This is a collection of downloadable PDFs with old audio magazine reviews of cassettes that I found all over the internet. They are in mostly in English and German.
A good overview of available cassettes and their performance can be had with the American publications Audio and High-Fidelity, and with Hi-Fi Choice and Stereo for Europe.
Particularly interesting are the writings of Angus McKenzie (the near-legendary doyen of UK-based objective testing and also consultant to the tape industry at that time) in Hi-Fi For Pleasure, Hi-Fi Choice, and Hi-Fi News, providing a lot of backstory to the fast and chaotic evolution of the cassette through the 70s and 80s, as well as the technical ins and outs of tape measurements. Something very worth reading ... and preserving.
Be careful when comparing measurement results between publications. Different methods were used, with different outcomes. These are the more important ones:
In the early days Maximum Output Level (MOL, and probably SOL), often was input-referred: MOL or Maximum Recording Level (MRL) was then defined as the input level, relative to a given reference (Dolby 200nWb/m ANSI or DIN 250 nWb/m DIN), at which the off-tape output level contains a certain amount of distortion. Later articles are output-referred: MOL then and now is defined as the output level, relative to the reference, with a certain amount of distortion. The latter method returns lower performance figures. It is also more correct since it takes the tape's compression into account. Further, while the usual limit for MOL is 3% third harmonic distortion, some older publications used 5%, further inflating the score.
For (treble) Saturation Output Level (SOL) two methods were in vogue. The first increases a single (e.g. 10kHz, 12kHz, or 15kHz) frequency's input level until the output level peaks. The second method increases a twin-frequency (e.g. 11+12kHz) input level until a certain amount of intermodulation distortion is seen in the output. In both methods the precise choice of the test frequencies matters. Generally speaking SOL figures translate badly between publications.
There were also two recorder alignment procedures. One aligns the recorder to the tape-under-test itself, typically varying bias for the flattest frequency response. This also optimises the tape's dynamic range score. This method is generally fair to the tape, but mixes design properties of the recorder (median bias and record equalisation) into the result. The other method strictly used a IEC-aligned recorder (i.e. one set for the four IEC reference tapes from respectively BASF, BASF, Sony, and TDK), possibly operating a tape-under-test at a sub-optimal bias point, translating in a reduced dynamic range and/or a non-flat frequency response. This method penalises tapes the more they deviate from the IEC standard. Magazines also did not consistently use current IEC references. For instance it appears that Audio (USA) stuck to using the early-80s reference tapes until the end, thus with chromedioxide for type II, while HiFi Choice (UK) immediately adopted the 1987 IEC II ferrocobalt tape when it got released to industry.
Almost all tests used commercial non-modified cassette decks for their measurements, with especially the Nakamichi 582 and Dragon being very popular. McKenzie initially used a Telefunken M15 reel-to-reel mastering machine with cassette head.
If you have review articles missing here you are welcome to donate them for inclusion here. Please post them here.
This blog won't be around forever. You are encouraged to copy these files and host them independently.
Audio & Techniek (NL) 1984-08 Test: 35 Cassettes (Hans Beekhuyzen)
Audio & Techniek (NL) 1984-08 Cassettetest: een Nabeschouwing (Hans Beekhuyzen)
Audio (DE) 1979-04 Eisenzeit (Peter Gurr)
Audio (DE) 1981-06 24 Chrom-Cassetten Im Test (Hans-Guenther Beer)
Audio (DE) 1982-10 12 Chrom-Cassetten im grossen Vergleichstest (Wolfgang Feld)
Audio (DE) 1983-04 Altes Eisen: 14 Eisenoxid-Cassetten (Jurgen Tries)
Audio (DE) 1983-12 Ton-Traeger: 24 Cassetten (Wolfgang Feld)
Audio (DE) 1984-11 Gluecks-Zahl: 13 neue Cassetten (Wolfgang Tunze)
Audio (DE) 1986-01 Sensationeller Cassettentest (Hans-Guenther Beer)
Audio (DE) 1986-06 Acht Typ-I-Cassetten (Wolfgang Feld)
Audio (DE) 1987-07 10 Top-Chromcassetten Im Vergleichstest (Holger Hieke)
Audio (DE) 1988-10 16 aktuelle Typ-II-Cassetten (Wolfgang Feld)
Audio (DE) 1988-11 16 aktuelle Eisenoxid- und Reineisen-Cassetten (Lothar Brandt)
Audio (DE) 1989-10 Die besten Cassetten aller Klassen (Lothar Brandt)
Audio (DE) 1990-10 Aufnamepruefung (Bernd Beisenkoetter)
Audio (DE) 1992-10 Test: 37 Compact Cassetten (Wolfgang Petzel)
Audio (DE) 1993-10 Sechs Compact Cassetten (Holger Biermann)
Audio Magazin (RU) 1995-01 ...
Audio Magazin (RU) 1996-01 ...
Audio Magazin (RU) 1997-03 ...
Audio 1973-10 Cassette Tape Tests
Audio 1978-09 58 Cassettes Tested (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1979-09 Tape-to-Deck Matching, Metal Tape, Metal Cassette Tests (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1980-09 37 Cassette Tapes Tested (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1981-09 The New Cassettes, Focus On Shell Mechanics (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1982-03 New Cassettes Tested (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1983-09 Mass Tape Test: 77 Cassettes Rated (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1984-09 History Of Magnetic Recording, Azimuth, Cassette Test (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1986-06 Cassette Test Update: 47 Formulations (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1987-11 Mass Cassette Test: We Review 35 New Tapes (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1990-03 Greatest Cassette Test Ever: 88 Tapes Tested (Howard A.Roberson)
Audio 1993-06 Mass Tape Test: 51 Cassettes (Edward J.Foster)
Consumer Reports 1993-01 Audio Cassette Tapes
Electronics Australia 1981-11 BASF Definitive Answers About CrO2 Cassettes (Neville Williams)
Electronics Australia 1991-11 A Review of Current Cassette Tapes (Louis Challis)
Electronics Technology Today 1988-06 Audio Cassette Test (Timothy Palmer-Benson)
Electronics Today International 1986-07 Putting The Heat On Cassettes (Louis Challis)
Electronics Today International 1988-07 Tape Wars
Fono Forum (DE) 1982-01 25 Cassetten im Vergleich
HiFi Choice 1977 Cassette Tapes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi Choice 1978 Cassette Tapes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi Choice 1980 Cassette Tapes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi Choice 1981 Cassette Tapes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi Choice 1982 Cassette Tapes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi Choice 1983 Cassette Tapes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi Choice 1984 Cassette Tapes (Noel Keywood)
HiFi Choice 1985 Cassette Tapes (Noel Keywood)
HiFi Choice 1986 Cassette Tapes (Noel Keywood)
HiFi Choice 1987 Cassette Tapes (Alvin Gold)
HiFi Choice 1988-03 52 Cassette Tapes Reviewed (Alvin Gold)
HiFi Choice 1989-04 Choosing And Using ... Cassette Tapes (Paul Miller)
HiFi Choice 1991-01 Audio Cassettes: Over 30 Blank Tapes Tested (Paul Miller)
HiFi Choice 1991-04 Full Metal Jacket (Paul Miller)
HiFi Choice 1991-11
HiFi Choice 1993 (partial article)
HiFi Choice 1994-01 Tape Choice: Our Pick Of 38 Top Audio Cassettes (Paul Miller)
HiFi Choice 1995-02 Tape'95: 40 Blank Compact Cassettes (Paul Miller)
HiFi Choice 1995-11 40 Of The Hottest Cassettes Reviewed And Rated (Paul Miller)
HiFi For Pleasure 1976-08 Choosing Cassettes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi For Pleasure 1978-07 47 Blank Cassettes (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi For Pleasure 1981-06 Cassette Tapes
HiFi For Pleasure 1984-04 Top Of The Classes (Gordon J.King)
HiFi News 1978-08 A Pure Iron Breakthrough (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi News 1979-10 Cassette Tape and Technology Developments (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi News 1981-12 Cassette Tape Part 2 (John Hansen)
HiFi News 1982-01 Cassette Tape Part 3 (John Hansen)
HiFi News 1986-02 Blankety Blank Part 1 (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi News 1986-03 Blankety Blank Part 2 (Angus McKenzie)
HiFi Stereo Buyer's Guide 1978-01
HiFi Stereo Buyer's Guide 1979-03 Blank Cassette Tape (Fred Petras)
HiFi Stereo Buyer's Guide 1980-05 Cassette Tape Tryouts (Herb Friedman)
HiFi Stereophonie (DE) 1978-06 Compactcassetten-Tonbaender
HiFi Video Test (NL) 1986-06 De Eerste Cassette Oogst Van 1986 (Hans Godijn)
Hifi Vision (DE) 1986-07 22 Chrom-kassetten im Test
Hifi Vision (DE) 1986-09 Im Test: 19 Ferro-kassetten
Hifi Vision (DE) 1992-07 Im Test: 26 Chrom-kassetten
Hifi Vision (DE) 1994-07 Cassetten-test
HiFi World 1991-07 Quality Ferric Tapes (Noel Keywood)
HiFi World 1991-08 Tape Trial (Noel Keywood)
HiFi World 1992-01 BASF Battle Back (Noel Keywood)
HiFi World 1993-05 Maximal Maxell (Noel Keywood)
HiFi World 1994-08 Mastering Metals (Noel Keywood)
HiFi World 1995-07 Winning Formulations (Noel Keywood)
High-Fidelity 1972-03 The New Cassette Tapes (Herb Friedman)
High-Fidelity 1973-03 Tests Of Ten Cassette Tapes (Edward J.Foster)
High-Fidelity 1973-08 Reports On Five Cassette Tapes
High-Fidelity 1976-08 Tests Of Twenty-One Premium C-90 Cassettes
High-Fidelity 1978-08 Tests Of Twenty-Four C-90 Cassettes
High-Fidelity 1980-07 Tape Tests (Herb Friedman)
High-Fidelity 1982-02 Thirty-Two New Cassette Tapes Evaluated (Robert Long)
High-Fidelity 1983-08 Which Cassette Tapes Perform Best? (Robert Long)
High-Fidelity 1985-08 30 Tape Tests
High-Fidelity 1987-08 Magnetic Personalities (Robert Long)
Klangbild (DE) 1980-09 Compact-Cassetten im Vergleichstest
Le Haut Parleur (F) 1979-10 Sony et la Cassette
Le Haut Parleur (F) 1982-11 Les Cassettes Sony, Hitachi, TDK
Le Haut-Parleur (F) 1987-08 Comment Choisir Ses Cassettes Audio?
Luister (NL) 1988-11 Luister Cassette-test (Armand van Ommeren)
Modern Recording 1980-05 Nineteen Premium Cassette Tapes (Norman Eisenberg)
New HiFi Sound 1986-03 Pick Of The Pack (Noel Keywood)
Popular Electronics 1972-04 Performance Tests Of Cassette Tapes (Julian Hirsch)
Popular Electronics 1973-06 Chromium Dioxide vs Ferric Oxide Cassette Tapes (Julian Hirsch)
Popular Electronics 1974-08 HHL Tests The New 'Premium' Cassette Tapes (Julian Hirsch)
Popular Electronics 1975-12 How Good Are Ferrichrome & Other New Cassette Tapes? (Julian Hirsch)
Popular Electronics 1977-11 Selecting The Best Cassette Tape For Your Recording Needs (Julian Hirsch)
Popular Electronics 1981-12 Comparing High-Tech Audio Cassette Tapes (Julian Hirsch)
Popular HiFi 1976-01 Right Cassette Guidelines
Popular Mechanics 1976-11 PM's Guide to Cassette Tapes (Craig Stark)
Popular Mechanics 1989-11 Tale Of The Tapes (Stephen A.Booth and Frank C.Barr)
Radio Bulletin (NL) 1980-02 Conventionele Compactcassettes Beter Dan Ooit (Wim Jak)
Radio Electronics 1972-03 R-E Tests Cassette Tapes (Joe Shane)
Radio Electronics 1978-11 New Breakthrough In Audio Tape (Len Feldman)
Radio Electronics 1983-11 Audio Tapes: How Different Are They? (Herb Friedman)
Radiorama (IT) 1980-04 I Nastri in Cassetta
Stereo (DE) 1976-09 Das Cassetten Angebot im Vergleich (Ernst Plau)
Stereo (DE) 1979-02 25 Eisen-Cassetten im Test (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1979-07 21 Cassetten im Vergleich (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1980-09 Alle Reineisen-Cassetten im Test (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1981-01 Alle neuen Cassetten im Vergleich (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1981-09 Die neuen Cassetten im Vergleich (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1983-01 Die neuesten Cassetten im Vergleich (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1983-08 12 Cassetten: wie neu sind sie wirklich? (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1985-08 48 Cassetten im Marathon-Test (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1986-08 50 Neue Cassetten (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1987-08 Grosser Vergleichstest Cassetten Aller Art (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1988-08 32 Cassetten im Vergleich (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1989-08 Sieger Aus Dem Zweiten Glied (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1989-09 Agfa feiert Comeback
Stereo (DE) 1990-08 Vergleichstest Cassetten
Stereo (DE) 1991-08 19 Chrom- und 15 Metallcassetten im Test (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1992-08 Vergleichstest Cassetten (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1993-08 24 Chrom- and Metallcassetten im Test (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1994-08 22 Chrom- and Metallcassetten im Test
Stereo (DE) 1995-08 Bedrohte Art? (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 1996-08 Altes Eisen? (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo (DE) 2006-06 Klassiker: TDK SA (Ulrich Wienforth)
Stereo Review 1976-03 Tape Special
Stereo Review 1981-03 Special Tape Issue
Stereo Review 1982-03 Bargain Tapes (Craig Stark)
Stereo & Video (RU) 1994-10 ...
Stereo & Video (RU) 1997-05 ...
Stereoplay (DE) 1980-07 19 Cassetten im Labortest (Heinrich Sauer)
Stereoplay (DE) 1980-08 Schwierige Wahl (Juergen Schoppman)
Stereoplay (DE) 1982-06 Chrom ist Trumpf (Dietrich Benn)
Stereoplay (DE) 1983-08 24 Chrom- und Metall-Cassetten im Test (Heinrich Sauer)
Stereoplay (DE) 1985-03 Gewinnsystem (Arndt Klingelnberg)
Stereoplay (DE) 1985-04 Rasselbande (Arndt Klingelnberg)
Stereoplay (DE) 1987-01 Mauschen spielen (Michael Wolff
Stereoplay (DE) 1989-03 134 Cassetten im Test + investigation into thermal effects (Peter Schueller)
Stereoplay (DE) 1990-11 48 Cassetten (Peter Schueller)
Stereoplay (DE) 1993-05 26 Cassetten (Peter Schueller)
Stereoplay (DE) 1995-04 23 Chrom- und 10 Metallcassetten (Peter Schueller)
Stereoplay (DE) 1998-09 BASF/Emtec Reference Maxima TPII
Stiftung Warentest (DE) 1982-02
Stiftung Warentest (DE) 1985-03
The Boston Audio Society Speaker 1979-12 (Peter Mitchell)
What HiFi 1985-10 Blank Checks (Jimmy Hughes)
What HiFi 1987-10 Blank Tape Special (Jimmy Hughes & Paul Miller)
What HiFi 1990-09 Blank Generation
What HiFi 1992-09 Blankety Blank
