26 July 2020

Cassette tape measurements: Sony CD-Alpha, UCX, UCX-S, UX, UX-S, UX-ES, UX-Pro, Walkman, Turbo, Esprit II

For a detailed overview of the test methods used look here.

INDEX OF ALL CASSETTES

Maxell XLII 90 (1994) (my calibration reference)

Relative bias: (reference)
Relative sensitivity: (reference)
THD @ Dolby level: 0.62%
MOL400(THD=1%) : +1.8dB
MOL400(THD=3%): +5.3dB
MOL1k(THD=3%): +5.5dB
SOL10k: -3.4dB
Bias noise: -54.8dB, -59.2dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.5dB

I repeat here the results for the tape my Nak BX-300 is calibrated for in type II position, the 1994 XLII. All following results take this as reference.


Sony CD-Alpha (1978)

Relative bias: -3.5
Relative sensitivity: +1.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.95%
MOL400(1%) : +0.3dB
MOL400(3%): +4.4dB
MOL1k(3%): +4.5dB
SOL10k: -3.6dB
Bias noise: -50.8dB, -54.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 58.5dB


Sony UCX (1982)

Relative bias: -5
Relative sensitivity: +2.2dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.67%
MOL400(1%) : +1.9dB
MOL400(3%): +5.3dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.1dB
SOL10k: -4.1dB
Bias noise: -52.5dB, -55.9dB(A)
Dynamic range: 61.2dB

Heavily railroaded. The measurements are from the left channel only.


Sony UX (1986)

Relative bias: -1.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.4dB
THD @ Dolby level: 1.30%
MOL400(1%) : -1.1dB
MOL400(3%): +3.5dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.3dB
SOL10k: -3.6dB
Bias noise: -52.8dB, -56.4dB(A)
Dynamic range: 59.9dB


Sony UX (1988)

Relative bias: -2
Relative sensitivity: +0.6dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.82%
MOL400(1%) : +1.0dB
MOL400(3%): +4.8dB
MOL1k(3%): +4.6dB
SOL10k: -4.0dB
Bias noise: -53.5dB, -57.4dB(A)
Dynamic range: 62.2dB

Reasonably close to TDK SA, but with inferior MOL, SOL, and noise.


Sony UX (1990)

Relative bias: -1
Relative sensitivity: +0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.76%
MOL400(1%) : +1.3dB
MOL400(3%): +5.1dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.1dB
SOL10k: -4.1dB
Bias noise: -53.2dB, -57.0dB(A)
Dynamic range: 62.1dB


Sony UX (1992)

Relative bias: -2.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.6dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.6%
MOL400(1%) : 0dB
MOL400(3%): +4.1dB
MOL1k(3%): +4.0dB
SOL10k: -3.5dB
Bias noise: -53.3dB, -57.3dB(A)
Dynamic range: 61.4dB


Sony UX (1996)

Relative bias: +1.5
Relative sensitivity: -0.6dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.85%
MOL400(1%) : +0.7dB
MOL400(3%): +4.6dB
MOL1k(3%): +4.9dB
SOL10k: -2.9dB
Bias noise: -53.2dB, -57.3dB(A)
Dynamic range: 61.9dB


Sony UX (1997)

Relative bias: +1.5
Relative sensitivity: -1.1dB
THD @ Dolby level: 1.3%
MOL400(1%) : -0.9dB
MOL400(3%): +3.2dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.3dB
SOL10k: -3.5dB
Bias noise: -53.8dB, -58.0dB(A)
Dynamic range: 61.2dB


Sony Walkman (1988)

Relative bias: -1.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.4dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.85%
MOL400(1%) : +0.8dB
MOL400(3%): +4.6dB
MOL1k(3%): +4.6dB
SOL10k: -3.7dB
Bias noise: -53.1dB, -56.8dB(A)
Dynamic range: 61.4dB

A thematic tape intended for auto-reverse walkman use (it has a very short leader), this one is supposed to contain UX. Allowing for sample and batch variations that may well be the case. Moreover, according to the blurb this tape is supposed to be perfectly exchangeable with U564W.


Sony UX Turbo (1990)

Relative bias: -0.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.6dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.42%
MOL400(1%) : +3.2dB
MOL400(3%): +6.7dB
MOL1k(3%): +6.0dB
SOL10k: -3.0dB
Bias noise: -53.9dB, -58.0dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.7dB

Seems to be 1988 UX-S.


Sony UCX-S (1985)

Relative bias: -2.5
Relative sensitivity: +1.8dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.60%
MOL400(1%) : +3.0dB
MOL400(3%): +6.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.6dB
SOL10k: -2.8dB
Bias noise: -51.4dB, -55.2dB(A)
Dynamic range: 61.2dB


Sony UX-S (1986)

Relative bias: -2
Relative sensitivity: +1.4dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.60%
MOL400(1%) : +2.3dB
MOL400(3%): +6.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.6dB
SOL10k: -3.2dB
Bias noise: -51.8dB, -55.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 61.1dB


Sony UX-S (1988)

Relative bias: +0.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.37%
MOL400(1%) : +3.5dB
MOL400(3%): +6.8dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.9dB
SOL10k: -3.2dB
Bias noise: -54.3dB, -58.6dB(A)
Dynamic range: 65.4dB


Sony UX-S (1988, JDM?)

Relative bias: +0.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.6dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.26%
MOL400(1%) : +4.4dB
MOL400(3%): +7.6dB
MOL1k(3%): +6.2dB
SOL10k: -3.3dB
Bias noise: -54.2dB, -58.4dB(A)
Dynamic range: 66.0dB


Sony UX-S (1990)

Relative bias: +2.5
Relative sensitivity: -0.1dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.65%
MOL400(1%) : +1.9dB
MOL400(3%): +5.7dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.5dB
SOL10k: -2.9dB
Bias noise: -54.2dB, -58.6dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.3dB


Sony UX-S (1996)

Relative bias: 0
Relative sensitivity: +0.1dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.52%
MOL400(1%) : +2.5dB
MOL400(3%): +6.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.7dB
SOL10k: -3.0dB
Bias noise: -53.7dB, -58.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.1dB


Sony UX-S (1999)

Relative bias: -2
Relative sensitivity: +1.3dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.29%
MOL400(1%) : +4.0dB
MOL400(3%): +7.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +6.9dB
SOL10k: -2.5dB
Bias noise: -54.0dB, -57.8dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.8dB


Sony Esprit II (1992)

Relative bias: +0.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.1dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.46%
MOL400(1%) : +2.8dB
MOL400(3%): +6.2dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.8dB
SOL10k: -3.0dB
Bias noise: -53.9dB, -58.3dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.5dB

UX-S tape in a different shell.


Sony UX-ES (1986)

Relative bias: -1
Relative sensitivity:  +0.8dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.36%
MOL400(1%) : +3.6dB
MOL400(3%): +6.8dB
MOL1k(3%): +6.4dB
SOL10k: -3.0dB
Bias noise: -53.7dB, -57.6dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.4dB

Railroaded. Measurements are from the left channel only.


Sony UX-Pro (1986)

Relative bias: 0
Relative sensitivity: +0.7dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.35%
MOL400(1%) : +4.0dB
MOL400(3%): +7.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +6.3dB
SOL10k: -2.3dB
Bias noise: -53.2dB, -56.9dB(A)
Dynamic range: 63.9dB

I got this new, sealed. Probably the first mega type II. Until 1985 Sony had two type IIs in its range. Then, in 1986, this exploded into four cassettes, this UX-Pro as top of the range, with a price tage matching that of some established metal tapes.

The tape itself excels at MOL, SOL, and boasts a wide range of low distortion, but is no noise champion. Yet, it is clearly superior to UX-S. UX Pro's sales point was a unique ceramic insert acting as a precision tape guide block. You can see it in the detail pictures below. The brown stains were rubbed off the back of the tape in one single pass. The shell weighs 46 g, versus 42 g for a 1982 XLII-S.




















INDEX OF ALL CASSETTES