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Distortion v level measurements for different cassette tapes

Photos of all the cassettes tested

Measurement Setup:

Aiwa XK-S7000 deck
PC with RME Digi 96/8 PAD sound card
HP 3478 RMS multimeter
AudioTester Software.

Level 200mV on the graphs is equivalent to 250 nWb/m (set by BASF reference tape).
Frequency is 315 Hz, measured 3rd harmonic only

All cassettes were calibrated for bias and level using Aiwa XK-S7000 calibration routine before measurement .

Type 1 ("Normal") tapes in brown
Type 2 ("Chrome") tapes in blue
Type 4 ("Metal") tapes in green

Here is an approximate scale reference in mV v dB :

400 mV = +10 dB VU
315 mV = +8 dB VU
250 mV = +6 dB VU
200 mV = +4 dB VU = 250 nWb/m
175 mV = +3 dB VU = Dolby Level
125 mV = 0VU
100 mV = -2 dB VU
50 mV = -8 dB VU

NOTES:
on the X-axis shown the relative measured RMS output level from the tape in mV
on the Y-axis shown the 3rd harmonic in percent.

BASF_Chromdioxid_Maxima_II	BASF_Chrome_Super_II_C60	BASF_Reference_II_Master_C10	BASF_Reference_Maxima_TP_II	EMTEC_CEII_Chrome_Extra	Fuji_DR
Fuji_DR_II	Fuji_ZII_C60	Maxell_UD_XLII_old	Maxell_UR_new_C120	Maxell_UR_new_C90	Maxell_XLII_S_C46
Maxell_XLII_S_C90	Maxell_XLII_new	Maxell_XLII_older	Mr_Audio_SF_new_C90	Philips_CD_Extra_Chrom	Sony_FX_new
Sony_Metal_XR	Sony_UXS_C60	Sony_UX_Pro	TDK_CDing2	TDK_D_new	TDK_D_old
TDK_FE_ferric_new	TDK_MA	TDK_MA_R	TDK_MA_XG	TDK_SA_Limited_Edition_C60	TDK_SA_Luxembourg
TDK_SA_Luxembourg_C60	TDK_SA_X	TDK_SA_X_older	TDK_SA_older

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