29 September 2021

Cassette Tape Measurements: Axia and Fuji



In 1985 Fuji rebranded itself into Axia for the Japanese market, presumably to appeal to a younger audience. From then on the product ranges diverged between Japan and the rest of the world, and it is not clear which Axia cassette corresponds to which Fuji equivalent.

Sometime around 1987 or so Fuji started sourcing tape from a.o. Sony. It is thought that this was to cover a period of heavy retooling at the Fuji facility. Shortly after Fuji started manufacuring its own tape again.

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.


Fuji GT-II (1985)

Relative bias: -2
Relative sensitivity: +0.8dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.54%
MOL400(1%) : +2.4dB
MOL400(3%): +6.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.6dB
SOL10k: -3.4dB
Bias noise: -53.0dB, -56.6dB(A)
Dynamic range: 62.6dB

This is an example of a tape ruggedised for car audio, perhaps the very first one? The usual websites place this tape in 1982, but I have my doubts. It only appears in magazine reviews from 1985 on.  Audio June 1987 states that the actual tape is identical to FR-IIS. Performance is excellent, at least as good as contemporary SA.


Fuji GT-IIS (1988)

Relative bias: -2
Relative sensitivity: +0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.57%
MOL400(1%) : +2.0dB
MOL400(3%): +5.6dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.3dB
SOL10k: -3.4dB
Bias noise: -53.6dB, -57.3dB(A)
Dynamic range: 62.9dB


Fuji GT-IIx (1990)

Relative bias: -2
Relative sensitivity: +0.9dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.56%
MOL400(1%) : +2.3dB
MOL400(3%): +6.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.6dB
SOL10k: -3.2dB
Bias noise: -53.1dB, -57.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 63.1dB


Fuji FR-II (1988)

Relative bias: -1.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.4dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.55%
MOL400(1%) : +2.3dB
MOL400(3%): +5.5dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.8dB
SOL10k: -3.4dB
Bias noise: -52.9dB, -57.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 62.6dB


Axia PS-IIs (1988)

Relative bias: -1.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.65%
MOL400(1%) : +1.8dB
MOL400(3%): +5.2dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.6dB
SOL10k: -3.2dB
Bias noise: -53.6dB, -57.3dB(A)
Dynamic range: 62.5dB


Axia AU-II (1990)

Relative bias: -0.5
Relative sensitivity: +1.2dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.50%
MOL400(1%) : +2.5dB
MOL400(3%): +5.9dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.8dB
SOL10k: -3.1dB
Bias noise: -54.9dB, -59.2dB(A)
Dynamic range: 65.1dB


Axia PS-II (1991)

Relative bias: -1
Relative sensitivity: +0.9dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.80%
MOL400(1%) : +0.9dB
MOL400(3%): +4.5dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.2dB
SOL10k: -3.5dB
Bias noise: -55.0dB, -59.4dB(A)
Dynamic range: 63.9dB


Axia AU-IIx (1991)

Relative bias: -0.5
Relative sensitivity: +1.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.42%
MOL400(1%) : +3.5dB
MOL400(3%): +6.8dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.7dB
SOL10k: -3.6dB
Bias noise: -54.8dB, -59.0dB(A)
Dynamic range: 65.8dB


Fuji DR-II (1995?)

Relative bias: 0
Relative sensitivity: -0.7dB
THD @ Dolby level: 1.4%
MOL400(1%) : -1.7dB
MOL400(3%): +3.2dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.3dB
SOL10k: -2.8dB
Bias noise: -53.0dB, -57.0dB(A)
Dynamic range: 60.2dB

The date is uncertain. The design of the shell resembles the one of 1995, presumably this was just an alternative version, or a slightly later one. Probably made by SKC.


Fuji ZII (1994)

Relative bias: +5
Relative sensitivity: +0.4dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.70%
MOL400(1%) : +1.5dB
MOL400(3%): +5.3dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.5dB
SOL10k: -3.0dB
Bias noise: -54.7dB, -58.8dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.1dB


Fuji K2 (1995)

Relative bias: +2.5
Relative sensitivity: +0.3dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.65%
MOL400(1%) : +1.7dB
MOL400(3%): +5.3dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.9dB
SOL10k: -3.0dB
Bias noise: -54.4dB, -58.7dB(A)
Dynamic range: 64.0dB





INDEX OF ALL CASSETTES