The 1986 TDK SA-X Type 2 Cassette And Why I Now Understand The Appeal Of Vinyl.

[@AudioMobil]

Well, people often have a awkward look on their faces when I tell them that I still use cassettes...yeah, those hissy old tapes that sounded rubbish and always got eaten by their cheap car stereos. Then I tell them NO, cassettes are far better than you might remember and let them listen to some GOOD recordings on a GOOD tape deck. Many people don't remember cassettes as something that could sound good and you probably had the same bad memories when I came to vinyl. Welcome back! :) Really looking forward to your first vinyl release! I got my first record player when I was 3 years old (not kidding) and had record since then. I never left vinyl behind but I must admit when I bought my first CD burner for my PC in 1999 I quickly turned away from cassettes because I already had an Alpine CD changer in my car...but never abandoned cassettes completely or threw them away. I still have my Yamaha KX670 I bought new and tons of other tape decks. I got into 45s when I got my first jukebox and doing my own 50s / 60s radio show...several thousand records so far and still growing. When I buy *new* music, I usually go for vinyl. When I was a kid during the 1980s I always got new music on vinyl and recorded it on cassette when I played it the very first time, usually on Maxell UDII which my mother bought me in big multi packs. Later I moved on to TDK SA or SA-X...those were the days. I don't know why but somehow I love the look of the mid to late 80s Maxell and TDK cassettes best.

[@DaXande135]

Und hier findet man auch immer wieder neue, gute Kanäle :D

[@vasiliansotirov6976]

I got Becker tape player in my car and good sounding speakers and I record cassettes on my cassette deck. I adjusted the azimuth and speed and whenever I play a cassette and especially if they hear new music they would be like "Wow how do you record them??" I say "With a cassette deck!?" and they don't know what this is. Also they don't expect them to sound like I am playing a CD.

[@Mikexception]

@@vasiliansotirov6976 In my system even ferro standard cassettes present sopranos which I like much because they remind me sound when I was young with higher "appreture" and neauances than my highest class B&O CD. And noise even with NR in "off" is in normal listening negilgable

[@TheStuffMade]

One of the reasons I like vinyl is because it tends to make me listen to a full album instead of skipping from song to song like I do with my digital library. But of course also the whole physical format thing plus the artwork and actually that it takes more effort to play a record, it's more fun.

[@keithgilliard9191]

Record playing was what we did growing up. It took time and money to build a system that sounds good. Unlike todays earbuds and phone... But you had to be active in the process to hear good music.......

[@killmore75]

yessssss!

[@tarstarkusz]

I think that experience is the main thing people like about vinyl. Digital is music we listen to while doing something else, like working or driving or jogging or bicycling. Vinyl/cassette/CD is what we listen to when we listen to music where listening to the music the primary activity. There's also the dork factor of messing around, using different cartridges and needles, setting up the deck or vacuuming your album etc. Instead of listening through shitty earbuds through an even shittier op-amp in shitty cell phone, we listen in a good listening environment through a competent amplifier connected to OK speakers and where we are not distracted At least this is my experience (other than vacuuming my records, something I will never, ever do...that is just an eccentric activity too far for me). Presumably I'm not that special and am not the only person who enjoys this part.

[@tarstarkusz]

@Jan Johansen Funny thing is, I do the opposite. I have yet to figure out a way of creating a digital copy of a YT audio track (that sounds good) and so I record them to cassette and listen to them while running or cycling, on a walkman. All of the downloaders for YT recompress the audio and it just sounds awful. The generational degradation of digital to analog is very slight, while the YT to mp3 is godawful.

[@erwintimmerman6466]

If you want to be forced to listen to a whole album try 8-track tapes, these are continuous loop tapes that don't even rewind :-). And as far as effort goes, almost all tapes need to be repaired (repadded and respliced, and if you're unlucky the roller replaced) when you get them before you can even play them LOL.

[@svenschwingel8632]

Shhhhhhh ... don't tell Tony there has been a Nakamichi DRAGON turntable xD

[@alanh8863]

Shhhhh. Don't tell Tony about the Nakamichi TX-1000.

[@НиколайВасько-н5е]

Vinyl is all about the feeling and aesthetics, it has never been about the quality, even clicks and cracks can make you high

[@lurkersmith810]

My first cassette ever was a TDK C-60 that came with a little mono tape recorder I got in 1969 when I was a kid, that I used to record music off the radio (shout out to the Real Don Steele on 93 KHJ!). Anyway, I've been a TDK fan ever since, and in the 1980s, the SA-X 90s were my go-to tapes for recording my vinyl albums so I could play both sides in one go. Amazingly, you showed two of my favorite album from back in the day and somewhere I have both recorded on a SA-X 90 somewhere in my collection, and probably another copy on a D cassette that I carried in the car. (I hope my recordings were done after I upgraded to my Denon DR-M3 deck. Modest by your standards but the best cassette deck I've ever owned and it still works great.) I'm all for physical media. I'm a CD guy who still likes to play with vinyl. If music lovers win the "loudness war", then we can hopefully return to being able to enjoy new music without being fatigued. It's a shame because digital media (like CDs) offers extremely wide dynamic range, and modern engineering not only ignores that, but crushes the life out of it by just setting the levels to max like a middle-schooler would. I guess that's what happens when you let salespeople and accountants master your music for you.

[@Daijyobanai]

another wonderful video. I have mix tapes I made from CDs that I wrote the date on the card, and finding them again in recent years has been a joy. Also finding receipts in CD cases for albums I bought (do the same with books). I know kids these days don't want piles of "junk" they have to lug from shared flat to shared flat because they can't afford housing, but I doubt many will maintain a streaming service history for 20+ years that they can look back on. "All those playlists will be lost in time, like tears in rain."

[@JoeOrber]

We don’t even know what streaming services will exist in the near and distant future, and which content will come and go depending on music rights transfers and such things; however, our CDs, Mix Tapes and Vinyl Records will live on (unless a nuke melts us and them, heaven forbid) 😅

[@Micjoh]

I'm about 10 years older than you Tony. Our generation bought tapes to copy their mates vinyl, until they could afford to buy it. That's probably why I still prefer the sound from a good type 1 to a type 2. Back in the day , I simply could rarely afford chrome's. My favourite tape was the TDK AD in the early to mid 80's or the sony AHF/BHF. I have two rooms filled with vinyl...and an understanding wife

[@trencher7]

This was my tape of choice back in the day. I am a treble freak and liked the clear crisp highs this tape gave me.

[@kimjones308]

It’s amazing to me how refined separate directions of an analog sound reproduction became. Here you have a physical manifestation of sound waves read back by a diamond being recorded as a magnetic wave on a tape, both sound amazing, both are two totally different answers to the same question, both have their own separate flaws and benefits and both were successful in the same space at the same time.

[@laranaarana]

Love all of your videos. My Father had a nice Pacard-Bell stereo console in the late 60s to the mid-70s. Then he replaced it with a 3-in-1 Crown stereo unit (Record player/Cassette/AM-FM radio unit). Me? I worked at Radio Shack in the early 80s and I bought my first system there, a Realistic STA-79 AM/FM 5-band eq. amplifier paired with a pair of Optimus T-120 3-way speakers, a Lab-430 direct-drive turntable a CD-2000 CD player, and a Realistic SCT-23 ( I paid about U.S. D $1410.00 back in 1985!). From that system, I still have the speakers and the turntable; I replaced the amp/cassette deck and CD player in 1997 with an all Optimus brand system (STAV-3770 5.1 surround amp an SCT-57 dual cassette deck with HXPro/Dolby B-C-S/CAC and a CD-7300 6 disc (cartridge style) CD player (about U.S. D $750), and I still use to this day.

[@nsw9154]

Tony you have finally found the Holey Grail of Music after all these Years Vinyl is King so Enjoy it and i will see you on the Dark Side of the Moon

[@stevemeli]

Wooow! Fantastic Tony! That's a really beautiful video... Thank you for releasing 2 videos in quick succession!

[@RJS3566]

I grew up poor too. Now I still listen to budget equipment. Because I got married and had kids. So i'm poor again.

[@ChrisSmith-gt6lg]

Me too! ....Lol

[@maxbrown347]

I feel sick now, I used to use Sa-x and Ad-x back in the 80s Decided to have a clear out about 6 years ago and threw a whole load of both of those and basf chromes which had only been recorded on once. Went into the recycling skip😢😢😢😢

[@svenschwingel8632]

Also, a great vinyl album is Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories" ... I recently got it and I was blown away by its sound quality :D

[@stevesstuff1450]

Yeah, it is excellent... superbly mastered, and some brilliant music :-) The CD is nice too; doesn't sound brickwalled. They got it just right! Also sounding fantastic on vinyl and CD is Public Service Broadcasting's "The race For Space". Fantastic music, and brilliantly well recorded! Also very nostalgic for me as I remember hearing so many of those NASA audio clips that are used throughout.... I was there, seeing it on TV, when Eagle landed in Tranquility Base back in 1969! A brilliant record all round. :-)

[@svenschwingel8632]

@@stevesstuff1450 to me, it's the best pop album of the last 2 decades hands down

[@stevesstuff1450]

@@svenschwingel8632 : I would agree, but for me it's 'One' of the best!! Certainly brilliant, however you look at it! :-)

[@stuartleckie]

You should get the FLAC files and listen to it through some good headphones 🤪 I also have it on vinyl. It is wonderful.

[@micheltremblay4774]

I have a few of the USA SA-X90 that I bought in 1985 and I also have a few SA-X90 from later on, gloss black with a large window and gold logo and txt. they are still good after 35 years, a cd won't make it unless in controlled environment and don't play those LPs too often, copy them to tapes. My TDK tapes have survived many of the brutal stops that a Dragon can muster on a full side Fast Forward or Rewind, so for longevity, cassettes are still TOP. Thanks for making me look what I still have as cassettes go and maybe play a few later on. Oh! Keef Hartley Band, The Halfbreed album...

[@Rudolf_Edward]

I bought a ‘new’ Akai recently. Fiddled around with old TDK SA X tapes. They sound like i recorded on them yesterday instead of 34 years ago.... These tapes not only are very good, they last LONG...

[@stevesstuff1450]

Yes, cassette tapes can last surprisingly long - as long as they haven't been abused and treated badly over the years! I have some 70s and 80s pre-recorded tapes that still sound as fresh as the first time that i played them way back then! It's the same with records too! I have some original 60s Beatles albums that my parents bought and played over and over back then, but they still sound great on my Pro-Ject , Rega, Technics, or Audio Technica turntables... :-)

[@tipsy1973]

I had a nice Pioneer all in one stack in 1990, was great with its motorized volume control

[@NOWThatsRichy]

Sounds very similar to the one I had in that same year, although I did buy a separate CD player - A Philips CD 630, with remote, a pricey machine when it came out, I still have it & it still plays CDs as good as the day I bought it!

[@tipsy1973]

@@NOWThatsRichy I went for the Pioneer twin CD instead of the 6 disc. Liked the idea of being able to swap them when a disk was in.

[@Raptor50aus]

Would you recommend this chrome tape over a good metal tape? I just recorded a mixed tape using a Sony UX Chrome and I'm very happy and surprised how well it sounds. I am playing it back on a like new restored AIWA PX10.

[@CassetteComeback]

For the difference in price, I can't see the point in using a metal over a good type 2 today, unless you already have a used one or it would just make you happy 😉

[@vikramjitbanerjeetuki]

Thanks for standing up for us musicians Tony,love you

[@motalasuger]

I recently bought some records and a cheap-ish player (250 sek + replaced cartridge 300 sek) that I repaired myself in order to re-experience playing a few of them when a kid. I’ve found that what I think makes it a different experience is that you have to be so much more deliberate when playing something, and you’re more likely to listen to the whole album instead of just jumping between “best of” by every artist on Spotify or etc instead. Also records that are good enough quality to listen to costs very little, unless you go hunting for those popular rarities, but finding something new (to you) old is a interesting and cheap weekend experience to do sometimes.

[@robpinter5431]

Back last century when I did a lot of recording on a Tascam 488 8 track analogue recorder TDK SA-x were my tape of choice, shame that cassette tapes are so expensive now days sold as collector items.

[@TigerBoyRS]

Keep fisical media in use! You are so right, please suport the artists. Internet was a bliss, but streamming is slowly becoming the nemesis of new artists, in every style. Cheers from 🇵🇹

[@markmiwurdz202]

@Cassette Comeback. Thank you for your excellent YT content. Back in the day when I was asked about who made the best cassettes, I always said TDK. I have TDK tapes from the mid-1970's and they are still just fine. TDK were the tape of choice for me because they offered tape lengths/times to suit recording vinyl and CD e.g. C-46, C-80, usually AD spec. And since I did most of my listening in the car, it saved winding on un-recorded tape! Don't know if you have come across or reviewed TEAC cassettes. I had a couple in the 1980's and the tape "spools" had "rims" that were the full size of the wound tape inside the case. So through the clear tape shell - plus with the slots in the "spools" and the TEAC name printed on, it looked like a scaled down version of a reel-to-reel tape when playing. Can't remember what kind of tape, maybe Chrome or Metal maybe? Also, have you heard of a cassette brand called Dindy? Keep up the good work sir! Stay safe and well.

[@chinmeysway]

brilliant remarks on physical media being so important and supportive to the artists ❤

[@JerzyRugby]

In the 90s, when I had a lttle band, we made our first 'album' on compact cassette. The studio guru played the first cut from reel to reel and the monitor boxes in the studio. After that, a short break, and then it should face the 'real test', as he said. He and band headed to the parking lot and there we sat, five guys in a VW Polo, listening to tape over the car's hifi stereo. It was awesome!

[@benkrake3678]

Such a beautiful tape, a must have tape for my collection when I can find them! My father had a 60 min and 90 min variant of the SA equivalent of this tape. The 90 min had the Top Gun Soundtrack on it, and the 60 min had an 80’s compilation on it called Smash Hits 88! Even if I had the SA version of this tape, I’d be happy! Dannii is now a friend of mine, who lives pretty close to me, and has helped me through my re-found love for tapes, and helped me locate, fix, calibrate and service my Nakamichi 481. She is one of the coolest people I know, very skilled and talented person!

[@CassetteComeback]

Dannii is a one off alright, wonderful girl.

[@benkrake3678]

@@CassetteComeback when she told me she worked with Dragon and still has Todd Hunter’s phone number, I was blown away. One of my favourite bands of all time, and she got to work with them, incredible!!!

[@danniielle]

How did I miss these comments?! You guys are so kind! Much love to you both!!!

[@bubblegumgun3292]

im kinda new to recording onto tapes, i knew i was holding something special when i got one of these of a bin sale, so i had to youtube it , gawd out of these tapes sounds amazing no distortion or noise that i could hear

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Watching this reminds me - I must replace the belts on my Sony TC-K611S deck and play my tapes! I used to have around 500 - having a decent tape deck given to me when I was a teenager (a Pioneer CT-F500), and there being an excellent record and CD department at my local library meant that I built up my music collection quickly. I used cassettes throughout my student years - I’d buy secondhand records (they were dirt cheap in the early 90s) and record them during the holidays to play on my Walkman during term time. And of course, cars all had tape decks in them back then. Later I started using cassettes to build up a collection of classical music - piano recitals mainly. I still remember the joy of opening a new cassette!

[@QuadTubeChannel]

Remember having some form of study grant and instead of eating properly and using public transport I'd starve myself and ride a push-bike just so I could go out and fill carrier bags full of cheap vinyl. By cheap I don't just mean old and discarded, but brand new (including white label) from a guy who bough it in bulk and sold it at rock-bottom prices. The store didn't look mainstream like WH Smith or Woolworths, and a lot of people tended to avoided it as its location looked a little bit dodgy. The guy who ran it just wanted these records out the way, as most of his clients were into stuff like rap etc, and these were just an afterthought to him. Not to us. The vinyl itself, was mostly pristine: you could sense that "new" smell like on a new car the moment you took out the sleeve. In competition with each other, myself and my brother would ram carrier bags full records, then race home or to a relative's house the latter of which had a record good player and tape deck so we could record everything. Not a new Hi-Fi but one from the 70's that was built like a tank and had manual record levels. Sounded great. The folks would alll go out for the day, and there we were, me and my brother going crazy to the latest sounds; the bass from songs like that one you showed from the Cookie Crew, rocking the walls. Then the folks would come back and wonder what the hell was going on as they walked up the drive lol. Fortunately we kept most of the vinyl and stored it away. I could go back I wouldn't change anything it would be the ability to spend even more time and money buying records :)

[@CassetteComeback]

No one in 30 years is going to reminisce about the time the downloaded a new track. We've traded magic, for convenience.

[@macdaniel6029]

Ahhh, Brothers in Arms. A man of good taste I see :) My copy is from the 80s and it sounds good. I love listening to records and copy them to tape. Sure, it is a hassle compared to start a playlist on Spotify, but it is worth it.

[@Lone49Wolf]

I enjoyed your comments about the imperfect sound stage adding realism to the recording. Your observation is spot on. Thanks again for another great video.

[@Balrog-tf3bg]

I like cassettes to use to record my records, as well as finding good old music that is too expensive in vinyl. Plus I can record whatever I want.

[@JoeOrber]

Wow, just wow, what a beautiful cassette that is! It definitely is the pinnacle of quality and aesthetics, I don’t blame you for not selling any of them 😅. I completely agree with what you say, we don’t know how long we will be on this planet, and what the future may bring, so let’s enjoy what we can, while we can, we may not get the chance ever again 😊

[@MrSteney]

I was in the same boat as a kid in the 1980's. I loved cassettes, records, MTV and even radio was great back then. I didn't realize until I was much older how good all these things could sound on quality equipment. My Soundesign all in one stereo was what I had and I was used to snaps, crackles and pops. I was just grateful for a new record or cassette when my parents got one for me. My mom was really pissed when I got 12 cassettes in the mail. She asked me how I got them. I told her I taped a penny to the card and mailed it in. I'm surprised Columbia House didn't take me to court when I reniged on my contract. I was around 12 at the time. Yes, most media sounds better on good equipment, but the most important thing of all is just enjoying the music. I can't imagine living in a world without it.

[@markphilpot4981]

Pretty hard to not love vinyl after doing what I did for years building pure analog turntables for a living. Loved it then and still love it now. You’re right about not being perfect Tony, but if you have a great system, your pleasure is intensified! You can’t beat analog for pleasurable listening and whether it’s vinyl or tape as a medium, you will get the most pleasurable experience! Glad you are helping promote physical media as this is the most involving! Stay safe mates!😊👍🏻😷

[@flyingkillerrobots877]

Welcome to the other revival! I went the back to cassettes and then back onto vinyl route (and of course vinyl on cassettes) as well. I was gifted around 100 1985/6 Maxell XL-IIs (VERY slightly used to record several operas) and have been taping off my records as they come in. Thanks for the video, Tony!

[@otomobilmece]

I ve got the same TDK SA-X original Made in Japan. I ve recorded some vynle of Prince albums...it's still amazing souvenir for me.

[@LaskyLabs]

That's the thing with Vinyl. They get tracks without the brick wall. If CDs we're still mastered like they did in the 80s and early 90s then I think Vinyl wouldn't have taken off quite like it did, and people wouldn't be chasing SACDs and Vinyl as much as they do. Like I just bought some old Wang Chung CDs and they're quiet, but they have such a dynamic range it's just wonderful. You could tell they were pressed in the 80s because they say made in Japan. We didn't have any pressing factories in the US at the time, so all (if not most) CDs were being pressed in Japan. It's clear they cared about properly mastering these as they had a whole message on the back about how the album was made on analogue masters and they tried their best to preserve the sound, but due to the nature of CD, it might showcase flaws in the master tapes. You would never get that kind of message on CD cases these days! The only reason people are chasing such high resolution digital tracks is because CDs were ruined by the stupid loudness wars, killing all the dynamic range they had. It's sad... Because CDs really are just such a good format. But like you say, life has tape hiss, and that's okay, and I'm okay with it too.

[@LaskyLabs]

If anyone tells me the loudness wars weren't that bad, I'll just link to this image en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war#/media/File%3AABBA_-_Super_Trouper_Title_Track_Remaster_Waveform_Comparisons_(Small_Version).png

[@nickbitten6037]

Glad to see you have Brothers In Arms- the remaster 45rpm double record one is good indeed. I am sad as have this in several different formats. Crate digging and ploughing through boxes of cassettes in charity shops/ warehouses is part of lifes pleasure ( when they are open of course). Does no harm to be into different formats ( house space permitting). Keep up the great videos. Regards.

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

Pretty sure that's the 33 version, but yes it is a good version. I sold my Mofi version and kept the 'back to black' version.

[@mattyfrommacc1554]

My tape of choice back in the late '80s and early '90s, great sound for recording vinyl or CD's to tape for use in a decent tape 'walkman' & Sennheiser headphones

[@axelfiedel3793]

What kind of Noise Reduction did you use on your tapes?

[@simonguppy6023]

I remember shopping with my dad when he bought brothers in arms on vinyl when it was released and going home and he taped it for me. He had reasonable equipment back then but i wasn't allowed to use it. My journey was cassettes, cd's and mini disk. never got into vinyl. I do now have a few sacd's and brothers in arms is one of them and listened to it yesterday. There are two versions of the album the japanese sacd has shorter tracks i have and preder the mfsl sacd.

[@RWL2012]

I had a vinyl-sourced mixtape that was made for me by a friend's dad from DJ decks to a Hitachi in the early 2000s; only kept it until 2006 though :(

[@drazenkrasnic5851]

This is my favorite and most beautiful cassette ever!👍❤️

[@dougbergen8157]

Well I'm glad you came back to vinyl. I'm on a similar trek. Oh and great to see one of the greatest cassettes. Cheers

[@vasb.9055]

I may have a stupid question but I need some help...Can you use both lines (in/out) of an amplifier at the same time when record /play back? I mean...When record : Source ➡️ amplifier ➡️ deck (line in)... then when you play back : Deck ➡️ amplifier➡️speakers...? Or you need two amplifiers, one for line in and the other for line out ? Thank you.

[@CassetteComeback]

You only need one amp. Deck out to cassette in on the amp and cassette out to in on the deck

[@markthomas2436]

In my mind, that tape was the best type 2 tape ever made, followed closely by TDK-SA. It was SO quiet, and had very little hiss, and a beautiful treble compass. Recorded CDs with a clarity and airy awesome sound. I actually think it was better than a few metal tapes from other companies.

[@CandyAppleBlue]

"Nothing worthwhile in life is never easy!" Right on Tony, words to live by. Also, I'm really glad that you turned back on your comment section. ~ Hoyt

[@CassetteComeback]

We need to get you in vinyl 😉 Yeah, I'm just getting rid of the nasty comments as most people like the sense of community they give.

[@CandyAppleBlue]

@@CassetteComeback I'm pretty sure that there is a way to block those "nasty" naysayers? Oh yeah, totally, we need to make vinyl happen. There certainly seems to be a market for it.

[@CassetteComeback]

Yeah, it's called the "hide user from channel" function. I still don't like reading their bile, but two clicks and they're gone forever. You know where am I when that new album is ready 😎

[@marvinwyche5695]

@@CassetteComeback buying and paying cash for old school rap cassette tapes and old homemade mixtapes inbox me or holler back.

[@Mikexception]

Nicely told. . I returned to my young days custom to record anything from radio music to cassette just to have it in disposition ta any time for fun no matter that with radio talking inserts - at least it is not for sale nor gift to anybody. . Within even parts of it after few listenings I discover sometime very pulling music worth listening on and on . Bad side of new times is that people listen to something only once and go to next and next. With cassette we always check recording even once by curiosity, if no like it's so easy to rewrite with new stuff. . .

[@pcorf]

That is a great looking cassette, just good old school 1980's TDK, black shell, gold label. Even the SA (C90) is a fantastic cassette. I have a 1995 (SA90) with music recorded straight from CD, it is fantastic. I don't have a vinyl player but am considering one in the future. I have a few sealed Type I TDK's from this era (1985, 1986, 1987), mostly D's.

[@joeneedstosleep]

Tony, I'm probably one of your younger customers and didn't "get" cassettes until early this past year... Now I'm a budding maniac. All along I still didn't "get" vinyl. I think I kind of do now, though. Thanks as always for educating us, Tony!

[@RetroCore]

Now 12, bloody hell, that brings back memories. I had that on double cassette release. Loved that one so much my 80s collection I'm putting together has a cove in homage to that album.

[@CassetteComeback]

We must be about the same age. I remember doing loads of copies of it for friends in that glorious summer of 1988... I'm thankful now to have on on the pretty rare double CD in the big case.

[@RWL2012]

I had it too when I was little, handed down from my Mum :) Now I have the 1-63 double cassettes - 1983-2006 (126 cassettes!) as part of my pre-recorded collection. I hope to own 64 some day, but just 100 copies were duplicated.

[@RetroCore]

@@CassetteComeback I'd say so. I turned 45 back last November. Nice score on the double CD. That was pretty special back then. Don't think I got my fist CD Player until the early 90s. It was a Samsung and still works now apparently.

[@RetroCore]

@@RWL2012 Now 64? They actually went that far? Now 5 had a fantastic cover as far as I remember. Wasn't that the one on the Space Ship?

[@brennykins8823]

This vid was a treat; passion and fun with a good message woven through the fabric..

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

I like the artwork size of vinyl. Especially when some of them came in double gatefold. Some had custom inner sleeves, like your Greece record came with. Sometimes even big booklets like story records for children came with...

[@ykhm9778]

Hi, I watch for a while some of your movies, and really support getting back to physical media. Streaming, is not that what people want. Something special, you can keep in hand, record, tape - compose some tunes you want to give someone as a gift. That is all about - the feeling of handing over sth, that will last and survive the Internet outage :) I really hope, that manufactures like TDK, SONY MAXELL, will get back to produce tapes. As the records now. Lets support the artists in physical media, instead of having music in the "cloud". I get back to Pioneer CT-S777 and rediscover all over again after 20 years. Cheers!

[@crucie75]

My favourite album of all time and i'd say my favourite TDK of all time, imagine them combined :) Great vid as per usual Tony, That new artist sounds great!

[@danielmarshall4587]

OH DAMN IT ALL I feel a binge coming on........ and my thoughts are with you regards "getting into vinyl" the money I've spunked off on Vinyl replay. That deck you've got looks spot on don't worry any how all the best. OH DEAR BLOODY HELL you've gone down the 180/200g heavy weight pressings rabbit hole GOOD LUCK.

[@niktereuto8286]

After the EMP we will also still have minidisc 💽 since it needs to be also heated up to its curie point to be erased. Just putting a magnet on it isn't enough. So we will still have something to record our vinyl on to, assuming the machines get rebuilt or new ones are made :)

[@nvo7024]

Cutie point?! Minidiscs strongly disapprove ;)

[@CassetteComeback]

True, but it will be harder to make a minidisc player when we only have one arm and 3 ears than something that can get sound from a record 😆

[@phishpot]

Hi Tony, Congratulations, welcome to the black side 🙂 I'll give you a tip (no pun intended) - the Shibata stylus you have on your turntable will make brand new/pristine vinyl sound gorgeous ; the one caveat is that it is known to struggle slightly with vinyl that is slightly worn. You my find that your used discs may be prone to sibilant distortion and inner groove distortion. If you have the funds, I srongly recommend you *also* purchase the next stylus *down* from the VM95SH... the VM95ML. This has the microline tip (or Microlinear as Audio-Technica seem to call it nowadays). I'm not exaggerating why I say this tip is usually amazing with used vinyl; it really does cure distortion with slightly worn discs most of the time, giving you pristine audio. This makes crate digging for used vinyl a fair bit more enjoyable, and less prone to disappointments. I started using this style of tip in 2008. Truly the stuff of miracles.

[@DaveZula]

Really enjoyed this video! I used to collect old vinyl records because they were the cheapest way to hear classic music. Once that stopped being the case I moved on to CD, which became the cheapest way to get classic music. Now everything is expensive and I’ve very reluctantly given in to streaming. I still try to buy physical media whenever possible, though. ✌️❤️

[@pcallas66]

When removing the plastic wrap from tape case I would always pull the plastic string at an angle and would completely come off easily.

[@JamesMossR33]

I bought quite a bit of vinyl in the 80s and remember using BASF chrome tapes before going to SAs...generally I followed what mates were using. I (hope) might have some used SA-Xs in my parents loft. I never had a quality setup (a Pioneer all-in-one system) but remember being mad with myself if I messed up the start of a recording and had to (oh the horror) record on the first bit of the tape twice. Actually my car cassette players were generally of an 'Audioline' quality so didn't do the tapes justice anyway. Brothers in Arms was my first CD and remember being blown away by the quality.

[@PerfDayToday]

I just found your channel, subbed. The other day I was watching a YT video on the history of the dragon, and left the following comment. I loved making tapes, recording albums, radio programs, mixed tapes, etc. Best of all, I still have all my tapes 45 plus years later, boy, those tapes are OLD! 🥲 “I started out as a recreational user in high school, 1973/74 using a Superscope CD-301 tape deck. By the time I was a freshman in college I was mainlining w a Pioneer CT F-9191. In my adult years, early 2000’s I was hooked on a Revox B215. 🥲🥲 I had friends who did Nak Dragons.”

[@markphilpot4981]

Hey Tony, my ears are listening to recordings I made back in the day on an NAD 6300 sounding too good to be true on my new to me Revox B 215 straight out the shop! It’s a heaven sent experience. Still have the NAD 6300 and bought it new in 1987! Lovely analog tuneage! Lovely! Glorious! Somebody stop me! Worth the wait and then some! Stay safe mates!😊💖😷

[@CassetteComeback]

Nothing wrong with NAD stuff. Now that Revox is sorted, start recording on decent Type 1s...wait till you hear how good it makes those sound!

[@robertb5640]

Wonderful video as always Tony! One thing that got me back to the cassette was so I can listen to my vinyl in the car. The best way to do that nowadays is with a Walkman so I can bring my music everywhere with me and not feel bad for recording the album because I own it on vinyl. vinyl can sound amazing, yes It can get crazy expensive but so can anything in life; it can go as far as you want to take it!

[@CassetteComeback]

It's sad. My car has the kind of entertainment system I'd have killed for in my 20s. Now I plug a walkman in to the aux...

[@chevycaprice87]

I have a Sony Low Noise C-60 cassette from 1967, it still CAPTURES THE STRENGTH AND DELICACY OF EVERY SOUND.

[@CassetteComeback]

Stored like something you care about, cassettes will outlast us...

[@Vintaronica]

Physical Media isnt coming back; subcription digital music is failing. Physical media never left the building; long may it continue.

[@CassetteComeback]

It was on "life support", I mean, look how many high street music shops disappeared, but it's making a recovery...and I'm glad about that. "You don't know what you got til it's (nearly) gone"

[@Vintaronica]

@@CassetteComeback Yes absolutely. My children will never know what it was like to grow up, watching saturday morning telly, (remember going live), then going out to town for the afternoon on the bus, meeting up with your mates at HMV, or Our Price music, buying the latest chart releases on cassette or LP, then to go to mcdonalds to unwrap your BIG MAC from the POLYSTYRENE case (REMEMBER THAT?? NO COLD BURGERS) and sit talking about your fav band, taking the piss out of each other, getting back home on the bus in time for the UK chart Radio, so we can listen for our fav artists and record them off the radio onto TAPE, even though we already bought the singles earlier on in the day.....THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!

[@CassetteComeback]

To me, the biggest let-down of the modern world is the devaluation of Saturday. I recently watched the intro to the ITV Chart show and I was welling up. That WAS my Saturday morning. I'd listen then go in to town to meet my mates, looking for artists I liked on the show, in Our Price, Menzies, Andy's Records etc. See what new videos and video games were out too. The thing was, you never knew what was going to be on the shelves and sometimes it was genuine joy when something you'd been waiting for was finally released. Better than the deed, better than the memory...the anticipation. That's what made Friday's so awesome, Saturday was the day after. Now, I hardly ever go in to town. My kids don't see the point, they already know what is out there...and Amazon can deliver it tomorrow.

[@Vintaronica]

@@CassetteComeback don't worry buddy. IT WILL come back. The infiltration of the GOOGLE generation is going to be temporary. I love your channel BTW, I also love to record onto tapes, I have a Technics M235x tape deck, it's only 2 head, but I love it..keep up the content. I have fond memories of playing JK'sTravelling without moving on my RQ-SX7 on the way to college..perhaps you can do a video of a slimline walkman from the mid 90's...👍

[@CassetteComeback]

I don't have any expensive walkmans. The best I have is an Aiwa like the one Techmoan has already reviewed.

[@markonmotoring]

Sounds like we grew up with similar audio equipment. I bought a fairly entry level Marantz turntable a few years ago which is good enough for me. I agree fully about the wide variation in vinyl quality. Regarding the cassette, I have an SA of that same year and it's one of the nicest sounding of the SA and SA-X I've had. The labels add a premium touch too.

[@hughmaguire2763]

loving what you do Tony please tell us all again where wee can listen in on your broadcast

[@CassetteComeback]

I stopped doing the radio show, but I've for a special coming up. I'll post it the community when it's done. The old stuff is here: m.mixcloud.com/theretronouveau/

[@NOWThatsRichy]

Hello Tony,, fascinating video, nice to see you're getting into vinyl, as you say there's nothing better than having a physical copy of your music, that you can actually hold & look at, not to mention some of the brilliant sleeve artwork too. I've still got all my vinyl collection from the early 80's to around 1990, mostly 12 inch singles, plus a few LPs & 7 inch singles, much of the collection is still in mint condition as alot were only played a few times, as I used to make mixtapes of a lot of them, mostly TDK AD or ARX & a few SA chrome too, these cassettes still sound as good as the day I recorded them, despite being played many times on various Walkmans & other portable ghetto blasters! I heard you say late generation SA tapes are going for £10 a time, I've still got a couple of wrapped ones, better hang on to them then! That new artist you were playing sounded good too. Brothers in Arms, brilliant album, both in musical & audio quality, I've got it on CD, it was one of the first CDs to be recorded entirely digitally, (DDD), Mine is a very early copy, It's recorded very loud compared to other CDs & seems to have a very wide dynamic range.

[@thinlizzysupporter]

The Audio Technica AT-LP5 is a fine turntable, highly recommended by the hi-fi magazines. I have one myself and I love it, it hits a real value for money sweet spot. I have plenty of lp’s that have barely any noise, pops or crackles, some of them 40+ years old, I always looked after them. Great to hear you are back into it and releasing new music on the format. Physical media for me every time. Keep up the great work 👍🏻

[@CassetteComeback]

I read so much about turntables I got confused. I went to a local hifi shop (I like to support these guys) to buy a new CD player mainly and while I was there said "I know little about vinyl, what do you recommend for a beginner that sounds decent as a starter deck?" He recommended a Rega, but I've used AT headphones for years and trust them, so asked about this one. He put a record on for me to listen to and I said "sold"

[@svenschwingel8632]

@@CassetteComeback The Rega Planar 3 is a killer turntable with a decent bang for buck if you ever plan to upgrade. As is the Fluance RT-85. Stay away from entry-level belt-driven models, though. They often have very high W&F.

[@richardbates2367]

Another reason I buy CDs still physical Media I own I don't need internet to listen to it anytime I choose.

[@peterw1213]

I still have 5pcs of this version of SA-X and all the recordings in 1987still sounded superb! Yes, I agree it's the best chrome tape from TDK. Should have bought more at that time when it was still cheap.

[@QuadTubeChannel]

I recall purchasing Sabrina's 'Boys, Boys, Boys' on 12" vinyl several hears ago.. The store assistant hastily stuffing it into a brown paper bag as though it were a porn mag. I got a lot of interest from that cover.

[@CassetteComeback]

I loved the music video to that 😆

[@fridgemagnet]

@@CassetteComeback Yes, wonderful filming and editing I recall.

[@vasb.9055]

Hello! Nice video. I want to ask: You have a red cable on the phones output so how can we hear the sound delivered by the deck ?

[@CassetteComeback]

That red cable from the deck goes to a Sony hi-res recorder, which records the decks output.

[@vasb.9055]

@@CassetteComeback So we hear the sound from Sony hi-res recorder ?

[@erwindewit4073]

Hi Tony, 1. Welcome to vinyl (well, again)! It's a great format and great artwork. And indeed, something physical to treasure... 2. Who cares what the turntable is (well, preferably not the Crosley kind as they sound quite poor). As long as it's good enough for you... Cool thing: you can upgrade, set it up as well as possible, and it all makes a difference (and can be cheap to free as well!). 3. I still have records that are quiet. No cracks and pops. Daughter and Khruanbin (recent stuff), but also the Jean Michel Jarre record you showed from the 1980s still is dead quiet. People say you really need 180 gram records to sound good. But I have records that are 90 grams (really light and thin), and are quiet and sound great! It how good they pressing is I guess. 4. To my experience, the first time you play the record (modern one) is not really the best one. There seems to be some residue left on the record which you hear. Once you cleaned it and played it a bunch of times, that disappears, and the record sounds a lot better (and quieter). 5. Some are just garbage. Again a limited edition Daughter has so much noise, sometimes just one channel. It's horrible. Same with Enya's last LP (Dark Sky Island). Not brickwalled, just a very poor pressing. Which hurts if you just spent 35 euros on it to get it imported. London Grammar was fine (Truth is a beautiful thing), let's see what the new one is going to be like (once it arrives). 6. Cool! I'd love to see your music on vinyl too! 7. I think your test pressing has a spindle hole that is off-center. The center weight and cartridge seems to be swinging from side to side.. That won't help the quality. 8. It's ironic. You use a cassette deck and cassette that are both more expensive than the turntable and record (once it gets released) are as the source! So you might actually get an equally good recording on a normal SA :) (but the SA-X is great to see! And I wish I had some!). 9. I still hope that the youth will get into physical media as well. I'm really glad that I can still play me old records and CD's that I bought decades ago (well, from the late 1980s on).. 10. I use vinyl (LP's, 12 inches, and singles (7 inches), cassettes (on Nakamichi decks, thanks to you), CD's (old Philips CD player) and Minidiscs (better than you don't remember). I really really love physical media! 11. I just use Spotify to record new things onto cassette with. And if I like it enough (and can afford it), I'll buy the CD/LP/cassette.. I love that! 12. I hope your new business gets off to a great start! And I still love your channel... 13. You should have a better turntable, MC cartridge, audiophile great power and racks, silver cables etc. Otherwise, it just won't sound right ;)

[@Eyerex]

Like all the music formats but there's something about playing a record or tape as you feel more involved as with a record you can see everything that's going on and with a tape you spent an hour or two picking the tunes you want to record

[@paper_panzer]

For a while after I started my cassette collection I didn't even bother with vinyl, mainly due to the idea of me taking things gradually, but also that I didn't really feel like I would enjoy the medium. (Mainly storage and seeing the asking prices!) But then I decided to pick up a couple of those Maxell "Sampler" LPs from my local goodwill, and shortly after I scored a complete Audio-Technica TT for a good price at a different goodwill. At some point I do want to upgrade to a better deck (as it's a P-Mount) but it was definitely a good intro unit. Meanwhile the records multiplied. The best part about vinyl to me was finding new music, not newly recorded, but artists that I hadn't heard of or hadn't heard much of their other material. I haven't stopped listening to FM, but they play the same old stuff all the time. Just perusing a record shop's "discount" section one can find plenty of interesting music, some of which was only a demo record and the group never released anything else afterwards. And double thumbs up on the Jean-Michel Jarre album Tony!

[@CassetteComeback]

JMJ is a god to me. Did you catch his concert on NYE? Amazing! It's on KZbin. I love streaming because it allows me to find new artists...who if I love, I'll buy something physical off.

[@paper_panzer]

@@CassetteComeback I did not see that, I'll have to look up a recording of it later. I will add that the beauty of the internet, YT, and the streaming services as well is most music that your not aware of and want to know how it sounds is just one search away... although I do still pull the trigger on something without even looking it up first. One LP that I bought that way recently was "Fool's Gold" (self-titled, 1976), a Illinois-based country rock group, mastered and managed by the same people that also formed the Eagles. (Glyn Johns, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh) Spellbound sounds almost like them, the group has one other album that I hope to get at some point "Mr. Lucky" (1977). I would have never heard their music or known they even existed had it not been for the "pick-one-for-free" bin at my local record shop if you make a purchase. I just grabbed it out of curiosity. While previewing music on the internet is handy, the action of doing it blindfolded and being pleasantly surprised after is something I've only had with a handful of other hobbies.

[@josephfrye7342]

nice i see you can record cassette tapes with vinyl back in the day before compact disc or streaming musics.

[@maxiboyfm3a]

Been thinking about what you said regarding brickwalled modern mastering, I was recently recording a fairly new indie track to tape and the VU meters stayed at the peak almost the whole track.

[@CassetteComeback]

The subtleties and dynamics will have been squashed out...

[@johnwerner4925]

I love TDK. I say this as an avid cassette taper in the late seventies to late eighties. TDK SA was my personal reference. I felt it gave the most performance in fidelity and low noise together in one tape. That said the SA-X was a game changer. You could hardly overload it in any kind of ugly way. It was so crystalline in the upper octaves as long as your equipment was up to the talk. I did try metal in many nameplate iterations but I never felt anything (even Maxell's best) bested the SA-X blank cassette.

[@comicmania2008]

Very nice sound, nice to see you are into records as well as cassettes now! I love my records too, but I don't tend to record them, I'd sooner listen to the record itself, and wear it out probably, because it's mine to wear out!

[@CassetteComeback]

Oh, I listen to them without recording too. My children won't want them after I'm gone...

[@jasonwilliams6005]

That tape was my go-to back in the 80s

[@Qubeorama]

Rock Da House! That really takes me back :D.. Now 11 record 2 side 2, played that so much I pretty much cut my own groove in the record!

[@CassetteComeback]

That was a mega side. Jack that house built, tired of getting pushed around, my first proper intro into dance music...and my fave album cover ever.

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

Music sounds great! Definitely will order a copy. Obviously that is a test pressing, judging by the amount of the the arm moving in and out, hopefully they try and get the centre hole more centred on the final pressings. Nothing worse that W&F and the end of an LP.

[@CassetteComeback]

Yeah, it's the biggest plant in the UK I'm using, so I'd like to think so 😁

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

@@CassetteComeback As you like electronic music. The PC game TFX from 1993 has probably the best soundtrack ever to grace a computer. It's on yt, link here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/roPPon-unr-dsKM. There's not a duff track on the whole cd. If you like it I’d be happy to send you a copy on cd or email and 'ISO' to you.

[@CassetteComeback]

I think I still have that game. I remember it being as buggy as hell at the time.

[@ElectoneGuy]

Tony, what Yamaha Electone organ models are those?

[@CassetteComeback]

In the synth pic? I don't know, it's Dannii's rig, not mine.

[@ElectoneGuy]

@@CassetteComeback Ah, ok.

[@KR1275]

I also like 2nd hand tapes without wrapper, so I can play with it! As long as it has no writings.

[@BogoEN]

Hey Tony, would you say the SA-X had some of the best high frequency response of the classic type II’s? If not which make would you suggest?

[@trondam]

Thanks for your video, mate and welcome to the vinyl community 😊👍🎶

[@dannysvinylrainbow4852]

Love tapes! Can’t wait to see where it goes from here🤞we need better quality decks and portables at affordable prices

[@CassetteComeback]

The cassette Comeback will be short without at least once decent new deck...

[@z6100geek]

cassette and tape is made for use, not for collection. Use your tape. Make your pleasur.

[@nmosfet5797]

Good to hear your voice, Tony!

[@Uberhood]

No worries about the Record player setup Tony. As long as you're having fun and you are satisfied with how it sounds, then it's perfect! Btw. it actually sounds very good, so don't change a winning system :) I am looking forward to your vinyl release, do you know in which time frame we can expect that release?

[@CassetteComeback]

First one is going to be march at the earliest. Don't worry, I'll show it off on a video when they're with me 😉

[@connorm955]

If i don't like a vinyl copy of an album i usually go with the original CD release.

[@thorbennielsen3845]

Have you made a video on Dolby Noise Reduction? Pros&cons

[@derekporter7658]

I remember these!! My pal and I used to compare Maxell and TDK type 2s until I got That's and Denon!! Brilliant video!! Thanks for sharing Tony!! Keep them coming!! Tangible media is always better in my opinion!!

[@erwintimmerman6466]

Yes, that particular SA-X probably belongs somewhere in the top 5 of most beautiful cassettes ever made.

[@AndyBHome]

What is the model of turntable? I can't seem to find it in the video. Audio Technica . . . ?

[@CassetteComeback]

Lp-at5x

[@AndyBHome]

@@CassetteComeback Congratulations Tony! It looks really nice! Thank you for answering my question. I love all sorts of stereo gear and that is a model I am unfamiliar with, and now I know why - we don't have that model in North America. Not only do we not get exactly that model name, we don't even get a variation of it, at least not as far as I can tell. It's really nice to have direct drive, and that looks like a very good version of the classic Technics SL1200 type turntable. I just got one of the reissued versions of it when my 45 year old Dual 701 direct drive turntable failed, and it's excellent. I know people will whine and wring their hands about it not being true audiophile grade, but they're I think they're wasting their time. If these turntables are good enough for studios to use to check masters and pressings, and that is exactly what they use for those purposes, then they are way more than good enough for everyday and critical playback.

[@michaeldibb]

Have you ever covered 1/4" Reel to Reel tape?

[@madtopp]

glad to see your ventureing into the vinyl revolution and thats a dahm nice looking record deck you have brought their tony. i got my records out from the loft from my dj'ing day a couple of years back and got my self a deck from local charity shop with a decent cartridge and needle and as back in the 80's i still record them onto cassette and use them for when i go out with my walkman. for me the best version on the 1985 rel dire straights album is the track 2 long version money for nothing i really crank the volume for that one. i got introduced to john michel jarre when i had a saturday job at a butchers and have liked him ever since. music is in the "ear" of the listener so to say and i do really hate that dahm word a lot of people like to call them self "audiophile" to me its just like that stupid word "mancave". i think my last album i got witch was last year and that was change ....paradise on that 180g vinyl and to me it sounds great esp as it has certan mix's i was after on it . i did buy a album of e-bay a few months bac used called upfront 1 and as i do have a couple of them on cassette witch i brought back in the 80's and when it turned up i check it out and saw the state of the record and it as been used for scratching this is a problem with buying used vinyl you can not guarentee the history of it as we all now handle vinyl with the same respect as a tape never touch the playing face of it oh and yes i agree that sexy sa-x has got to be the best looking cassette in and out of the wraping