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Conference hips::uk_audioo

Title:You get surface noise in real life too
Notice:Let's be conformist
Moderator:GOVT02::BARKER
Created:Thu Jul 28 1988
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:550
Total number of notes:3847

48.0. "TDK do it *again*....." by ERIC::SALLITT (Dave @ ICI,0642432193) Wed Sep 28 1988 15:17

    Being a sucker for a free gift, I sent off the form from the latest
    HiFi Review to get my free TDK C90 cassette in the new AR formulation.
    This tape was reviewed by Noel Keywood in the same edition.
    
    Well, it arrived yesterday and sounds a winner - in my aged Pioneer
    machine, anyway. I don't know all the specs (I leave that to folks
    like Keywood, and Martin Colloms, to sort out), but I found I could 
    wind the record level up to 6.5 - 7, with the meters going into the 
    red by 2 - 3 dB, and the playback quality didn't harden up or
    "warble", or compress - the signs I usually get if I over-record.
    This means a big, fat signal on the tape, with hiss levels
    insignificant, even without using *any* noise reduction. There was
    a slight treble lift, with a little extra "splash", or sibilance,
    on vocal consonants, and the stereo soundstage was flattened a little,
    compared to the original record, although width was retained; bass
    was also a little loose, but no big deal. There was no loss of
    tunefulness, and little loss of detail, indicating not only a good
    tape but a good cassette case as well.
    
    All in all, pretty good for a Type I ferric tape in an 8-years-old
    budget deck. I must look out for a 5 or 10-pack for the next car-tape-
    -creating session.
    
    Dave
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
48.1TDK SA-XSUBURB::SCREENERRobert SCREENE @RGM (830 x6578)Wed Mar 15 1989 19:197
    I used to use the TDK HXS tapes (top of the range Cr02), but now
    have switched to the new TDK SA-X tapes.  They have the lowest levels
    of noise I have ever heard (?) and there is around �1 difference
    in price.
    
    p.s. I would like to think my choice was just on sound quality,
    but NO, the appearance helped my decision!
48.2That's MG-X90 Blank TapesSUBURB::SCREENERRobert Screene, UK Finance EUCTue Aug 14 1990 18:3122
    Anyone thought about Metal tapes?
    
    Since using the SA-X I have moved into the metal MA-X TDK's.  These worked
    out at about �3.20 each, they have a much better bass and top-end
    detail over the SA-X.
    
    I have since tried the new formulation That's Metal MG-X tapes (now in
    a grey wrapper, the old ones were in blue).  These perform really well,
    they are very, very close to the MA-X, with perhaps a shade less
    brightness in the top end (which I prefer).  I was buying these for
    �2.70 from Listen in Reading a few months ago.
    
    It seems that Listen are having a dispute with their suppliers and
    can't get any more in stock.  Reading Hi-Fi only have the old type in
    stock and seem to want a large amount of my money for having them on
    one of their shelves;  �3:20 each.
    
    Has anyone spotted the full That's range around Reading?  I have tried
    mail order suppliers, but even 50 tapes work out to about �2:80 each
    with delivery.
    
    Rob.
48.3In amongst all the CDs!SED750::SADATTarik Sadat: STG Leatherhead UKMon Nov 05 1990 14:017
Rob,

Believe it or not, but I think WH Smith stock a good range of That's tapes.
(Personally I only buy the cheap ones for in-car use only, but that's another
matter).

Tarik
48.4FORTY2::GROOMMon Nov 05 1990 17:207
>>
Believe it or not, but I think WH Smith stock a good range of That's tapes.
(Personally I only buy the cheap ones for in-car use only, but that's another
matter).
>>

Aren't WH Smith own brand cassettes actually made by That's as well.
48.5B+B Hi-FiSUBURB::SCREENERRobert Screene, UK Finance EUCMon Nov 05 1990 17:263
    WH Smith stock only the lower, volume end of the range.  I have sincev
    found that B+B Hi-Fi, of Gunn St. (behind Healas) stock the more 
    expensive That's versions at reasonable prices.