Well, I suppose it was bound to happen eventually...after a few months of picking up the odd tape here and there on the 'bay (I usually wait for more moderately priced auctions since a lot of old cassette tape sells for more than I'd prefer to spend) I got let down, partially. I found a sealed mid-80s XL-II and two used UDS-II tapes for about $6, and that was a good enough deal for me so I picked them up.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4100089636_fba31ec75c_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/taurusaficionado/4100089636/)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4100089482_d9523e3bb3_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/taurusaficionado/4100089482/)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/4100089770_7b1691491c_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/taurusaficionado/4100089770/)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4099333859_5401e7e2d2_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/taurusaficionado/4099333859)

I had only ever used the last generation XL-IIs and found them to be pretty disappointing compared to even entry level Type I tapes from TDK or Maxell, so I was excited to get my hands on one made back in the good old days. Upon opening the tapes I could detect a pretty strong musty odor, straight-up dank basement for sure, but the J-Cards and tapes didn't show any signs of mold or water damage so I tried them out.

Turns out the XL-II was pretty bad. Muffled highs and any loud bass came through distorted and broken up. I used my Sennheisers and did some comparisons between the XL-II, a late 1970s TDK SA, a mid 80s TDK D, and the Maxell UDS-II and found the XL-II to actually sound worse than the normal bias TDK D!

On the other hand, both UDS-II tapes sounded excellent, right in line with the TDK SA, which is an excellent tape. I guess it goes to show that improper storage will ruin even excellent tape.

Having spent only $6, two out of three ain't bad, but I've heard great things about the XL-II and was hoping to be able to use it to record something great. Makes me glad I decided to take a chance on the supposedly lower quality (based on their position in Maxell's lineup) UDS-II, though!

That's just the chance you take with 20+ year old magnetic tape, I suppose...and why I usually try to avoid paying more than a few dollars per tape. I did pick up something else tape related, from another seller, which arrived on the same day as the tapes, and it thankfully worked out as well as the UDS-IIs did:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/4099333271_f67cf8ca78_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/taurusaficionado/4099333271/)
Eh, I suppose I didn't do too badly after all. :D

Those ads were great. I used to look for them in Stereo Review for years in the 70's, always waiting for the next "new" version, always wih the same picture. Can't say as I've ever had a bad sealed Maxell tape from any vintage with the blue 90s, tho, used is a different story, then all bets are off!. I did recently use a sealed vintage UDXLII, and was surprised at how easily I could hear the difference (inferior) between that and an XLII about the same vintage as yours. It's crazy how much of a thrill it is opening a sealed cassette, especially an old one. I must need to get a life.

I've actually had good luck with the last batch of XLII that was discontinued last year as long as you really watch your meters and keep the loudest parts of the recording just flirting with +5....at least the recordings I make in my Tascam 3-head deck with these tapes are outstanding.

The XLII's to watch for are the late 80's-early 90's XLIIS. They have an almost rubberized case (it's always cool to the touch), feel like a solid chunk in the hand and were the best of the best from Maxell for type II tape (their Metal tapes were the same construction at that time). The two generations I know of were with the large window (earlier) and the small window (later). Look at the pics below for the style I'm talking about . I have never heard of anyone dissapointed with this era of Maxell tape. They were about $2/tape when new (I got them for $1 +/- at dealer cost back then when I ran a music store during college) and now go for over $5/tape for NOS!! But, there is nothing else like it and considering the last gen. of XLII (not S which had improved high frequency response)are selling for $3+/- per tape, the extra $2 buys a better tape (in construction and sound quality)...so it comes down to how much your sound quality is worth to you.

http://www.tapedeck.org/400/Maxell_XLII-S_90.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sdddpwLxlOI/SmPm8mr_uoI/AAAAAAAAAG0/Q4bgACZ_8ps/s320/Maxell_XLII-S_90_2.jpg

I started out using Maxell XLIIs and then migrated over to Denon's (I forget the exact type). I liked the 100 minute lengths because, once CDs started coming out, it seemed as if it was pretty common for albums to run longer than 45 minutes, and that 100 minute length could accommodate the longer playing CDs.

I have a 20 year old (or more) UDS II (like the ones pictured) and the original stuff I put on it sounded great. Recently re-recorded on it and I think it is hands down the best Maxell tape I ever used. maybe a bit sensitive, or rather hot, kept levels to a max of +2 dB, but it sounds great. Soaring crystal clear highs.....They'll never make'em like that again. I might pay 6 bucks a tape for some more sealed ones if I could find them. My favorite Maxell by leaps. The last iteration of the gold XL II's dont sound like that, for sure.

Thanks for the suggestions on tapes to look for! I agree the XL-II is a good tape and I must have just gotten one from either a bad batch, or one that was kept on top of a water heater or something for 20 years. It does sound alright as long as I set the levels lower than I would otherwise. Didn't do any scientific testing of the tapes I used last night, just some headphones and Source/Tape comparisons between them, it was totally subjective.

And yes, there is just something about opening a sealed tape...I just love looking to see what kind of marketing stuff is going to be on the J-Card, what the labels will look like, and how the tape is going to perform. As we know, even the same type of tape can behave just a little differently from batch to batch, which makes it all the more interesting!

Thanks for the suggestions on tapes to look for! I agree the XL-II is a good tape and I must have just gotten one from either a bad batch, or one that was kept on top of a water heater or something for 20 years. It does sound alright as long as I set the levels lower than I would otherwise. Didn't do any scientific testing of the tapes I used last night, just some headphones and Source/Tape comparisons between them, it was totally subjective.

And yes, there is just something about opening a sealed tape...I just love looking to see what kind of marketing stuff is going to be on the J-Card, what the labels will look like, and how the tape is going to perform. As we know, even the same type of tape can behave just a little differently from batch to batch, which makes it all the more interesting!

The headphone test is what I use. If it sounds good, or like crap then who cares about stats. Everybody rags on the last run of XLII and yes, it is not XLIIS from the early 90's, but I picked up 3 10-packs on ebay for what is slightly more than I would have paid in the store 3 years ago, and have been recording all day with this stuff (my day off) and with everything leveled properly it really sounds fantastic! I have my meters set for +5 (what my Tascam tells me to use for type II tape) and the high end never breaks up, there isn't the slightest hint of distortion, pitch control is dead on, bass is deep and powerful and the noise floor is blissfully low. I can barely hear a difference between the source and the tape while monitoring....now to me, that's good tape!

So.....trust your ears, not what your read...even from us!!

James R.