TDK MA - 1988 - US
"My favourite version of this legendary cassette, it just looks and sounds superb. Saying that, I think 1988 is my favourite year for TDKs. What about the "white powder"? Well, it seems to have affected many of the TDK metals of this era. Many of our samples do show a minor amount of this white powder. Some less, some more. It's not as bad as some make out. It's not mould. It's dried lubricant. FF/REW these a couple of times in a winder or on your deck (clean the tape path afterwards) and then it disappears. They record as superbly as you would expect." Tony Villa.
Collectors' Corner: These have come out of completely sealed master cardboard cases, so they are as "box-fresh" as it gets, and probably the finest on sale if you're buying to collect.
Note 1: 90 Minutes: rarely , Rarely offered here these 90 minutes cassettes. There are only four 4 cassettes available. Only 1 available now. SOLD
Note 2: 110 Minutes: Up for grabs, four 4 cassettes that have some scuffing, and may or may not have price stickers, and/or UPC stickers. Light to no powder. Priced lower at $25.88 vs, $27.88... just a sweeter deal, for little or no reason. Four 4 available
The 3 cassettes below have perfect wrappers on their reverse side:
Note 3: 110 Minutes: B-Grade: B101: Nearly box-fresh cassette with a 0.8mm tear (repaired to avoid further damage). Light to no powder. SOLD
Note 4: 110 Minutes: B-Grade: B102: Nearly box-fresh cassette with a 1.5mm (3/4") tear (repaired to avoid further damage). Light to no powder. SOLD
Note 5: 110 Minutes: B-Grade: B103 Nearly box-fresh cassette with a visible 1.2mm (1/2") hairline crack on the front side of the case. Light to moderate powder. SOLD
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Watch below a video about these TDK MA by Tony Villa, on the subject of this infamous "dried lubricant" powder:
About TDK:
TDK’s origins trace back to 1935, when the Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo company was founded to commercialize ferrite, a magnetic material invented by Dr. Takeshi Takei that would become central to modern recording technology. By the 1950s and 1960s, TDK had evolved from a materials science firm into one of Japan’s most important manufacturers of magnetic tape, supplying both industrial and consumer markets.
With the rise of the Compact Cassette, TDK quickly established itself as a global benchmark for tape quality. Their formulations, especially the AD (Normal), SA (CrO₂), and MA (pure metal particle) series, became reference tapes for consistency, durability, and performance. The SA and the MA lines near-legendary status among home recordists and audiophiles, helping define what "premium" cassette tape meant throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
TDK eventually sold its magnetic tape business to Imation in 2007. Today, TDK, is a major supplier worldwide of electronic components, sensors, and energy devices. Its strong focus on advanced materials and sectors such as EVs, renewables, and industrial automation, keeps it positioned as a top-tier technology company.