Standard tape for music: more economical than “A,” with higher performance than “C.”
Normal Position. Since 1978.
First generation, 1978
46 minutes - ¥450 / 60 minutes - ¥550 / 90 minutes - ¥800 / 120 minutes - ¥1100.
The model color was green. Its packaging, cassette construction and other specifications were almost the same as those of “AHF,” giving it the appearance of a cassette in the same class. From the middle version onward, the marking at the lower left of the package front was changed to “TYPE I (NORMAL) POSITION.”
Second generation, 1982
46 minutes - ¥450 / 60 minutes - ¥550 / 90 minutes - ¥800 / 120 minutes - ¥1100.
The second generation stood out with metallic, “shining packaging” made using film with a vapor-deposited coating. New technology further widened the dynamic range. It adopted a leader tape with a cleaning effect, spare labels that could be peeled off again, and other features.
Explanatory Note
The original “BHF” was born in Sony’s cassette range reorganization in 1978. It was positioned as the economy little brother of the new high-performance Normal-position “AHF,” which had been released earlier, but was effectively the successor to the second-generation “HF.”
Its magnetic material was based on that of “HF,” further improved by making the particles finer. Uniform dispersion and high-density coating enhanced performance.
Like “AHF,” the cassette used the DP mechanism. The high-precision shell also had an embossed surface, as on “AHF.” The all-transparent plastic case and package design likewise matched higher-grade products such as “AHF,” differing only in color: it was a high-quality cassette.
Although it was substantially higher in grade than “HF,” its price was actually set about 50 yen lower. It therefore also offered good value as a standard tape for music.
The second generation appeared in 1982 with metallic packaging. A coating technique called “special dispersion control” further improved MOL, sensitivity and other performance characteristics.