitely under a dollar. Oh yes, and don't go with anything
> longer than 65 minutes or so because the tape used is thinner, and less
> rugged.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Agree with Scott.
BTW, Cameron when i first saw the topic i felt you had an Akai cassette
deck. Had a studio version (3 head, 3 motor, model GX or HX or ??? something
like that) that ran test tones on the tape, then played them back to set the
bias by computer. So Scott's comments about high frequency are correct in a
general sense. Still, i found the TDK seemed to have a touch more highs
(skewed) and the Maxell XLII-S of the time has a more balanced tonal range.
Wow, cassettes...
Enjoy the Music,
Steven R. Rochlin
* w w w .EnjoyTheMusic . com
Superior Audio, The Absolute Sound,
Review Magazine, The $ensible Sound,
The Audiophile Voice... and MUCH more!
"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix . com > wrote in message
news:fv9p9h$ctd$1@panix2.panix . com ...
> CLM in ND <camarvel8@hotmail . com > wrote:
>>Luckily, there are quite a few tape wholesalers online where I can get
>>a real good price on type II tapes from TDK, Fuji, Maxell, etc... One
>>site has 90 minute Akai high bias cassettes for only 80 cents each:
>>
>> * w w w .batteriesandbutter . com /Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product Code=AKAIGX-90&Category Code=ta
>>
>>That seems almost too good to be true, a 10 count box for only $8.00.
>>However, I haven't been able to find any reviews regarding them. I'm
>>familiar with their tape decks, but not so much with their tapes. Has
>>anyone ever tried these cassettes? Did you like them? How is the
>>quality & sound compared to TDK, Maxell, etc... Any info would be
>>appreciated.
>
> The problem with cassettes is that nobody ever rebiases their machine
> properly when they get a new brand of tape. So you will hear people
> arguing
> that one brand of tape has too much high end, and another person arguing
> that
> same brand doesn't have enough high end... and they are BOTH right because
> they are both getting completely different experiences on their machines.
>
> I will personally recommend the 65 minute house load tapes from Tape
> Warehouse in Atlanta. Get the cheap white shells, not the expensive clear
> Shape shells... the cheap shells are more rugged and will not be damaged
> by being left in a hot car. You can order house loads with whatever kind
> of tape in them that you want. I like the BASF stuff, personally, but
> it doesn't matter so much what kind of tape you use, as long as you bias
> the machine properly for the kind of tape you use.
>
> I don't recall what I paid last time for BASF loads from Tape Warehouse
> but it was definitely under a dollar. Oh yes, and don't go with anything
> longer than 65 minutes or so because the tape used is thinner, and less
> rugged.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
