[net.audio] Maxell change?

rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (02/22/85)

I just recently bought a box of Maxell XL-II cassettes.  The package is
different and the labelling is "XL-II" where it was formerly "UD XL-II".
Does this represent a real change or just one of those gratuitous/mean-
ingless marketing changes to avoid "foolish consistency"?
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been.

cs2532aa@unm-cvax.UUCP (02/26/85)

> From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)

> I just recently bought a box of Maxell XL-II cassettes.  The package is
> different and the labelling is "XL-II" where it was formerly "UD XL-II".
> Does this represent a real change or just one of those gratuitous/mean-
> ingless marketing changes to avoid "foolish consistency"?
> -- 
> Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086

As far as I know, Maxell's XL-II tapes are totally different tapes 
from the UD/XL-II series.  I believe that the XL-IIs are normal bias
while the UD/XL-IIs are "chrome" bias.  You probably just grabbed the
wrong box.  I just bought another 10 UD/XL-IIs last week.

On a similar subject, what is a good price for UD/XL-IIs?  I find that I
can get them for around a buck-seventy for a C90 when Silo has them on
sale.  I go through these suckers pretty fast.

		.rne.

-----
Real World . . Ernie Longmire / 311 Don St. SE / Los Lunas, NM  87031-9405
UUCP . . . . . {{purdue,cmcl2,ihnp4}!lanl,ucbvax}!unmvax!unm-cvax!cs2532aa
-----

rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (02/28/85)

> > (my question)
> > I just recently bought a box of Maxell XL-II cassettes.  The package is
> > different and the labelling is "XL-II" where it was formerly "UD XL-II".
> > Does this represent a real change...
> As far as I know, Maxell's XL-II tapes are totally different tapes 
> from the UD/XL-II series.  I believe that the XL-IIs are normal bias
> while the UD/XL-IIs are "chrome" bias...

Sorry--I should have been a little clearer.  The [?UD?] XL-I is the normal-
bias tape.  The XL-II that I'm asking about is marked "High Bias (Type II)"
and "70 us EQ" in various places, just as the UD XL-II's are.  Both are
also marked "Epitaxial".

And, in belated answer to a question someone mentioned in email to me, I
just noticed that the newer tape is marked "Maxell Corporation of America"
on the inside of the card insert, so it seems unlikely that it's grey
market.

The price was about the same as I've expected to pay for the UD XL-II's,
which around here is small change under $2.  I remain unenlightened.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been.

sgcpal@watdcsu.UUCP (Paul Arthur Layman -- EE) (03/01/85)

> > From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
> 
> > I just recently bought a box of Maxell XL-II cassettes.  The package is
> > different and the labelling is "XL-II" where it was formerly "UD XL-II".
> > Does this represent a real change or just one of those gratuitous/mean-
> > ingless marketing changes to avoid "foolish consistency"?
> > -- 
> > Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
> 
> As far as I know, Maxell's XL-II tapes are totally different tapes 
> from the UD/XL-II series.  I believe that the XL-IIs are normal bias
> while the UD/XL-IIs are "chrome" bias.  You probably just grabbed the
> wrong box.  I just bought another 10 UD/XL-IIs last week.
> 
> On a similar subject, what is a good price for UD/XL-IIs?  I find that I
> can get them for around a buck-seventy for a C90 when Silo has them on
> sale.  I go through these suckers pretty fast.
> 
> 		.rne.
> 
> -----
> Real World . . Ernie Longmire / 311 Don St. SE / Los Lunas, NM  87031-9405
> UUCP . . . . . {{purdue,cmcl2,ihnp4}!lanl,ucbvax}!unmvax!unm-cvax!cs2532aa
> -----

Wait a minute.

I thought the XL-II tapes were an upgrade for the UD-XLII, and were formulated
to allow an extra dB before saturation.
The cassette wrapper says,

     "The use of Maxell's new Epitaxial magnetic particals has 
      improved MOL by 1dB (in comparison with our UD-XLII tape)
      over the entire frequency range."

In any case they are both formulated for high bias and 70 uS equalization.

Paul Layman

P.S. XL-II / UD-XLII tapes can currently be had in Canada at a number of
locations for $2.70 each.  Buy 12 and you have enough seals for 1 more.
That's only $2.49 each or $1.92 US with the current exchange rates.
I never though I'd see the day that they'd be cheaper in Canada.
Thank's Brian (:-) -- for nothing!!!!

terryl@tekcrl.UUCP () (03/04/85)

>> I just recently bought a box of Maxell XL-II cassettes.  The package is
>> different and the labelling is "XL-II" where it was formerly "UD XL-II".
>> Does this represent a real change or just one of those gratuitous/mean-
>> ingless marketing changes to avoid "foolish consistency"?

>As far as I know, Maxell's XL-II tapes are totally different tapes 
>from the UD/XL-II series.  I believe that the XL-IIs are normal bias
>while the UD/XL-IIs are "chrome" bias.  You probably just grabbed the
>wrong box.  I just bought another 10 UD/XL-IIs last week.

     Nope. According to the labelling on the package of an XLII:

     *  Crystal-clear sound
	The use of Maxell's new Expitaxial particles has improved MOL
	by 1dB (in comparison with our UD-XLII tape) over the entire
	frequency range.

     *  PA (Phase Accuracy) cassette mechanism
	Maxell's PA cassette mechanism assures outstanding phase
	characteristics.

     BTW, the new XLII's are CrO2 bias with 70usec equalization.

saf@clyde.UUCP (Steve Falco) (03/07/85)

> I just recently bought a box of Maxell XL-II cassettes.  The package is
> different and the labelling is "XL-II" where it was formerly "UD XL-II".
> Does this represent a real change...

I asked this question of a friend who distributes tape to department
stores for a living (maybe he knows something...)  He claims that Maxell
packaging and labeling differs for US and "Euromarket" products.  He futher
claims that sometimes due to value of the dollar etc, a person can make
money by buying the Euromarket version of the cassettes and importing
them to the US.  After reading him the part numbers, he stated the two
items are in fact identical - just for different markets.  Maxell no
doubt frowns on the practice...

	Steve Falco