Best Quality Cassette Tape?

[CD&VINYL]

After years of not being operative, I just got my Nakamichi CR3a cassette tape deck repaired. What's the best quality tape to get the best quality recordings?

Someone at the at the repair place (Fred's Sound of Music, Portland, OR) mentioned high bias Memorex cassette tapes. So, I will look for some. But, what others?

I was told that I should adjust the variable bias setting on my CR3a to whatever is specified on the tape. Is this the correct way to do this?

 

[astrotoy]

The vast majority of us on the WBF interested in tape really only do reel to reel and not cassette tape. I would suggest cassette section of Tapeheads.net forum for advice. Larry

 

[tapepath]

Hello,
Welcome! Your Nakamichi deck has provisions for using Normal, CrO2 and Metal tapes with corresponding bias position selection on the front panel. In very general terms the widest frequency response and lowest distortion will be with CrO2 (Chrome) and Metal tapes. Also since these two tape types can be recorded at fairly high levels the dynamic range capability and signal-to-noise ratio will be better. In practical terms finding new old stock may be difficult, especially for Metal type tapes. Most cassette audio enthusiasts find either TDK or Maxell to be well recommended.
Enjoy your repaired Nakamichi, if you can ever find some prerecorded tapes by the In Sync label buy them, they are excellent sounding also the impossible to find Advent Process CR70 tapes.

 

[Tapetech]

Stay away from Memorex tapes. You say you want "the best", so go to eBay and buy new, unused Maxell tapes. One of the best Maxell would be their MX 90. Here are some for sale. You never said price was a concern. https://www.ebay.com/itm/3051186803...WYEM16ySkyXYKT+RySQ49W4M1m|tkp:Bk9SR7y-36n1Yg