Maxell UR - 2002 - MEX-IND-SK
The most common cassette in the world. The UR C90 minutes version is made in Panggung, Indonesia, recently resumed production for Maxell (outside of Japan...) sometime in September of 2023. See two links below for your enjoyment:
https://www.panggung.com/solutions/audio-cassette-tapes-blank-cassette/
https://cdm.link/maxell-still-makes-cassettes/
Not vintage and not rare, although the 60 minutes (commonly made by Saehan, but not always) cassettes are a rather difficult find.
Take note that these are very capable Type I tapes, with decent audio quality recordings. Indeed, to our ears, it does its illustrious forefathers justice. They need NR, and negative bias, and if you just want a cassette with great versatility, in your walkman, in your car, then there's no real need to spend more... this is it!
Although up to about 2002 these were also made in Mexico, and South Korea, there is no visible or significant difference between them in terms of quality. Their hubs are the most notorious difference between them, but not always. The ones made in Mexico are typically priced lower here at CassetteComeback, simply because there is always a higher inventory when compared to those made in Indonesia and/or South Korea. The ones in South Korea are the more expensive because the applied parts came from Japan and only assembled in South Korea. Anything associated with having been manufactured in Japan is always more expensive.
NOTE 1: Made in Mexico: C90: Only $1.78, but not for much longer. The stock is dwindling. Price will go up a bit...
NOTE 2: Made in Indonesia: C90: Only $1.93 Stock is also dwindling.
NOTE 3: Made in South Korea: C90: Only $2.38 Stock is holding.
NOTE 4: Made in South Korea: C60: Only $2.38 Only 3 available.
NOTE 5: Made in Indonesia: C120: Lowered to $3.58. Last 1 available.
NOTE 6: B-Grade: C90: These may have either a 1-2cms hairline crack, some glue residue, or a small cut or rip, or even a combination of any of these rather insignificant anomalies. However, in this case, you get what you get, all sales are final on these 2002 UR B-Grade tapes. These are tapes mainly from Indonesia, half from Mexico, and fewer even from South Korea. See picture for one example of these tapes. Only a few available. Only $1.58 each.
NOTE 7: D-Grade: C90: These have had their wrappers scored open (the wrapper is still on them), or the case has a crack. All sales are final on these 2002 UR D-Grade tapes. Only 4 available. Only $1.38 each.
About Maxell:
Maxell Holdings, Ltd. (日立マクセル株式会社 Hitachi Makuseru Kabushiki-gaisha), commonly known as Maxell, is a Japanese company that manufactures consumer electronics.
Maxell was formed in 1960, when a dry cell manufacturing plant was created at the company's headquarters in Ibaraki, Osaka. In 1961, Maxell Electric Industrial Company, Limited was created out of the dry battery and magnetic tape divisions of Nitto Electric Industrial Company, Limited (now Nitto Denko Corporation).
On March 18, 2014 the company was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.[7]
The company's notable products are batteries—the company's name is a contraction of "maximum capacity dry cell"—wireless charging solutions, storage devices, computer tapes, professional broadcast tapes and functional materials.[4][5] In the past, the company manufactured recording media, including audio cassettes and blank VHS tapes, and recordable optical discs including CD-R/RW and DVD±RW.
On March 4, 2008, Maxell announced that they would outsource the manufacturing of their optical media.[6]
During the height of the Compact Audio Cassette's popularity, Maxell's audio cassettes were held in high regard, producing some of the finest examples of the standard available. The performance of the XLII-S (CrO2) and MX (pure metal particles) cassettes was regarded by many audiophiles to be the ultimate achievement in the pre digital domestic recording medium.
In the 1980s, Maxell became an icon of pop culture when it produced advertisements popularly known as "Blown Away Guy" for its line of audio cassettes. The original campaign conceived by Art Director Lars Anderson began as a two-page spread in Rolling Stone Magazine ad in 1980, and was made into television spots in 1981 which ran throughout the 1980s.[10]
Maxell audio cassettes are available in 46, 60, 90, 100, 120 and 150 minute lengths.
Maxell UR - 2002 - Mexico / Indonesia / South Korea (Japan)