1990tdk

TDK isn’t just one of the oldest and most decorated cassette manufacturers - one of the first to mass-produce them - they were also notorious tinkerers who tried every trick in the book to stand out. Their MA series had set the bar high since its debut in 1979, both for tape quality and shell engineering (early versions already had a metal module inside the body to reduce vibration).

Naturally, by the late ’80s they were enthusiastic instigators of that grand “overengineering arms race” that everyone else then had to join.

TDK released the MA-XG Fermo for the domestic market in 1990, and for international markets without the “Fermo” suffix - which creates some confusion, since earlier MA-XG versions existed too. The key feature of this new model was a complex shell with an unusual metal base and a three-piece upper frame holding the two halves together, with the advertising stressing that every cassette was hand-assembled and hand-tested. The price reflected all this - $19 blank - and the marketing wasn’t shy about reminding you what a precious thing you were buying.

A $19 cassette (and that's without anything recorded on it)
A $19 cassette (and that's without anything recorded on it)
Detailed shell construction and the hand-assembly promise
Detailed shell construction and the hand-assembly promise
Another ad with plenty of technical detail
Another ad with plenty of technical detail
Cassette with insert and case
Cassette with insert and case
The shell halves have a very strange material - velvety plastic. The Japanese text mentions a 'resin', probably some clever composite.
The shell halves have a very strange material - velvety plastic. The Japanese text mentions a "resin", probably some clever composite.
Cassette in the shell, angled view
Cassette in the shell, angled view
Like Sony later did on the Metal Master - removable and replaceable record-protection tabs
Like Sony later did on the Metal Master - removable and replaceable record-protection tabs
Side A
Side A
Screws securing the lower frame section
Screws securing the lower frame section
Page from the Japanese catalogue showing all MA generations side by side
Page from the Japanese catalogue showing all MA generations side by side. Translation: "Although made of resin, it has a complex half-shell consisting of 5 parts, and is hand-assembled like the MA-R. It was the most expensive cassette at launch - C60 for 2,000 yen."
Japanese version in packaging
Japanese version in packaging
Back of the Japanese version, comparing against their own MA tape
Back of the Japanese version, comparing against their own MA tape
Back of the international version - features and position in the Type IV lineup
Back of the international version - features and position in the Type IV lineup

This one came from Japan, and naturally curiosity kicked in - what did someone actually record on the flagship of flagships? Turned out to be Kahoru Kohiruimaki, and it still sounds pretty vivid to this day. If you’re curious, here’s a recording from side A:

TDK put together a serious contender for the monster-cassette wars of those years.

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