TDK DS-X - 1992 - US
TDK has had many of us guessing as to the real quality of these DS-X tapes, but recently we verified a chart shown about this exact tape on www.45spaces.com. It finally shows what this tape is all about. It seems to be a step-up from a basic "D" and no more than that. It is a visibly darker tape, but it is not an AD and much less an AR. However they are not exactly easy to find, and they are not cheap either. This clearly shows it's a popular tape with the cassette enthusiasts who don't like to share them or snap them up quickly when they spot them.
Note 1: 60 Minutes: Only 2 available. Rare length. Very clean.
Note 2: 90 Minutes: Little to no scuffing present. Always low in inventory.
Note 3: 90 Minutes: Slim Case. Wrapper is scuffed. See pictures. 1 available.
Note 4: 100 Minutes: SOLD OUT.
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Since 1997 TDK has gradually withdrawn from the production of compact cassettes.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 The SA ("Super Avilyn") and D ("Dynamic") lines were withdrawn in 2012 under Imation ownership.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]
TDK DS-X - 1991 - US