TDK SA - 1988 - US
One of TDKs most loved cassettes. Looks and sounds fantastic and was the yardstick many deck manufacturers at the time calibrated their decks to. So much so, usually no biasing is needed.
This model, made in Japan, assembled in the USA, is both gorgeous to look at and performs so well. It has a great shell, with that fantastic big window.
Note 1: 60 minutes: 100% box-fresh cassettes. SOLD.
Note 2: 90 minutes: 100% box-fresh cassettes. 100% scratch-free wrappers. The odd one will have some scuffing.
Note 3: 100 Minutes: cassettes have very clean wrappers but have price stickers on them (not shown). SOLD.
Note 4: 90 minutes: B-Grade. Two (2) available. See pictures. B101 (Sold) and B102 (still available). One just added with light scuffing and one tiny 1mm rip on it. Sorry, No pictures. SOLD.
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 - 1988 - USA