Maxell UDII - 1988 - US/EU
"We think these were designed to be more compatible with many decks that were calibrated to the TDK SA in the factory, than its XL brothers. These bias almost the same as the SA and sound just a touch "smoother" to our ears." Tony Villa.
Truly one of our favourite cassettes back in the day, and still true today.
Note 1: 60 Mins: EU. Moderately to heavily scuffed wrapper with one pressure crack on the front left side, and one small rip (1.3mmx.02mm) on the front side right edge. See pics. Rare length. One 1 available.
Note 2: 90 Mins: CA. These have the diamond shaped seal for the "Maxell Super Sweepstakes". Made in Japan. Few available.
Note 3: 90 Mins: UK. Made in England! How rare are these now?
Note 4: 90 Mins: US. Made in Japan. Two 2 available. Lightly scuffed wrappers.
Note 5: 100 Mins: US. Made in Japan. This variant may have rolled out ~1992. These shells are much darker when compared to those of the 1988 version. Only 1 available and it may be a very rare variant of this tape. This is definitely a transitional piece. It is the 1992 US version cassette on the 1988 US plastic wrapper. SOLD.
Note 6: 90 Mins: CA. B-Grade: (B101): Made in Japan. Produced for the Canadian Market. It has the diamond shaped seal for the "Maxell Super Sweepstakes". Made in Japan. The wrapper is rather scuffed and it has 2 price stickers from Canadian long gone BiWay department stores. No cuts, no rips. (B101): #2: No price stickers, no visible cracks, but it's moderately scuffed. (B101): #3: One 1.9cm hairline crack on the back of the case, no price stickers, just one large part of the front wrapper torn off. See pictures! Careful! Here you get what you get, or send me an email with your request. Only 3 available.
Click on the link below to watch a video by Tony Villa on Maxell UDII cassettes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5ShWXjGR74&list=PPSV
About Maxell:
Maxell, originally part of Hitachi’s corporate family, emerged in 1960 when a dry‑cell plant was established in Ibaraki, Osaka. In 1961, Hitachi consolidated its dry‑battery and magnetic‑tape operations into the new Maxell Electric Industrial Company, positioning the brand as Hitachi’s key vehicle for consumer recording media.
Throughout the cassette era, Maxell became one of the most respected tape manufacturers. Their formulations, especially the XLI-S (Normal), XLII‑S (CrO₂), and MX (pure metal particle), were widely regarded as peak‑performance examples of the Compact Cassette format, earning strong loyalty from audiophiles and home recording enthusiasts. Maxell also produced a full range of consumer and professional magnetic media, including computer and broadcast tapes, before later shifting away from in‑house optical and recording‑media production.
The company’s cultural visibility peaked in the 1980s with the “Blown Away Guy” advertising campaign, which cemented Maxell’s reputation for high‑performance audio cassettes. Even as Maxell diversified into batteries, storage, and functional materials, its cassette legacy—and its long-standing connection to Hitachi, remains central to its identity.
Maxell UDII - 1988 - Made in Japan or England