Maxell XLII - 2002 - US
"The final generation of this classic cassette. Probably the last great Type II to be manufactured. Has pronounced treble compared to it's contemporary, the SA. Best used with decks with bias adjustment. This however gives it great bass too. When you get the bias right, this is a remarkably good cassette with superb dynamic range and low noise." Tony Villa
This is the Mexico made version for the American market.
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Note 1: 60 Minutes: MX: One new one just got in. Tape made in Japan and assembled in Mexico. One tiny tear on the side edge, not even visible in the pictures. (no pics). Only 1 available.
Note 2: 90 Minutes: MX: These have a bit of glue residue from a price tag that someone tried to remove. Not very messy, but it can be cleaned off rather easily with some GooGone. Made in Mexico.
Note 3: 90 Minutes: JP: These simply cost you more... they were Made in Japan.
Note 4: 110 Minutes: MX: Some of these may show some scuffing, very few though. Made in Mexico.
Note 5: 60 Minutes: MX: B-Grade: One has one hairline crack on it, the other, it is just a mistreated wrapper. See pics. Made in Mexico. SOLD.
Note 6: 90 Minutes: MX: B-Grade: Most of these have hairline cracks on them, but some don't. These mostly have wrapper issues, some with tiny rips, others with large tears. See pics.
Note 7: 90 Minutes: MX: B-Grade: Can't be sure, but it appears this one tape has a cracked case. Take a chance!
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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 XLII - 2002 - US