Maxell US II - 1991 - JP
The Maxell US II was made strictly for the Japanese market. Maxell states this tape "Features a UD grade tape for clear reproduction of CD sound", which essentially places it in UDII territory. In practice, that’s exactly how it performs: clean highs, stable bias behaviour, and the unmistakable consistency of Hitachi-Maxell type 2 tape formulations.
And as many collectors quietly smile about, Japan’s Hi-Fi, Cassettes, Cameras, Watches... this 80's era had a charming habit. Whenever they produced something for their own domestic market, it tended to be the nicest version. Not in a way that deprived anyone else, but in that very Japanese way of keeping the most refined, most carefully built designs close to home. A little cultural quirk we’ve all come to admire… and occasionally tease, because we definitely notice.
Note 1: 20 Minutes: Lightly to moderately scuffed wrapper. No cuts, no rips. Only 1 available
Note 2: 46 Minutes: Lightly scuffed wrappers. No cuts, no rips. Only 3 available
Note 3: 50 Minutes: B-Grade: Lightly scuffed wrapper with two blemishes. See pictures. Only 1 available
Note 4: 50 Minutes: B-Grade: Lightly scuffed wrapper This one has a 2cm (3/4") hairline crack on the reverse side. Only 1 available
Note 5: 64 Minutes: Lightly scuffed wrapper. No cuts, no rips. Only 2 available
Note 6: 70 Minutes: Lightly scuffed wrapper. No cuts, no rips. Only 1 available
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About Maxell:
Maxell Holdings, Ltd. (日立マクセル株式会社 Hitachi Makuseru Kabushiki-gaisha), commonly known as Maxell, is a Japanese company that manufactures consumer electronics.
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 US II - 1991 - Made in Japan (JP)