- Brand: Maxell
- Type: XL-II
- Reel: 7" (18cm), 10.5" (26.5cm)
- Lengths Available: 1800' (550m), 3600' (1100m)
- Thickness: LP (1.0 mil)
- Tape Grade / Performance Level: 8-EE Extra Efficiency
- Base Material: Polyester
- 2024 Advice: Good for Daily Use, Suitable for Music Recording, Good for 3-3/4 ips and 7-1/2ips
- Where Produced: Japan
- Mfg Years: Late 1960s, 1980s, 1990s
- Sale Condition: Refurbished - 90 day warranty
- Description:
Maxell was one of the few manufacturers that committed to releasing an EE “Extra Efficiency” tape – classified here as Type 8. This formulation is similar to their Type II High Bias cassettes, produced with a higher capability of preproducing high frequencies at slower speeds. It was designed specifically to provide excellent sound reproduction at 3-3/4 ips for the generation of reel to reel tape recorders from TEAC and AKAI that included specific bias and EQ settings for them. They cannot be used on other tape decks. The only other mass market EE tape was made by BASF, and there were some experimental tapes released by Memorex. Notes:
- The Maxell version of the tape is the best EE tape every made, with excellent performance, and it does not have any long term stability problems like its counterpart from TDK – their SA tape, which suffers from white powered syndrome.
- These tapes did not have a back coating.
- The tape was available in LP thicknesses only and in 7 and 10.5″ reels.
- These tapes are rare and valuable, due to their excellent sound quality AND low production volume.
- Available Refurbished: Yes, we offer the XL-II as refurbished or new if we can find them!