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CASSETTE TEST UPDATE:

12 FORMULATIONS HOWARD A. ROBERSON

ith the continuing introduction is designed to use Type II bias. The not been evaluated. Swire also felt that
and updating of cassette tape manufacturer claims greatly improved the results indicated the samples of
formulations, it was just about high -frequency MOLs, which normally their tapes were not representative and
inevitable that some manufacturer aren't very good for Type II tapes. provided new samples for retest.
would deliver samples after the dead- This follow-up will also cover retest -
line for our "Mass Tape Test" (Septem- ing of Radio Shack (Realistic) and Test Methods
ber 1983). Konica and TDK had that Swire formulations. Radio Shack spe- A brief word is in order to describe
distinction, but the omission is being cifically questioned the results pre- the evaluation leading to the results in
corrected here. There are two Konica sented for their Supertape Hi -Bias the Table, response plots, and com-
Type I formulations, designated ML tape, but provided samples for their mentary that follow. All of the tests
and GM -I, a Type II tape called GM -II entire cassette line. Retesting was con- were made on a Nakamichi 582 deck.
and a Type IV, Metal. TDK introduced ducted on the three formulations coy- The bias for each tape was adjusted
a new metal particle formulation, des- ered before, and the same tests were for best response at 20 dB below
ignated HX-S, which is unique in that it run on Realistic Low Noise, which had Dolby level, after adjusting the record

AUDIO/SEPTEMBER 1984 47
 Most of the tapes showed little or no skew
and were consistent in sensitivity, bias
requirements and output level.

head for alignment with the playback tuned to 3 kHz, while the dropout mium tape with low MRLs and higher
head for that particular sample. The check used a sweep rate of 0.05 S per noise than most Type tapes. The con-
I

bias level was metered and referenced division. sistency was quite good in most re-
to the bias that secured best response spects, but one of the samples which
with the IEC reference tape for the tape Measurements showed a little skew also had some
type under consideration. The record Table lists the results of the evalua-
I
output-level wandering (0.35 dB) and
sensitivity was checked against the tion of the 12 formulations. The ar- higher than average flutter.
same reference tape. Because the fre- rangement is exactly the same as used Realistic Supertape Gold: Tests of the
quency responses at -20 dB were so in the earlier article, facilitating any newer samples revealed that a good
similar, they were not plotted. Those at comparisons that might be desired. Type tape had become better, with
I

0 dB, or Dolby level, were, however, as Each of the 0 -dB response plots has a higher MRLs, lower noise, and im-
they showed the limitations from high - 3% MRL curve added to help visualize proved output -level stability. Flutter
frequency saturation. the significance of the figures in the was slightly better than average.
The MRLs (maximum record levels) Table. Swire Laser XL: The new samples evi-
at a limit of 3% third -harmonic distor- The brief comments below on each denced general improvements. Espe-
tion were measured at 100 and 400 Hz of the formulations are arranged alpha- cially worthwhile was the over 5 -dB in-
and at 1 and 2 kHz. The 3% THD limit betically by brand within tape type. crease in MRLs from 100 to 2,000 Hz.
for higher frequencies was established Most of the tapes showed little or no Bias and sensitivity were much closer
using twin -tone IM techniques. The skew and had consistent sensitivity to the IEC reference tape. The samples
signal-to-noise ratio was measured and bias. The output -level stability was had noticeable skew, however, and the
with both IEC A and CCIR/ARM weight- usually quite good, and most of the output -level stability was just fair.
ings, using the level for 3% distortion at samples showed average flutter. Swire Laser UHDI: The earlier tests of
400 Hz as the reference. (The Table of this formulation had shown an unusual
results does not list the CCIR/ARM fig- Type I Tapes distortion spectrum under some condi-
ures, as they were consistently just Konica ML: Overall, the results would tions, but the new samples did not
about 2.6 dB less than the dBA re- be classified as typical for a Type I have any such characteristic. The
sults.) Modulation noise was measured tape. The analyzer display in the drop- MRLs were fairly good across the
by recording a 1 -kHz tone at +3 dB, out test showed some roughness, but band, and there was a slight improve-
notching out the tone in playback with dropouts close to audibility were quite ment in the signal-to-noise ratio. The
a very narrow filter, and measuring the infrequent. samples were very consistent, includ-
output noise after a bandpass filter of Konica GM-l: This is one of the better ing their lack of skew.
500 to 1,500 Hz was inserted. tapes in this category, with good
The output -level stability, dropouts MRLs, nice responses, high consisten- Type II Tapes
and flutter were all measured on the cy, no skew, low noise, very good out- Konica GM -/I: This is a good Type II
playback of a recorded 3 -kHz tone. put -level stability and no dropouts, tape, with good MRLs, low noise, no
The stability was examined with a 2-S/ even of a minor nature. dropouts and excellent output -level
division sweep on a spectrum analyzer Realistic Low Noise: This is a non -pre- stability. The samples had excellent

TABLE I

MAXIMUM RECORD LEVEL RESPONSE AT

dB re: 400 -Hz Dolby Level
S/N
-3 dB (kHz)
MOD
HDL3 = 3% TTIM = 3% RATIO 0dB -20 dB NOISE BIAS SENS
BRAND DESIGNATION TYPE 100 400 1k 2k 5k 10k dBA Level Level dB dB dB
Konica ML + 3.6 4.4 + 5.1 +4.0 -3.8 -10.0 56.1 9.1 23.6 -44.6 -2.2 +0.4
Konica GM-I + 4.4 5.8 + 7.1 +4.5 -1.2 - 7.5 58.4 10.5 23.4 -47.5 +0.3 -0.2
Realistic Low Noise + 1.2 2.3 + 3.0 +1.9 -4.3 -10.3 52.7 9.0 22.9 -45.1 -2.1 +0.2
Realistic Supertape Gold + 6.0 6.6 + 6.7 +4.6 -1.3 - 7.6 57.5 10.1 23.9 -47.5 -1.2 +1.0

Swire Laser UHDI I + 3.7 + 5.0 + 6.4 +3.2 -2.3 - 8.4 55.2 10.1 23.3 -48.3 -0.7 -0.3
Swire Laser XL I + 2.6 + 3.9 + 5.3 +3.3 -2.0 - 8.6 53.7 10.1 23.5 -47.1 -0.9 -0.5
Konica GM -II + 4.3 + 5.9 + 6.7 +3.5 -4.5 -10.6 60.9 9.8 22.6 -49.2 -0.3 +1.0
Realistic Supertape Hi -Bias + 4.4 + 5.4 + 5.7 +2.1 -5.1 -10.4 59.7 9.6 23.4 -47.1 +0.2 +0.8
Swire Laser UHDII + 0.6 + 1.9 + 3.0 +2.1 -6.2 -11.1 57.0 9.3 23.9 -51.4 -0.1 -0.1
TDK HX-S 12.0 25.8 + 7.8 +8.7 +8.9 + 7.0 - 1.7 - 6.4 60.6 -47.4 0.0 +3.5
Konica Metal + 6.8 + 8.6 + 10.1 +6.8 -0.5 - 5.9 61.2 12.9 25.1 -50.0 +0.1 -0.3
Realistic Supertape Metal + 9.0 + 10.9 +11.4 + 7.3 0.0 - 6.2 64.3 13.5 24.7 -49.9 +0.3 +1.5

48 AUDIO/SEPTEMBER 1984
 As these tests demonstrate, you can expect
continuing improvements and new names.
Isn't it nice to have so many quality tapes?

TYPE I

-------
; .
Konica ML (top) and GM -I Realistic Low Noise (top) and Swire Laser XL (top) and
Supertape Gold Laser UHDI

TYPE II TYPE IV

.
Konica GM -II (top) and Swire Laser UHDII (top) and Konica Metal (top) and
Realistic Supertape Hi -Bias TDK HX-S Realistic Supertape Metal

consistency of sensitivity, bias needs Table demonstrate that this formulation shrink-wrap, a change from the Radio
and lack of skew. takes its place as the highest perform- Shack practice of using simple label
Realistic Supertape Hi -Bias: It was ing of all Type Ils, with the most ex- seals. More important, however, was
quickly apparent that results with the tended responses at both 0 and -20 the increase in MRLs across the band,
new samples were better than first re- dB and the highest MRLs overall. The making this one of the better metal
ported. A reassessment of the earlier signal-to-noise ratio is very good, but tapes. Its consistency remained one of
samples revealed that a reference -lev- not outstanding, and the modulation the best for this tape type, and the low
el error of 2 dB had been introduced noise is a little high. The required bias price adds to its appeal.
inadvertently while doing low- and mid - was to the IEC reference, but the sen- The evaluation of these 12 formula-
frequency MRL tests with this formula- sitivity was at +3.5 dB-not a problem tions demonstrated that the user can
tion only. The new samples provided if one compensates for it. There was expect to see continuing improve-
even better results, with good MRLs outstanding consistency among all ments in products from tape manufac-
and low noise, as shown in Table I. samples, including both sides. turers. TDK HX-S is an unusual addi-
There was little measured skew, also tion to the tapes available, and for
an improvement over the earlier report. Type IV Tapes some decks, the lower bias require-
Swire Laser UHDII: The new samples Konica Metal: This is a typical metal ments of this excellent formulation will
of this tape were somewhat different tape, showing extended responses, be beneficial. And there will be new
from those tested before: Poorer low - high MRLs and low noise. The consis- names appearing on those boxes as
frequency MRLs, better high -frequen- tency from sample to sample was very other firms hope for success in this
cy MRLs, a lower signal-to-noise ratio good, including no skew. The dropout competitive market. Perhaps this will
and lower modulation noise. Overall, it display was a bit rough, but none of increase confusion about what choice
remained one of the poorer Type II them got to the audibility threshold. to make, but isn't it nice to have a
tapes. Realistic Supertape Metal: These new number of quality formulations to
TDK HX-S: The test results listed in the samples were in improved boxes with choose from? A

AUDIO/SEPTEMBER 1984 49