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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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?)
.JPG)
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 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 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 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 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 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 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
