Cassette Review: TDK SA-X Chrome Cassette
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- In this video I review the classic TDK SA-X blank cassette. This was a reliable, best-selling tape for many years. I used to use it frequently. Did you use this cassette?
I talk about the history of the tape, and at the end of the video we compare how the tape sounds to a CD.
I was big fan of SA X in the 90"s. I still have a couple unopened SA X tapes. The European version from 1992.
I am always very happy when I find unopened ones in a second hand store!
I have many TDK SA tapes, many purchased inexpensively as used self-recorded tapes, and those are excellent. I only have a handful of SA-X tapes but the cassette shells are notably heavy-duty like the Maxell XL-IIS premium tapes. What I particularly miss is the absence of modulation noise, and the reduced wow and flutter when used on a typical tape deck. I lament that these tapes are no longer in production.
Yes, they were a rock solid tape!
My favorite vintage cassette - TDK AR-X.
Yes, it is a classic!
Nice review never got into cassettes grew up on the iPod era but I always thought they were interesting. Got into them like a year ago. By far the SA an SA-X are the ones I found sound good close to digital when I recorded off my pc. And they are still easy to come by if you look for deals
Yes, every so often I will find one still sealed in a secondhand store.
Used them a lot during the cassette heydays
Yes, they were very reliable and always sounded great!
It was a great tape. On a deck with automatic calibration, it would eke out excellent results.
A friend of mine recently sold an unopened SA-X tape for $45!!!
Excellent tapes, liked them better than Maxell XLII-S but liked XLII better than SA.
Yes, they are great. Thanks for watching!
Tra il cd e la cassetta TDK SA-X,nessuna differenza,suono PERFETTAMENTE IDENTICO!,si sente.gran cassetta,complimenti
Si, sono d'accordo. Vivi in Italia? Puoi ancora comprare cassette vuote lì?
@@techreviewguy7771 mah,se parliamo dei negozi faccio fatica a trovarle,nella zona dove sono io ci sono dei centri commerciali enormi che io visito regolarmente,e alcune volte riesco a trovarle,se non le trovo mi affido a internet,anche se su internet ci sono alcuni modelli che li fanno pagare un occhio della testa,per esempio la TDK MA XG,sempre se si riesce a beccarla
@@giuseppelavecchia775 Molto interessante. Qui in Canada non è più possibile acquistare nuove cassette. Ma a volte ne trovo uno in un negozio di seconda mano, ancora sigillato nella plastica.
@@techreviewguy7771 almeno ogni tanto con un po di fortuna riesci a trovarne qualcuna.ci vorrebbe che le case costruttrici riprendessero la produzione della cassetta,ne comprerei a valanghe,io sono sempre andato matto per la cassetta e la videocassetta,mi devi credere,e' passione pura
@@giuseppelavecchia775 So cosa vuoi dire! :)
In the '80s, I thought that Chrome cassettes were super cool!!
Me too!
I offen used Chrome Maxima 2 made by BASF.
I will soon be posting a review of a BASF tape. I was always impressed by their cassettes.
The last known TDK SA-X packaging in Europe was for 1998. Its ending could match what you stated in the video. The piece on my page, 1998 packaging, serial number corresponds to 2000. So it could be approximately correct.
Was this cassette very popular in Europe? I am curious.
@@techreviewguy7771 I think so. On vintagecassettes there are a large number of models for both EU and USA.
This is proven by the fact that the SA-X was for the EU from 1979 until 1998, the last models for the EU were made in Germany and later in Luxembourg. Whether there was also production in Thailand I don't know. Apart from the EU I only know about US and Japanese models and production.
So yes TDK SA-X the main competitor for Basf Chrome Maxima and Maxell XLII-S audio cassettes.
@@EZ647 Thank you for the information!
@@techreviewguy7771 You're welcome :)
There is a mystery though, the TDK SA-XS triple layer Avilyn model was only sold in Europe from 1992-2000 and never made it to Japan or the US. I've never even seen such a tape composition in any other country under the TDK brand. Is this an experiment for the EU? Or were such tapes really in high demand in our country? No one knows...
In my experience, the TDK SA's and Maxell XL-II's were about equal, but the TDK SA-X had a slight edge over both. I can't recall if it was strictly a better signal to noise ratio or slightly better frequency response, but it certainly made an impression. like you said though, price and availability were factors, and I found myself using mostly SA's, and then XL-II's when SA's were unavailable.
Yeah, for some odd reason it seemed that XLII's were much easier to find. I recall buying two-packs at Canadian Tire for a very decent price. Both tapes gave very faithful reproduction!
The funny thing was that I bought more XL-IIS back then because they were the most compatible tape to convert to DCC. Otherwise, I bounced between TDK & Maxell during the chrome days, before I switched to metal tapes and then direct to CD Audio.
@@bfs5113 I am curious what you used for CD audio? I hope to soon post a review of my Philips standalone CD recorder.
@@techreviewguy7771 It was the Pioneer PDR-555RW. Unfortunately I had the model that could not bypass the CDA disc requirement.
@@bfs5113 I heard the Pioneer recorders were fairly reliable.
Just picked up a box of 10 for $120,i hated to unwrap the first one,they sound so good on my Aiwa F 770 deck too bad they don't make them anymore
I've heard that Aiwa decks are very top notch!
Just scored a sealed 5 pack of these along with 10 sealed XL2's for 20 bucks...... I better not get used to this kind of luck
I used either the Maxell XL II's or TDK SA's. However when I had to be more frugal with my money, I'd buy Fuji FR-II 90's. Can you make a vid about thee Fuji FR-II ?
I will see if I can track down the Fuji FR-II!
What did you use for the demonstration track? That's a real solid beat there!
Thanks for watching! 7 years ago I released a techno album, and that is one of the tracks. It is called "Menk". The beat is coming from my trusty Alesis SR 16 drum machine. :)
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:)
I have the 1986 TDK SA
Nice!
@@techreviewguy7771 though i will admit, i think it's faulty, cause when i play it back? It sounds a bit worn. Not sure if it's a faulty tape or i need a new one.
@@UrOpinionsSucc Yeah. I think it's normal for a tape that age to not work as well. I've noticed that. All tapes degrade with time, so I suppose a little drop in sound quality is normal.
The CD was slightly better, the cassette was pretty close though.
I agree!
I have a few,but you really can't tell the difference on RUclips,and they are very pricey.
Yes, I am amazed how high the prices can be! I am happy when I find them still sealed in a secondhand store for a few dollars!
music track chosen is useless to asessrecord/play performance of SAX or any tape. use YT royalty-free track, I suggest, with strings(synth probably), not just 'tersh-tersh,doomp-doomp',, I suggest. liked vid otherwise, tho. )
Thanks for watching. I see your point. I have always felt that electronic music often gives the widest range (the lowest lows and the highest highs). Just my opinion.
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Definitely! :)