FM, 1971
Fujifilm’s first music cassette. Type I: 60 minutes - ¥700 / 90 - ¥1100 / 120 - ¥1400.
Fujifilm’s first music cassette of the LH (Low Noise, High Output) type used high-output, low-noise tape with an ultrathin layer of extremely fine magnetic particles. Frequency response and uneven sensitivity were improved. Its package had a luxurious appearance dominated by gold. Instead of the light gray of ordinary cassettes, the shell was almost pure white. An economical T type in a cardboard box was also available.
FC, 1972
Fujifilm’s first chrome tape. Type II: 60 minutes - ¥900 / 90 - ¥1350 / 120 - ¥1700.
Released in 1972, this was Fujifilm’s first chrome tape. Its package was mainly gold, but more restrained than FM’s. At one and a half to twice the price of a normal cassette, it was the first Fujifilm cassette to use a premium-looking black shell. The internal mechanism was also improved to support the high-performance tape.
FL
A basic cassette. Type I. First generation: 1972; second: 1975; third: 1977. All three: 30 minutes - ¥300 / 60 - ¥400 / 90 - ¥650 / 120 - ¥900.
This was a revised version of the preceding product, Fujifilm’s first cassette. Named FL, it was positioned below the earlier chrome FC and LH-type FM as a basic-grade product.
When FL appeared, the spread of radio cassette recorders and similar equipment was making the cassette popular as a convenient music-recording medium. Even basic tapes were beginning to be expected to perform well for music.
Its performance was promoted as follows: “A newly developed magnetic material improves sensitivity from low to high frequencies. Super Low Noise reduces the noise level by 3 dB compared with the previous product. A smooth, tough magnetic coating ensures good head contact and stable travel. It is less affected by bias deviations and has a wide suitable recording-level range, making it a versatile cassette compatible with mechanisms from high-end decks to radio cassette recorders.”
As FUJI’s standard cassette in the 1970s, FL was sold in three generations over five years.
FX, FX DuO and FX Jr
Three Normal tapes, each with its own features. All are Type I.
FX, 1974: 45 minutes - ¥500 / 60 - ¥700 / 80 - ¥900 / 90 - ¥1000. FX DuO, 1976: 46 minutes - ¥650 / 60 - ¥850. FX Jr, 1976: 46 minutes - ¥450 / 60 - ¥550 / 90 - ¥850.
FX was released in 1974 as a music cassette succeeding FM. Its ピュア・フェリックス (Pure-Ferrix, meaning “pure iron oxide”) magnetic material sought the best performance from an iron-oxide formulation. Low-frequency MOL rose by 4 dB and mid- and high-frequency MOL by 2 dB, with major improvements to frequency response and dynamic range. A precision black shell and improved internal guide rollers made tape travel more stable.
In 1976 the lower-grade FX Jr and higher-grade FX DuO followed. FX Jr also used Pure-Ferrix. Although its performance was slightly below FX, unlike FX, which cost more than competing LH tapes, it was priced at the ordinary LH level.
FX DuO used two layers of iron-oxide magnetic material, one for high frequencies and one for middle and low frequencies, substantially improving the performance of this Normal tape. Its dedicated precision shell used four guide rollers, twice the usual number, to improve tape travel.
Range series
A late-1970s series that included Metal.
(Range)-2, 1977
Type I: 46 minutes - ¥350 / 60 - ¥400 / 90 - ¥650 / 120 - ¥900.
The basic Range model. Its MOL was +2 dB, corresponding to FX Jr by that measure, and it offered good value.
(Range)-4, 1977
Type I: 46 minutes - ¥450 / 60 - ¥550 / 80 - ¥750 / 90 - ¥850 / 120 - ¥1200.
Its ファイングレイン・ピュア・フェリックス (fine-grain Pure-Ferrix) magnetic material used finer particles and higher density than the Pure-Ferrix used in FX and other models, improving quality.
FUJI reorganized its cassette range in 1977-1978 and introduced the Range series, with lightning on its packages. Range refers to dynamic range, one measure of tape performance. The number in each model name represents MOL: a higher number suggested a higher-performance tape.
(Range)-2 was the basic model and successor to FL. (Range)-4 was an LH music tape whose +4 dB MOL made it the performance successor to FX, but it was priced like the lower-grade FX Jr. (Range)-4x replaced the chrome FC and was Fuji’s first non-chrome High Position cassette, using ベリドックス (Beridox, Fujifilm’s iron-oxide magnetic material).
(Range)-6 refined FX DuO and remained the high-end Normal model. Super Range joined in 1979 as FUJI’s first Metal cassette. As the top of the Range series, its package had a distinctively luxurious appearance.
(Range)-6, 1977
Type I: 46 minutes - ¥650 / 60 - ¥850.
The successor to FX DuO was the top model in the series until Super Range appeared. Its shell design also differed slightly from models 2 and 4.
(Range)-4x, 1978
Type II: 46 minutes - ¥550 / 60 - ¥700 / 80 - ¥900 / 90 - ¥1000.
The High Position version of Range. Its package suggests a sharp sound, but the sound is described as “bright across the whole range, with a soft character.”
Super Range, 1979
Type IV: 46 minutes - ¥1250 / 60 - ¥1500 / 90 - ¥2100.
Fujifilm’s first Metal tape. It used メタリックス (a magnetic material made from a special metal alloy), newly developed using video-tape technology.
DR
A refined successor to (Range)-2. Type I. First generation, 1980: 46 minutes - ¥350 / 60 - ¥400 / 90 - ¥650 / 120 - ¥900. Second generation, 1982: 46 minutes - ¥350 / 60 - ¥400 / 80 - ¥550 / 90 - ¥650 / 120 - ¥900.
This basic Normal cassette succeeded (Range)-2. DR stands for Dynamic Range. It used ピュア・フェリックス (Pure-Ferrix), as did (Range)-2, but the magnetic material was improved for better performance. The area around the hubs became angular, the transparent window larger, and the shell more precise. The lightning package design gave way to a more conventional look.
ER
An early-1980s model advertised by YMO. Type I. First generation, 1980, and second generation, 1982: 46 minutes - ¥450 / 60 - ¥550 / 80 - ¥750 / 90 - ¥850 / 120 - ¥1200.
This LH cassette succeeded (Range)-4; ER stands for Extra Range. A further refined ファイン・グレイン・ピュア・フェリックス (fine-grain Pure-Ferrix) magnetic material with smaller particles expanded dynamic range beyond (Range)-4. Better resistance to heat and humidity and a revised transport system also improved suitability for car stereos. The then-popular group YMO appeared in advertising for the first generation.
UR, 1980
FUJI’s refined second-generation High Position tape. Type II: 46 minutes - ¥550 / 60 - ¥750 / 80 - ¥950 / 90 - ¥1050.
UR stands for Ultra Range and succeeded (Range)-4x. Newly developed ファイン・グレイン・ベリドックス (fine-grain Beridox) improved coercivity and maximum residual flux density over 4x and expanded the high-frequency dynamic range. New binder technology improved reliability under difficult conditions such as car-stereo use. Like ER, it used a precision black shell with a wide window.
SR, 1980
The second generation of Super Range. Type IV: 46 minutes - ¥1250 / 60 - ¥1500 / 80 - ¥1450 / 90 - ¥2100.
When the Range series was updated, the second Super Range generation appeared under the name SR. It used printed wrapping, and the design became more restrained like the rest of the series. The shell gained automatic tape-type detection holes, a first for Metal tape. An 80-minute version was added at the end of 1980, when prices were reduced substantially.
FR series
The last FUJI-branded series to include Metal.
FR-I, Type I, 1981: 46 minutes - ¥500 / 60 - ¥650 / 80 - ¥850 / 90 - ¥950. Its selling point was an “American sound” with tight, powerful middle and low frequencies and clear highs.
FR-II, Type II, 1981: 46 minutes - ¥550 / 60 - ¥750 / 80 - ¥950 / 90 - ¥1050. As with FR-I, densely packing the magnetic material produced high MOL and low noise.
FR METAL, Type IV, 1982: 46 minutes - ¥750 / 60 - ¥950 / 80 - ¥1150 / 90 - ¥1300. It was the last FUJI-branded Metal tape for the Japanese market.
FR appeared in 1981 as FUJI’s premium cassette series. FR-I was a new Normal tape ranked above ER. Its ミクロファイン・ピュアフェリックス磁性体 (micro-fine Pure-Ferrix magnetic material) was packed much more densely using the MPD&MIOプロセス (a process for extreme dispersion of individual particles and aligned orientation).
FR-II succeeded UR as a High Position tape. Its ファイングレイン・ベリドックス磁性体 (fine-grain Beridox magnetic material) contained cobalt. Fujifilm promoted its “European sound,” with clear highs and rich middle and low frequencies.
FR METAL appeared in 1982 as SR’s successor. Its metal magnetic material was densely packed using a method similar to FR-I. SST技術 (SST technology) made the magnetic surface uniformly smooth to reduce modulation noise.
All FR cassettes shared a newly developed precision shell, an LFプロテクター (LF protector) to prevent loose tape from being drawn in, and a ハニカムシート (honeycomb-surfaced sheet). These features improved tape travel stability.
GT series
The world’s first cassette dedicated to car stereo with heat- and vibration-resistant design. GT-I, Type I, 1983: 46 minutes - ¥480 / 60 - ¥630 / 80 - ¥830 / 90 - ¥930. GT-II, Type II, 1984: 46 minutes - ¥580 / 60 - ¥780 / 80 - ¥980 / 90 - ¥1080.
These cassettes were made specifically for car stereos, with measures against heat and vibration.
To withstand a midsummer car interior said to exceed 90 °C, they used HDメカニズム (the HD mechanism): a heat-resistant shell, an HD base with reduced thermal shrinkage, and an HD binder that improved the magnetic layer’s strength and stability at high temperatures. This reduced shell deformation and tape deterioration from heat. Even the splicing tape and labels were newly developed. Heat resistance reached +110 °C and cold resistance -40 °C.
A デュアルスプリングHRパッド (dual-spring HR pressure pad) pressed tape against the head with constant force despite vibration of the car deck and head distortion while driving. Shell features allowed sides A and B to be identified by touch in a dark car or while driving. ノンスリップエッジ (non-slip treatment on the side edges) and other features made handling easier.
Considering the acoustics of a car interior, MOL was increased across the frequency range. The tape used ナチュラルハイ (natural high-frequency response) specifications to reproduce clear treble.