Inside Compact Cassette |

Philips - the Dutch electronics company, invented and released the first audio compact-cassette in 1962. Previous to this time, the only way of recording voices or music was by reel-to-reel tape recorders. The cassette system came about as a way of increasing portability and not involving manual threading of sensitive and brittle tape. It needed too to be much more portable than vinyl records. Philips used high-quality 4mm polyester tape produced by BASF. Recording and playback was at a speed of 4,75cm/second.

AIWA DX


Tape Type: Type 1 (IEC1)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: Aiwa Co. Ltd (Japan)
Year: ?

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AMPEX Grand Master I


Tape Type: Type 1 (IEC1)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: Ampex Corporation (USA)
Year: ?

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BASF Chromdioxid SM


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
Year: 1976

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BASF Chrome Extra II


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
Year: 1991

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BASF Chrome Maxima II


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
Year: 1989/1990

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BASF Reference Maxima TPII


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 60 min.
Manufacturer: BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
Year: 1993/1994

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BASF Reference Super II


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
Year: 1988/1989

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MAXELL UD-XLII


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 60 min.
Manufacturer: Hitachi Maxell Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1980/1982

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MAXELL MX


Tape Type: Type 4 (IEC4)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: Hitachi Maxell Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1980/1982

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MAXELL XL-IIS


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: Hitachi Maxell Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1988/1989

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SONY FerriChrome


Tape Type: Type 3 (IEC3)
Recording Time: 60 min.
Manufacturer: Sony Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1976/1978

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SONY Metal Master


Tape Type: Type 4 (IEC4)
Recording Time: 60 min.
Manufacturer: Sony Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1990/1992

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TDK MA-XG


Tape Type: Type 4 (IEC4)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: TDK Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1992/1995

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TDK SA


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: TDK Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1990/1991

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TDK SA-X


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: TDK Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1993

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TDK SF


Tape Type: Type 2 (IEC2)
Recording Time: 90 min.
Manufacturer: TDK Corporation (Japan)
Year: 1990

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That's SUONO


Tape Type: Type 4 (IEC4)
Recording Time: 60 min.
Manufacturer: Taiyo Yuden (Japan)
Year: 1988

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