10 NEW Audio Cassettes for a penny! They must be type 0?

Yes, it says a penny but actually 1 yen. Maybe even less than a penny in some cases (^o^). Enjoy!
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[@2ndPyleOfVinyl]

This is a fascinating video. These are indeed the ONN cassettes that I bought from Walmart from summer 2019 to about spring 2020. They remind me of Yashima cassettes that my dad bought in the late 1970s/early 1980s. I wonder if the same factory made those too (the shells were sturdier and opaque, as was the fashion of the time). Strangely, they sound just fine on an old two-head Dolby cassette recorder. A couple don't bias correctly during the first few minutes but then clear up. Just like my father, I found that the best use for them was just taping old rock 45s from the turntable. 10:20...the Yashima cassettes from the 1970s I believe would alternate old TDK ED stock (the ones with the clear leaders with red stripes) and decent quality Hong Kong stock (the ones with the solid red leaders). Dad has bought other generic tapes since he was skint and it was before he got a proper Sansui recorder around 1980/1981. The Yashimas performed a lot better than say the Sakuras, the Certrons, the Conteks or the weird no-name ones (Audiomagnetics knockoff called Recall, weird one I found called Rose).

[@CassetteComeback]

Oi! Snapping cheap cassettes is my signature! You going to auction it now? 😆 Seriously though, that wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. If you can get it properly biased, the tape itself might be a step up from the majority of modern Chinese output...apart from everything else being as cheap as possible. It could be that they're giving them away so as to get videos like this and people going "Oh I got these and they're actually quite usable" sort of stealth marketing type thing? Either that or the seller is making money on the P&P. This should get some good views, people like watching videos about shit cassettes more than that do about "average" ones...

[@retrocoreav7025]

I have to admit, I love watching videos about shit tapes too. 😅 Admittedly, these weren't too bad but my deck can't bias them fully. They sure sounded better than I expected them too, that's for sure. I doubt I'll be keeping them though. I'll end up flogging them off with a load of other mediocre tapes. Oh, the shipping for these was 480 yen, so yeah, the seller didn't even scam me on the shipping. Could be a marketing ploy as you said. Still, 1 yen for even one tape would be amazing, let alone ten. Still wouldn't use them though.

[@wrestletube1]

The music used didn't really put it to the test much as it was low treble music from the Commodore AMIGA and ST scene but the treble it did have sounded not so top quality for something called the Top Man of Tapes .

[@Musicradio77Network]

I recently got my Scotch BX cassette off of eBay, and they are two cassettes from about 1988, there was another version of the Scotch BX which was earlier from about 1986 or 1987. These used cheap “Type 0” black shells and cheap hubs, and the tape itself sounds great. And that was before Scotch started to make the BX using a clear shell and the SKC hubs replacing the “Type 0” black shells.

[@RealEpikCartfrenYT]

@@wrestletube1 yeah it literally sounds like an amiga track. a classical 909 with a mish mash of random low quality samples

[@Takepowers]

@@RealEpikCartfrenYT early 90's / late 80's rave music in a nutshell lol

[@TheArtyDans]

Good stuff Mark - this could be my new favourite channel! Cassette reviews brings be back so many years

[@retrocoreav7025]

Cheers. I've got so many different cassettes that I need to cover. Hope you enjoy them.

[@yanks1fan09]

There is an old saying we have here in the States. If it looks like Junk it probably is Junk. At least you are able to buy it for a Yen. If we were to buy it it would be a fortune by the time we import it in. Love the video. Nice job.

[@Musicradio77Network]

The other day, I got a bunch of cassettes off of eBay including a bunch of “Type 0’s”, and a bunch of early to mid 1970’s cassettes that were “Type 0’s” of the time along with the “Music Tape” by Capitol Records, and I do see the Capitol “Target” logo that you see on so many record albums during the 1970’s.

[@Jim_2E0HKM]

Great video, nice looking deck that Sony BTW, not sure on the bias/EQ options you have on it but the tape didn't sound too bad in the end unless KZbin has crushed the sound too much, trouble with cassettes like this is it's not what we want so even if they are passable we shouldn't buy them and encourage their production as its a bit like breeding wasps! So glad you snapped it Tony Villa style at the end.👍🏻

[@retrocoreav7025]

Thanks for watching the video. Yeah, KZbin re-encoding does effect the sound. Maybe next time I can make the raw wav file public. Those cheap tapes couldn't be baised correctly but I was able to get the tape to a point where it didn't sound too bad. The biggest issue was a lack of mid and high range I found. On the KZbin clip it's tricky to distinguish the difference in mid range but it was there. So, the tape stock isn't that bad but the cassette shells are horrible. The plastic isn't even smooth. It's possible to see the uneven surface on the inside of the tape once the slip sheet is removed. Lol, I didn't plan on snapping the tape at the end but it just seemed fun. On my main channel (Retro Core) I once snapped a fake PlayStation 2 controller in half. That snapped far easier than this tape 🤣

[@Musicradio77Network]

Earlier today, I went to a place called the Red Hook Yard Sale and I saw a truckload of “Type 0’s” in a box including Certron, Universal, and Gemini along with TDK and Maxell which were Type 1 cassettes from the late 1990’s such as the D and the UR. I picked up a bunch of “Type 0’s” including the Gemini MP60 and SE60 along with a Maxell LN mid to late 1980’s and a Sony HF from the late 1990’s are good ones. The Gemini MP60 and SE60 are decent “Type 0” cassettes that you can get at Ames, Jamesway, and Caldor back in the 1990’s. I have a crapload of “Type 0’s” and the Gemini MP and SE cassettes are being added to the “Type 0” hit parade.

[@josephfrye7342]

I just can’t believe I got the oon tapes from seiyu Seibu Department Stores asda and Walmart But jeez it kinda chews these tapes or worse buff the heads out but I need a specific cassette cleaner.

[@seanenriquez5945]

as a kid who likes to just listen to music in tapes, im liking it!!! care to make me a mixtape with those?

[@Musicradio77Network]

I want them. I don’t know how much it costs in the US. If it costs a penny, I’ll snag it, so I have to record classic Old Time Radio like “The Shadow”, “Jack Benny”, “The Great Gildersleeve”, “The Lone Ranger” and more. I have so many cassettes as well as “Type 0’s” from the 1970’s through the 1990’s.

[@retrocoreav7025]

For Radio shows these would be perfect. No need for a high quality tape for what is mostly talking.

[@benmeuninck7410]

i wood use them for fixing up screw less cassettes and broken shells ones

[@MrKamenaki]

Hello, Mr. Sorry for asking but I'm still wondering if type zero tapes are harmful to the heads?

[@animeboyzx6403]

Looks like that came from amazon cause of the barcode sticker on the outside of the bag

[@retrocoreav7025]

Nah, they weren't from Amazon. I live from Amazon. Japanese amazon barcode are quite different than what this had. These are probably from a Chinese wholesale selling withing Japan.

[@uhohwhy]

its an ok casette

[@TechieZeddie]

They remind me so much of the China-made Onn tapes from Walmart. I couldn't get a proper bias on them either and they sound similar. I bet the same tape. Shell looks similar too. Cheap and flimsy. I would try to break mine but at the price I paid, I was better of returning for a refund.

[@retrocoreav7025]

They could well be from the same factory. The shell on these while not too thin was just made poorly. Warping on the plastic, bad molding and all round cheap feeling.

[@RealEpikCartfrenYT]

i personally use a cheap boombox to record tapes so bias is not a problem for me since it does it for you automatically

[@TechieZeddie]

@@RealEpikCartfrenYT these tapes are probably fine for non hi-fi use. Voice or for people who are getting into cassettes specifically for the lo-fi sound.

[@RealEpikCartfrenYT]

@@TechieZeddie plus the frequency response of my boombox is only 100 Hz to 6 kHz so even if i use the cheapest or the best type 1 tapes, its still gonna sound the same

[@bombjack1984]

Pays 1 whole yen for 10 tapes, then complains about the cheap packaging...

[@retrocoreav7025]

Yep, I'm a hard man to please 😁

[@zsombor_99]

I was expected worse than what it actually is (sound quality). 😨 But nonetheless, a dirt cheap "type 0" it is. 😶 It is a bit funny, one "aspect" in this video is "how hard to crack it into half". But also, a bit sad see a brand new cassette got destroyed. ☹

[@bletheringfool]

I'm getting back into cassettes after a good few years away. Just using a Sony TCM 939 recorder to capture audio books and make some new recordings for online stuff. Just for fun. But have no idea what new tapes are good for decent audio recording. I'm worried that all new tapes will be horrible and nasty

[@TheJaHa5]

But these weren't that bad. These would be better suited for those cheap shoe-box type cassette recorders tho, or strictly for speech. Despite its lacking in treble, I think the tape took the music good enough..., just some serious Dolby assistance, and there we'll have it. If I were to get those tho, they would go down exclusively as donor tapes for parts, that is, the shells, and maybe the case. Came here from the 'Blank Cassette Tapes' page on Facebook. I've subbed with my other KZbin channel. Thanks for uploading!!!

[@retrocoreav7025]

Thanks for the sub, James. I don't think these cassettes would be even good for donor shells. The shells have a very cheap mold look to them. They're strong enough but yeah, look pretty bad.

[@TheJaHa5]

@@retrocoreav7025 In these days of irreparable original plastic welded cassettes that just have a love for snapping just off the leader, and impossible to put back together once they're opened, trust me, these will come in very handy! LOL

[@hokman1]

hi, are you Yakumo?! :D do you think these are good enough to record software data?

[@retrocoreav7025]

Hmm, they should be okay for data

[@AVadim]

It's shit tape. :) But sound not bad after calibration.

[@retrocoreav7025]

Yeah, the sound was better than I thought but the tape it's self looks nasty.

[@birdscds47]

I thought you would at least have a supply of empty boxes, but it seems not.

[@retrocoreav7025]

Nope. These cases are nasty.

[@williamsdavid5243]

Absolutely brilliant video as normal Any cassette tapes that are made in China are definitely going to be absolutely type zero ..

[@bhirawamaylana466]

Hmm it's good enough I think for you know experiment or you just want backup cassette/record then use this while keep the master intact, but I more curious if this can be used to record some program in old computer like Vic 20.

[@retrocoreav7025]

I think it would be just fine to copy computer tapes.

[@jasejj]

@@retrocoreav7025 Given that when I was a kid I regularly used Kaytapes to save out VIC20 programs, which were far worse than these, I'd say they'd be fine for computer stuff yeah. In fact these seem similar quality to the computer cassettes of the time. 500 yen delivered is spectacular value even if they are crap.

[@jonasgustafsson9766]

@@jasejj yes I used Kaytape too for my C64 back in the day but: I would not put modern or old typ 0 tape in my Commodore 1531 tape recorder today when Tdk D /FE Maxell UR etc.tapes are avalible for decent prices. There’s no point. I would rather use good used tapes if no new are avalible. They also will give proper recording results, not jam, spare the heads and last over time.

[@evoGage]

Surely that's a bit too cheap even for shitty tapes like this? I mean was delivery included as well? Yeah it ain't the best but it's not totally worthless, I think it's worth it just for a play about.

[@retrocoreav7025]

Nah, shipping was extra but it was actually the correct shipping. I ship a lot myself within Japan so I'm very aware of shipping costs. For the price we can't complain.

[@wrestletube1]

Topland not looking top quality off of the bat.

[@retrocoreav7025]

Indeed. It's pretty cheap.

[@moshezaharia4666]

Wow! this is nasty! I bet it left some residue on the heads. ha! it fooled the deck to display as type I instead of type 0 ;)

[@retrocoreav7025]

It would be so funny if a deck out there actually had a type 0 indicator.

[@moshezaharia4666]

Retro Core AV 🤣 and “sand paper” warning😂

[@josephfrye7342]

i might be nervous if these type 0 crap tapes might be in America and Canada but we might wait and see I also already watch some type 0 tape videos on youtube

[@josephfrye7342]

hmm, the hubs almost look like saehan skc and lucky goldstar but it's not. i think it's mimicking basf emtec agfa and bush cassettes.

[@retrocoreav7025]

In the tradition of Chinese goods, they've just ripped off other companies ideas poorly 😉

[@josephfrye7342]

@@retrocoreav7025 lol! wow

[@Musicradio77Network]

In the late 80’s Scotch BX uses cheap black shells and cheap hubs which was “Type 0”, and the tape formulation looks good on the inside. I tested and it sounds excellent when it reached +5 on the peak meter and it looks great when it wasn’t “Type 0”.

[@josephfrye7342]

@@Musicradio77Network hmm

[@RealEpikCartfrenYT]

i personally would be very happy with these tapes. No dropouts or anything. i dont mind the cheap construction Also that "song" is garbage. its literally just a 909 with a whole bunch of low quality samples laid over

[@amerigocosta7452]

I knew you were going to break one of those cassettes on camera, fake PS2 controller style :D Seriously speaking, as somebody who is not into the cassette culture of today (not yet at least) I'm going to ask you what's the purpose of blank cassettes in 2020? I know there are musicians that still release prerecorded music on cassettes, but other than that what does a hobbyist do with blank tapes?

[@retrocoreav7025]

There is no point if I'm to be honest however it's the same as games. What's the point of games? None, we'll apart from to entertain people. Same with cassette tapes. It's just entertainment for nerds or for those who remember their youth.

[@fungo6631]

Well, what do you think blank media is used for? Recordings! If you have some old radio cassette boombox they might be good for recording shortwave radio.

[@Lucrativecris]

The hubs look pangang!

[@retrocoreav7025]

Whatever they are, they sure aren't quality.

[@Lucrativecris]

@@retrocoreav7025 They're made in china so anything china is crap

[@GREENTICKETRO]

RAKS ED-X hubs?

[@retrocoreav7025]

Possibly copied RAKS hubs. There's no way RAKS would make hubs molded as poorly as these. Even type 0s from back in the 80s had proper moulded hubs.

[@dariuszurbanek5329]

Nie rozumiem tego rzucania tymi pudełkami,wkładkami,naklejkami....

[@NicB-Creations]

Considering how bad the tape biased up the resulting recording wasn't all that bad. I can't believe I'm saying this lol.

[@retrocoreav7025]

True. I expected much worse from these.

[@hyakin7818]

You mean type 1 not type 0

[@jonasgustafsson9766]

No Type 0 i guess. They are not even worth to call type 1