Maxell UDX-II - 1986 - US
Another glorious looking, fabulously performing cassette from Maxell's best years.
Considering what the point of the UD-II or UDS-II (for the US market) was, as there was also the XLII and XLII-S, the difference was eventually demystified. The UD-II or UDS-II (again, same tape) was to be more compatible with many decks calibrated to the TDK SA's specs, than say their XL cousins ever were.
These UDX-II however have even superior specs compared to their UD-II or UDS-II close cousins, as per Maxell. These UDX-II have an improvement of +1dB over the high frequencies, higher dynamic range of +1.5dB, and while noise is lowered by 0.5dB. Generally all of these UD type II tapes bias almost the same as the SA and sound just a touch "smoother" to our ears.
Another fabulous shell design by Maxell back in the day where quality and perfection was the only real objective.
NOTE 1: Lightly scuffed wrappers and the first to be offered here for the first time in 6 years! Only 2 available. Added January 7, 2024. Only one available now in better shape than the previously one sold. No rips, no cuts, no repairs, but has some light scuffing throughout. No picture available.
NOTE 2: The cassette on display shows a rip (repaired nicely, no finger prints) on the front lower right side. Not enough to make it a B-Grade tape. SOLD!
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 was formed in 1960, when a dry cell manufacturing plant was created at the company's headquarters in Ibaraki, Osaka. In 1961, Maxell Electric Industrial Company, Limited was created out of the dry battery and magnetic tape divisions of Nitto Electric Industrial Company, Limited (now Nitto Denko Corporation).
On March 18, 2014 the company was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.[7]
The company's notable products are batteries—the company's name is a contraction of "maximum capacity dry cell"—wireless charging solutions, storage devices, computer tapes, professional broadcast tapes and functional materials.[4][5] In the past, the company manufactured recording media, including audio cassettes and blank VHS tapes, and recordable optical discs including CD-R/RW and DVD±RW.
On March 4, 2008, Maxell announced that they would outsource the manufacturing of their optical media.[6]
During the height of the Compact Audio Cassette's popularity, Maxell's audio cassettes were held in high regard, producing some of the finest examples of the standard available. The performance of the XLII-S (CrO2) and MX (pure metal particles) cassettes was regarded by many audiophiles to be the ultimate achievement in the pre digital domestic recording medium.
In the 1980s, Maxell became an icon of pop culture when it produced advertisements popularly known as "Blown Away Guy" for its line of audio cassettes. The original campaign conceived by Art Director Lars Anderson began as a two-page spread in Rolling Stone Magazine ad in 1980, and was made into television spots in 1981 which ran throughout the 1980s.[10]
Maxell audio cassettes are available in 46, 60, 90, 100, 120 and 150 minute lengths.