Xlii 90 High Bias Audio Cassette Tape -5-Pack

This product and this length is the gold standard for home recording with cassette tapes. The sound is much 'warmer' than CD's and the hiss is low if you buy quality equipment and keep it clean. I find I can listen longer to music on these tapes than I can with CD's. The 90 minute length is durable and holds up for many, many replays. Avoid the 110 and 120 minute lengths of this product as the tape is thinner and the life span of these longer lengths is significantly shorter.

I've been a tape head for over 50 years. Came close 1980s to one pass (recording a brand new album) I could fool about 50 percent of my audio decerning buddies. In blind tests used to bet beers which selection was cassette or turntable. Had great Technique t.t. device too. Can't do this now, but compared with level one tapes viva la difference. More than passable except price. In audio better sound never comes cheap. But, in recording older beat a bit vinyl the TTM and a few level one TDK tapes do a fine job...old man audiophile advice. If you can't hear it you are wasting money.. The Mexican made Maxell xl 2s are my go too so far..

These are top quality metal tapes, but do note that the 90 minute, 2x45 spec is based on regular playback. 4 track recorders obviously turn this into a single 45 minute "side", but note that many recording devices run at twice the standard playback speed (9.5 cm/sec instead of 4.75). That's no fault of the product mind you. Definitely spring for the 5 pack because you'll only get about 22.5 minutes of continuous 4 track recording on a single tape and will probably want a few for different takes/projects.

For about $3 per tape (including shipping charge), this 5-pack is perfect for the audiophile looking for near CD quality sound. I use a Sherwood cassette recorder with Dolby S and automatic detection of the High Bias type tape. Recording a local FM radio station rock music at the proper level gives exact reproduction of sound. I tested it after using Maxell UD and the difference is dramatic! The XLII is so clear and the casssette shell and tape are very sturdy. You should record at a level that shows into the red all the time, not just at the loudest parts. This allows the High Bias tape to absorb any slight distortion and the Dolby lets you record at the higher level. Any slight background tape hiss is eliminated.

I haven't tested the tapes yet, but I expect no issues there... All five tapes are individually sealed and seem legitimate, with "Assembled in Mexico" on the wrapper. The seller was "Morgans_Merchandise". The package was not a factory Maxell 5-pack as show in the picture, but 5 new, sealed tapes repacked in clear plastic by the seller. Four were a match to the bottom one in the picture showing the fronts, and one was match to the one on the top. These are late 90's to early 2000's manufactured XLII tapes, probably towards the end of their manufacturing life, in many cases people believe this was a time when these Maxell XLII tapes were not the same quality as they were in the 80's to early 90's as Maxell just churned them out of a factory in Mexico and no longer in Canada or Japan, but others disagree. I don't know when I will use them, due to how hard it is to get Chrome tapes now days I only use them for special purposes... When I use them, I will update this review if appropriate but I don't have any concerns that the tapes themselves will be an issue. I just wanted to let people know that it wasn't quite what I expected.

Huge fan of these blank tapes been using them for years, very happy with my purchase.

Now I'm noticing in the day & age of cd formats & mp3 downloading that finding good cassettes in just your average store here in michigan is hard to find now, so i was glad to be able to go through amazon to get what i needed,& me being into the quality of the maxell cassettes since the mid 80's i just can't use any other tape, mainly due to me still working pretty regular with a four track recorder which requries a high bias tape for the best sound, so even though some may feel like i'm in the stone age for still using cassettes but what i'm able achieve sound wise through equalizers & the four track is still cutting edge thanks to good tapes that can handle the pressure.

I am very pleased with this purchase. The product arrived on time and all of the tapes in the set worked fine. I used a JVC cassette deck that is over 25 years old to record onto the tapes and the sound quality is outstanding. One thing that I should probably say though is to make sure that the cassette deck you are using has the ability to switch to the high bias postition for recording. If it cannot, then you will not be able to use these tapes. If your deck can switch to the high bias position then I highly recommend these tapes.

Product as described:-)

Exzellente Aufnahmen bei Sprache und Instrumental in allen Bereichen!

Meu esposo coleciona equipamentos, acessórios retro. Ele gostou. Chegou em perfeito estado de conservação. Caro! Muito caro!

This is the best crome cassette ever produced in the world.My God what looks and quality of the cassette and the combination of Amazon.I am in love.I have purchased above 30 of them and will continue buying.I get a very good feeling to wait and receive these cassettes

Increíble sonido ,valió la pena ,un tip para los quienes estén empezado , aseguren que su grabadora tenga la habilidad de usar bias (afecta el sonido)