TDK MA-R - 1982 - US
"One of the most expensive cassettes ever made when new, and certainly up there now. What's so special? Well, take TDKs best Metal tape from the early 80s and put it in an unparalleled innovative shell made out of metal alloy. A superbly heavy and stable cassette that is one of the best ever made. Sounds amazing, but if you're going to unwrap it and record on it, it better be worth it! Even back when they were coming out back in 1982, you had to have a serious recording to do with these expensive cassettes." Tony Villa
Note: This is the North American market MA-R cassette, with the address in the back showing only the USA address at 12 Harbor Park Drive in Port Washington, NY State.
Note 1: 60 Minutes: SOLD
Note 2: 90 Minutes: SOLD
Note 3: 90 Minutes: B-Grade B101. See picture. One (1) available. SOLD
Note 4: 90 Minutes: Not available
Note 5: 90 Minutes: CA: Cassette with a "Sweepstakes" sticker on it. The wrappers on these MA-R are flawless, however they have this "Sweepstakes" sticker over them and so... you can still win a Commodore Vic 2.0!!! Hahaha! Rare doesn't even begin to describe these. SOLD
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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 MA-R - 1982 - US