TDK Cassettes

Cassettes from the legend that is TDK

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]

Since 1997 TDK has gradually withdrawn from the production of compact cassettes.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 The SA ("Super Avilyn") and D ("Dynamic") lines were withdrawn in 2012 under Imation ownership.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.

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]

TDK Cassettes