Vintage Cassette Review : TDK SA Chrome Cassette

In this video I do a little test of the TDK SA position II chrome audio cassette. This was a very popular blank cassette back in the day. I owned a ton of them. As I mention in the video, my favorite cassette was the Maxell XLII, but this one was a close second. I recall it always sounded great in my car stereo system, or in my walkman.
A while ago I did a review of the TDK SA-X tape. This is the SA. Is there a difference? Listen and find out!
I used to love making mix tapes that I would play in my car, or in my walkman. I often used the TDK SA for this purpose. If you find any of these tapes sealed in a thrift shop, definitely pick them up! Even if you don't use cassettes, these sell very quickly on eBay, especially when they are sealed.
As I have done before, I will first play for you a digital version of a piece of music. You will hear a WAV file. Immediately after that, I will play the same piece of music recorded on the TDK SA.
Did you use this tape back in the day? Was it your favorite? What brand did you prefer? Do you still use blank cassettes?
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[@joeclayton2875]

Excellent recording. Might even have been slightly brighter than the source which is a good thing.

[@techreviewguy7771]

I agree.

[@ralphreinhardt6020]

1988 TDK SA's are really nice sounding and looking tapes. I really dig the huge window on it . The hubs are nice too. It sounded great to me.

[@techreviewguy7771]

Yeah, I loved the big windows as well!

[@tweakthatproductions1648]

I think the tape’s sound was better. No wonder pro studios recorded on tape. Sad that we have gone away from it.

[@techreviewguy7771]

Yeah, tape definitely had its own personality! :)

[@brettjames1992]

I use to have a tape like that, but my tape recorder ate it!!!!!

[@techreviewguy7771]

Oh no!

[@octopuscorsica4839]

I think I can hear some wow & flutter on the tape version... Re. TDK: have you tried their AR-X tape? It is a 'super ferric' type I cassette, using the same cobalt-doped ferric oxide as used in many type II cassettes. Supposedly this tape can be recorded very hot and get close to the performance of type IV metal tape. Haven't tried them myself but I recently got my hands on a bunch of them and will give them a go.

[@techreviewguy7771]

I will see if I can find the AR-X tapes. Thanks for the suggestion!