Yamaha CD - 1992 - EU
Appears to have been made for the European Market due to the choices of languages featured on the back side of the wrapper. Made by TDK, and oddly enough it actually shows the little TDK chart indicating the progressive quality of TDK's Type I tapes from "D" to "AD" to "AR" and finally "AR-X".
The way I'm reading it, it appears to be either a common "D" or possibly an "AD", as both are hi-lighted. Maybe a combination of both, which would be probably a TDK DS-X tape, which was quite good. Let me know what your take is on it.
Info Update: April 23, 2024. See Picture below of an improved TDK "D", made in Thailand, using the exact same UPC Bar code as the Yamaha CD tape, and as noted by Mr. J.F. of Newmarket, Ontario. The picture of the TDK "D" tape shown is a courtesy of Mr. J.F. Thank you!
Note: Only one available! Pictures will show it sealed, and then I'll open it to take a picture(s) of it on the inside. The tape will remain fresh, new, and the wrapper will remain practically intact. No recordings or tests will be performed on it.
About TDK:
TDK was founded in Tokyo, Japan, on 7 December 1935 to manufacture the iron-based magnetic material ferrite, which had been recently invented by Yogoro Kato and Takeshi Takei.[3] In 1952 and 1957 they began production of magnetic tapes, with compact cassette tapes following in 1966; it is for these that the company is most widely noted. TDK used to manufacture an extensive portfolio of magnetic and optical media, including several formats of videotape and blank CD-R and recordable DVD discs until the recording business was sold to Imation in 2007.
Operations in the USA began in 1965 with a New York City office,[4] and European operations began in 1970 with an office in Frankfurt, West Germany.[5]
In the 1990s TDK's Mass Storage Division included brushless DC spindle motors, magnetoresistance (MR) heads, and thin-film heads.
Since 1997 TDK has gradually withdrawn from the production of compact cassettes. First with the MA-X and AR ("Acoustic Response"), then the AD ("Acoustic Dynamic") and SA-X line in 2001 and 2002 respectively, then the MA ("Metal Alloy") line in 2004. The SA ("Super Avilyn") and D ("Dynamic") lines were withdrawn in 2012 under Imation ownership. Industry trends see the company moving into new forms of media; in 2004 TDK was the first media manufacturer to join the companies developing BD post-DVD technology.[4] TDK operated a semiconductor division in California for about a decade, but divested it in 2005.
Since June 2006, Takehiro Kamigama has been president, having been nominated by his predecessor, Hajime Sawabe, who currently serves as chairman.
In late 2007, Imation acquired TDK's recording business, including flash media, optical media, magnetic tape, and accessories, for $300 million.[6][7] This also included a license to use the "TDK Life on Record" brand on data storage and audio products[8] for 25 years.[6] In September 2015, Imation announced that it had agreed to relinquish this license[9] and would cease selling TDK-branded products by the end of the year.[10]
YAMAHA CD - 1992 - Made in Japan/Thailand (?)