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.

1983 Sony Metallic 60 Audio Cassette

Was there ever a better looking audio cassette on the high street shelves in the 1980s? The Sony Metallic 60 exuded class, with its dark label and gold foil-printed lettering. Even the inlay card in the case looked special, in white, with large gold-foil lettering.