10.01.2023, 08:25
Hi!
Yesterday I checked some of my 353 cassettes visually. The surface of Cr II Focus and Studio look the same, and they also look the same as a 1994 TP II tape which we know is Maxell. Now there is no way to find out whether we have UD II, XL II or XL II-S without doing some test recording... will try with that next weekend.
Then I have two MP IV Studio, identically looking shells and package, with different tapes. One looked Maxell-ish again (black, smoth and slightly convex), the other one has a flat, rather grey tape with slightly dull surface. So they have used different tapes even within this short-lived series! This could also explain why I remembered the CR II Studio differently, and why the 353 tpaes received so varying test results and user feedback.
472: The shells with flat surface are either from Lenco, if it's the same inside construction as late 80's Memorex and Realistic. If there is also a guide block (like in UX-Pro), it should be Shape. The tape in the 472's with Suono format shells looks to me a lot like a BASF/Emtec FeCo type, like late TP II. No wonder it's good :-)
You mean these Agfas with clear shells? https://www.ez647.sk/cc/agfa_ln.html#80
They are made by Saehan. Here you have the same cassette in its original outfit:
http://agfabasf.com/images/content/img_57563.jpg
http://agfabasf.com/images/content/img_57553.jpg
And this BASF? https://www.ez647.sk/cc/basf_lh.html#84a
This distinctive version with large cutout in the label to see the full cassette window is very rare over here. The code tells it was made in Indonesia in 1989. Indonesian LH-D tape was a bit darker than German or American LH-D. But it could be Ferro Super I instead, which they also made in Indonesia, very common in all those pre-recorded Gamava, Aquarius, Blackboard, Thomsun... tapes.
Regards
Martin
Yesterday I checked some of my 353 cassettes visually. The surface of Cr II Focus and Studio look the same, and they also look the same as a 1994 TP II tape which we know is Maxell. Now there is no way to find out whether we have UD II, XL II or XL II-S without doing some test recording... will try with that next weekend.
Then I have two MP IV Studio, identically looking shells and package, with different tapes. One looked Maxell-ish again (black, smoth and slightly convex), the other one has a flat, rather grey tape with slightly dull surface. So they have used different tapes even within this short-lived series! This could also explain why I remembered the CR II Studio differently, and why the 353 tpaes received so varying test results and user feedback.
472: The shells with flat surface are either from Lenco, if it's the same inside construction as late 80's Memorex and Realistic. If there is also a guide block (like in UX-Pro), it should be Shape. The tape in the 472's with Suono format shells looks to me a lot like a BASF/Emtec FeCo type, like late TP II. No wonder it's good :-)
You mean these Agfas with clear shells? https://www.ez647.sk/cc/agfa_ln.html#80
They are made by Saehan. Here you have the same cassette in its original outfit:
http://agfabasf.com/images/content/img_57563.jpg
http://agfabasf.com/images/content/img_57553.jpg
And this BASF? https://www.ez647.sk/cc/basf_lh.html#84a
This distinctive version with large cutout in the label to see the full cassette window is very rare over here. The code tells it was made in Indonesia in 1989. Indonesian LH-D tape was a bit darker than German or American LH-D. But it could be Ferro Super I instead, which they also made in Indonesia, very common in all those pre-recorded Gamava, Aquarius, Blackboard, Thomsun... tapes.
Regards
Martin