Classic Type IV Metal Bias Cassette Comparison

Yes, ‘tis the Clash of the Titans, as four old behemoths of analogue recording media slog it out for supremacy.

The Type IV Metal Audio Cassette

The metal-formulated audio cassette hit the scene near the end of the 1970s, as the answer to a number of problems with previous tape formulations. The standard ferric-oxide (Type I) tape had typically rendered poor high frequency definition, with pervasive noise, meaning a woolly sound without much presence or zing… except where you didn’t want it – in the hiss.

1987 Maxell MX 46 Metal Audio Cassette

Looking and feeling very much like the high-end Type II XLII-S of the same year, this 1987 Maxell MX 46 audio cassette was the range-topping Metal position offering. If you could afford them, these were great cassettes. A strong, frequency-rich sound, and a formulation which was able to take some pretty extensive re-recording before the signs of wear would start to manifest themselves in the sound. It’s fairly evident from the photo that this one’s been well used.