This TDK MA-50 compact cassette comes with the extension “ET” (MA-50ET) and is most probably from around 1992 for the European market. In our LCC categories this tape is in #12, the Entry-Level for Type IV metal compact cassette tapes. ET always reminds me of the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial by Steven Spielberg 🙂
TDK describes the cassette case itself having a “super precision anti-resonance cassette mechanism” and the cassette metal tape comes with “metal alloy cassette super wide dynamic range”. The sound of this tape is made possible with “ultra fine Finavinx metal particles densely packed in the magnetic layer”.
Finally you can see that TDK categorized the metal position of the MA right before the MA-XG. In other words, the MA-X is missing here.
TDK really provided quality work. As a result, the plastic foil was still perfect in place hence unwrapping of the compact cassette was a little effort. See for yourself in the Tape-Meditation #2 video. What about the frequency response?
The curve of TDK MA-50 ET compact cassette
To sum it up, this TDK Entry-Level compact cassette shows a very even curve with a slight dip in the high frequencies before the roll-off. After all we are very curious, so we decided to make another curve with auto-bias (m.1). The left and right channel were 1dB apart so we made a second (m.2) measurement which looks fine. Why was this 1dB apart? Maybe the spot on the tape, some particles on the Record/ Play head a ghost in the tape deck? If you want to know more about our measurements, please have a look here.
Now its time for you to compare the original ZEN-MEN recording with the enchanted version of the TDK MA-50 compact cassette tape.
Here is the link to the original ZEN-MEN track “Live your dream” feat. DJ Jondal (cut)
And here is the link for the enchanted version of the TDK MA-50 compact cassette tape
How does it sound to you? Let us know your thoughts via a comment over at YouTube or collide with us via the contact form.
Rokkon, you crazy, little diamond and live your dream! 😉