From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!hp-pcd!bill
Newsgroups: net.records
Title: Re: cassette brands - (nf)
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.554
Posted: Sun Dec 26 18:01:44 1982
Received: Tue Dec 28 02:15:12 1982

#R:tekid:-68700:hp-pcd:7900002:000:1276
hp-pcd!bill    Dec 26 16:25:00 1982

I haven't used Ampex tapes for quite a while, but about a year ago
I had a problem with a 3-pack of Memorex cassettes that, coincidentally,
also came from Fred Meyer.  They apparently had a bad oxide formulation
or something -- music would fade dramatically in and out.  Also, my tape
deck ate a Memorex cassette that jammed on me once; since then I started
buying only tapes that have a shell that screwed together -- not bonded.
Anyway, I switched to Maxell UD-XLII for a while, which was okay, and
for the past six months or so have been using TDK SA-90.  I have never
had a problem with either Maxell or TDK; a few days ago, a friend gave
me a blank Memorex tape to record an album for her, and after hearing
the results, I think the TDK's sound quite a bit better.  Anyway anyway,
I won't buy Memorex; Maxell and TDK are quite affordable, sound good,
and have never given me any problems.
(Also, for what it's worth, the SA-90's come with a set of neat little
stick-on cassette labels for Side A, Side B, and a spare.  I hate having
to write directly on the cassette ...)
Has anyone else had any bad experiences with any of these tapes?
Also, can anyone offer a general ranking of the various brands of
cassettes regarding quality, reliability, etc?

						- hp-pcd!bill