Maxell UDS-II - 1985 - US
"A glorious looking, fabulously performing cassette from Maxell's best year. We often wondered what the point of the UD-II or UDS-II (for the US market) was, as there was also the XLII and XLII-S, however with these, the difference was known. We think these were designed to be more compatible with many decks that were calibrated to the TDK SA in the factory, than its XLII 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: 90 Mins: CA: Box-fresh cassette. With Canadian "Super Sweepstakes" Blue seal.
Note 2: 90 Mins: US: Moderately scuffed cassette. Only 2 available. Last 2 at this price!
Note 3: 90 Mins: CA: B-Grade: Cassette has a 15mm hairline crack on the case on the reverse side, highlighted by the blue rubber band. The front side is perfect and clean. This is about as a box-fresh cassette as it gets.
Click 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.