TDK Superior D - 2008 - US
These were some of the last tapes made by Imation while still showing the TDK name. These may be better ferric tape than a simple "D", hence Imation's choice of the word "Superior", but are they? Tony Villa says no! They are great performers as they can can take a lot of signal without distortion, but they are not superior in any way past a typical reliable D. Superior may be almost suggesting it could be old TDK AD stock, but it is not. See the video below.
Apparently released and made only for North America, as the rest of the world was seemingly deprived of this line of tapes when it was first released in 2003. It is uncertain if this 2008 run was released in other markets other than the North American market.
Note 1: 90 Minutes: Perfect box-fresh cassettes. With quality like this at $3.08 each, why would you pay over $7.00 for a recently manufactured (2024) 60 minutes tape? Get them while you can. Inventory is still good.
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Since 1997 TDK has gradually withdrawn from the production of compact cassettes.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 The SA ("Super Avilyn") and D ("Dynamic") lines were withdrawn in 2012 under Imation ownership.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 Superior D - 2008 - US
These tapes were made by Imation Corp.
Tape made in Korea and assembled in Thailand