Cassette tape measurements: Sony CHF, HF, BHF, HF-S, HF-ES, FN, FX, HD-F

This continues my evaluation of old cassette tapes, using my Nakamichi BX-300E deck and Audiotester software. This time a few ferrics from Sony. The dating of the more recent budget models (HF, FX) is uncertain.

For details on the measurement method look here.

INDEX OF ALL CASSETTES

Maxell UR (1994)  (what the deck was calibrated for)

Relative bias: (reference)
Relative sensitivity: (reference)
THD @ Dolby level: 0.42%
MOL400(THD=1%): +3.4dB
MOL400(THD=3%): +5.3dB
MOL1k(THD=3%): +2.9dB
SOL10k: -1.3dB
Bias noise: -49.5dB, -52.5dB(A)
Dynamic range: 57.8dB

Concerning sensitivity at 400Hz this UR seems a close match for the 1981 and 1994 IEC I references. At 10kHz UR sits between the old and the new reference.

Sony Low Noise (1970)

Relative bias: -1.5
Relative sensitivity: -1.0dB
THD @ Dolby level: 1.6%
MOL400(1%): -1.3dB
MOL400(3%): +2.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +1.8dB
SOL10k: -2.8dB
Bias noise: -47.0dB, -50.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 52.1dB

Sony CHF (1978)

Relative bias: -2
Relative sensitivity: -0.8dB
THD @ Dolby level: 1.5%
MOL400(1%): -1.3dB
MOL400(3%): +2.1dB
MOL1k(3%): +1.8dB
SOL10k: -1.4dB
Bias noise: -47.6dB, -50.7dB(A)
Dynamic range: 52.8dB

This entry level tape was made from 1978 till 1981. My sample is probably a later one. Performance is very basic, but no worse than early D or UL.

Sony HF (1985)

Relative bias: -0.5
Relative sensitivity: -0.3dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.60%
MOL400(1%): +1.5dB
MOL400(3%): +4.5dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.6dB
SOL10k: -1.4dB
Bias noise: -47.0dB, -50.0dB(A)
Dynamic range: 54.5dB

Sony HF (1986)

Relative bias: 0
Relative sensitivity: -0.6dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.65%
MOL400(1%): +1.3dB
MOL400(3%): +4.2dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.4dB
SOL10k: -0.8dB
Bias noise: -48.5dB, -51.7dB(A)
Dynamic range: 55.9dB

Sony HF (1988)

Relative bias: +0.5
Relative sensitivity: -0.3dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.45%
MOL400(1%): +2.8dB
MOL400(3%): +5.3dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.2dB
SOL10k: -1.1dB
Bias noise: -49.5dB, -52.8dB(A)
Dynamic range: 58.1dB

Sony HF (1990)

Relative bias: 0
Relative sensitivity: -0.7dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.53%
MOL400(1%): +1.7dB
MOL400(3%): +4.2dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.3dB
SOL10k: -0.6dB
Bias noise: -49.5dB, -52.9dB(A)
Dynamic range: 57.1dB

Sony HF (1992)

Relative bias: +2.5
Relative sensitivity: -0.7dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.31%
MOL400(1%): +2.7dB
MOL400(3%): +5.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.5dB
SOL10k: -0.1dB
Bias noise: -49.0dB, -52.3dB(A)
Dynamic range: 57.3dB

Sony HF (1999)

Relative bias: +1
Relative sensitivity: -0.7dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.57%
MOL400(1%): +1.6dB
MOL400(3%): +4.1dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.1dB
SOL10k: -1.6dB
Bias noise: -49.1dB, -52.6dB(A)
Dynamic range: 56.7dB

Sony HF (2002)

Relative bias: +0.5
Relative sensitivity: -0.8dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.52%
MOL400(1%): +1.8dB
MOL400(3%): +4.5dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.0dB
SOL10k: -1.5dB
Bias noise: -48.5dB, -51.8dB(A)
Dynamic range: 56.3dB

Made in Mexico.

Sony BHF (1982)

Relative bias: -1
Relative sensitivity: +0.7dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.50%
MOL400(1%): +3.1dB
MOL400(3%): +6.1dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.5dB
SOL10k: -0.4dB
Bias noise: -48.5dB, -51.7dB(A)
Dynamic range: 57.8dB

Comparable to Maxell UD 1980. Higher MOL, but also higher noise.

Sony HF-S (1985)

Relative bias: 0
Relative sensitivity: +0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.44%
MOL400(1%): +3.6dB
MOL400(3%): +6.3dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.5dB
SOL10k: -1.1dB
Bias noise: -50.6dB, -54.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 60.4dB

BHF became HF-S. This tape provides excellent MOL, SOL and noise. At least as good as some versions of AD and UDI, and still quite compatible with IEC 1.

Sony HF-S (1986)

Relative bias: +1
Relative sensitivity: +0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.45%
MOL400(1%): +3.4dB
MOL400(3%): +6.4dB
MOL1k(3%): +4.7dB
SOL10k: -1.2dB
Bias noise: -50.3dB, -53.9dB(A)
Dynamic range: 60.3dB

Sony HF-S (1988)

Relative bias: +2
Relative sensitivity: +0.7dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.50%
MOL400(1%): +4.4dB
MOL400(3%): +7.0dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.6dB
SOL10k: -0.8dB
Bias noise: -49.6dB, -53.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 60.1dB

Sony HF-ES (1986)

Relative bias: +2
Relative sensitivity: +0.8dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.27%
MOL400(1%): +4.1dB
MOL400(3%): +7.1dB
MOL1k(3%): +5.7dB
SOL10k: -0.4dB
Bias noise: -50.0dB, -53.6dB(A)
Dynamic range: 60.7dB

Very nice MOL/SOL balance, and overall somewhat better than the 1986 HF-S.

Sony HF-ES (1988)

Relative bias: +2
Relative sensitivity: +1.0dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.45%
MOL400(1%): +4.8dB
MOL400(3%): +7.7dB
MOL1k(3%): +6.7dB
SOL10k: -0.3dB
Bias noise: -49.7dB, -53.2dB(A)
Dynamic range: 60.9dB

Sony FN (1986)

Relative bias: -0.5
Relative sensitivity: 0dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.35%
MOL400(1%): +3.1dB
MOL400(3%): +5.5dB
MOL1k(3%): +3.8dB
SOL10k: -0.3dB
Bias noise: -47.8dB, -51.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 56.6dB

Sony HD-F (1990)

Relative bias: -0.5
Relative sensitivity: -0.5dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.37%
MOL400(1%): +2.2dB
MOL400(3%): +4.5dB
MOL1k(3%): +4.4dB
SOL10k: -1.3dB
Bias noise: -49.7dB, -53.1dB(A)
Dynamic range: 57.6dB

Sony FXI (1996)

Relative bias: -1
Relative sensitivity: -0.2dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.36%
MOL400(3%): +4.7dB
MOL1k(3%): +2.5dB
SOL10k: -0.8dB
Bias noise: -49.6dB, -52.9dB(A)
Dynamic range: 57.6dB

Sony FX (2004)

Relative bias: +1
Relative sensitivity: -0.9dB
THD @ Dolby level: 0.51%
MOL400(1%): +2.1dB
MOL400(3%): +4.6dB
MOL1k(3%): +2.8dB
SOL10k: -1.1dB
Bias noise: -48.5dB, -51.9dB(A)
Dynamic range: 56.5dB

With performance figures and colour virtually the same, this tape seems to be identical to 2002 HF.




INDEX OF ALL CASSETTES