TDK D - 1990/1991 - US/CA
"Supposedly, the last great version of this "Benchmark" affordable Type I cassette. Legendary and reliable. A bit of negative bias and NR, and this is a very musical cassette." Tony Villa
Collector's Corner:
Like most transitions from one run of tapes to the next, all major brands used up their remainder parts stock before using the new modified parts. The 1990 run of this "D" introduces a new wrapper, but the initial shells are of the 1988 run. by the end of 1990 or early 1991, they brought out a different set of shells without the iconic squares grid pattern for a smoother set of shells. The wrappers also have small differences as the months and years go by.
(a) Grid (1990) - Squares grid pattern on window (Like the previous 1988 version)
(b) Smooth (1991) - Smooth Shells - New shells version ~1991. No squares grid pattern.
(c) Hubs: Most of these tapes carried the 12-segment hubs, until 1992 when some were fitted with the new hubs with 5 segments plus an equal sized leader tape clip.
(d) Banner - Ad Banner showing "Best Selling A/V Cassettes" for the Canadian market.
(e) No Banner - No Advertising Banner
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Note 1b: 90 Mins: 1990: Grid, CA Banner: Made in Japan. Low inventory
Note 1c: 90 Mins: 1990: Grid, CA Banner: Assembled in the USA. Low inventory
Note 1d: 90 Mins: 1990: Grid, CA Banner: Out of Stock. Assembled in the USA, written on the side of the case, and not on the reverse side of the wrapper.
Note 2a: 60 Mins: 1991: Smooth, CA Banner: Assembled in the USA. Low inventory
Note 2b: 90 Mins: 1991: Smooth, CA Banner: Assembled in the USA.
Note 3a: 60 Mins: 1990: Grid, CA/US: No Banner: Made in Japan.
Note 3b: 90 Mins: 1990: Grid, CA/US: No Banner: Assembled in the USA. Low inventory
Note 4b: 90 Mins: 1991: Smooth, CA/US: No Banner: Still available...
Note 4c: 90 Mins: 1991: Smooth, CA/US: No Banner: Assembled in Thailand. Only 1 available
Note 4d. 90 Mins: 1991: Smooth shells: 6-segment hubs. CA Banner: One tape is perfect, the other has some scuffing on the wrapper but it's very clean. It's a transition tape using the hubs of the 1992 line-up of the next "D" tapes. These are the first two I've ever encountered. Only 2 available
Note 4e: 120 Mins: 1991: Smooth, CA/US: No Banner: Assembled in the USA. No cuts, no rips, fairly clean looking throughout, however the wrapper on the back has some... hard to explain and even to photograph... it has a light residual impression probably made from an additional multi-pack wrapper. It's not ugly, but it's just there. See actual pictures. Only 1 available
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Q: Why are there so many details about cassette variations?
Small differences in wrappers, shells, hubs, and manufacturing locations matter to collectors. This TDK D listing includes 11 variations, so the notes and photos help you choose the exact version you want.
Q: What if I’m buying tapes to record on, rather than collect?
You don’t need to study every collector detail. Focus on tape length and the condition notes for your chosen variation. The extra information is there for anyone seeking a particular version.
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Click below to watch a video by Tony Villa on TDK D cassettes:
TDK D Cassettes - YouTube
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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]