TDK SA - 1979 - US
"One of TDK's most loved cassettes. One of their first generation of Super Avilyn cassettes. They still look and sound fantastic, even after 45+ years, it still performs so well. Priced as a collectors piece, it really is a cassette that you could use for a special recording or a special occasion. Don't even need calibration on most Japanese decks, as most were calibrated to this exact SA tape formulation... so, you're probably going to get a perfect recording without even trying." Tony Villa
Note 1: 60 Minutes: B-Grade: Scarce length. These two have split tears on their wrappers. Very common between 1970~1979. See pictures. They will be inserted into a proper cassette plastic sleeve to avoid the wrapper to sustain further damage. Only 2 available.
Note 2: 90 Minutes: Box-fresh cassettes. Perfectly clean wrappers. However, it is widely known that the wrappers of this era (1975~1980) easily crack and split as the plastic gets extremely brittle. These are nearly impossible to find with 100% perfect wrappers. Kept inside a new plastic bag to help avoid it from getting worse, especially due to normal handling.
Note 3: 90 Minutes: B-Grade. Perfectly brand new tapes. However the brittleness of these wrappers resulted in the multiple splits and cracks seen here on these pictures. Price of $14.97 is for each single cassette. Kept inside a new plastic bag to help it stay as much together as possible while withstanding some handling. Only 3 available.
*** Dare to compare... you know where. Typically on there between $19 to $27, and often even higher... and they sell! ***
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 points for consistency, durability, and performance. The SA and MA lines earned 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 it 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.
TDK SA - 1979 - US