Maxell XLI-S - 1982/85 - US/EU/JP
If you are considering this cassette, it is very likely because you know their real value in terms of their capability and performance for exceptional sound reproduction. Some well-known Super Ferric tapes, such as this one, are now highly sought after. These will perform so well that if you close the "curtain" on someone and ask them what Type of tape they are listening to, many will have trouble deciphering whether they are listening to a Type I Super Ferric, High-end Type II, or a Type IV Metal tape.
These are Type I though, and their advantage is that they can be played on any basic cassette player, Walkman, boom.box, and all the way to the most sophisticated cassette decks, without the need for the 70microseconds chrome/metal setting.
Note 1: 46 Mins: 1982-JP: Only 1 available
Note 2: 90 Mins: 1982-JP: Only 1 available. SOLD
Note 3: 90 Mins: 1982-US: Only 1 available. SOLD
Note 4: 90 Mins: 1983-US: Only 1 available. SOLD
Note 5: 90 Mins: 1984-US/EU: Just a few available. SOLD
Note 6: 90 Mins: 1985-CA: It's a "1983" iteration with a promotional "Gold Bonus Seal" added to it, to push sales, and allow the new version to be brought to market. Only 1 available
Sidenote:
(1) All of these available tapes are either box-fresh tapes or may have some scuffing on them.
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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.