The continuing story of TDK sound achievement.
Parts Two and Three.
TDK's philosophy of constant improvement has brought you the most advanced tape formulation on the market. Yet, the best tape in the world is only as good as the highly complex transport system that guides it past the heads of your deck. So the next parts of our story begin where the tape starts. Part Two, the special TDK hub/clamp assembly. And Part Three, the leader.
TDK discovered that if a hub/clamp isn't perfectly round, the tape gets wrinkled at regular intervals, leading to crinkling and uneven winding. These become problems you can hear. Like wow and flutter, poor head contact, loss of highs and actual dropouts in the music.
These imperfections are exaggerated by second-rate clamps. Some manufacturers jam a pin into a notch to secure the tape. The result is a dip that's passed on through successive tape layers. A hub/clamp assembly off by as little as the thickness of this paper can multiply problems in a dozen layers of tape.
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Circularity comparison diagrams.
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TDK uses computer-designed molding equipment and the very best materials to produce a unique 45° "W" double clamp with a special double purpose. The inner surface secures the leader flawlessly to the hub. The outer clamp section completes the circle, which is then checked for roughness and circularity on a machine that enlarges 100 to 10,000 times. As a result winding is always precise. Tape is off to a smooth start.. The colored clamp acts as a moving tape indicator. You'll see tape direction and running stability at a glance.
The high-visibility TDK leader also has a dual purpose. It's matched perfectly to the tape and precisely spliced with a strong adhesive. Its special design protects the tape from stress and doubles as a head cleaner. TDK leader actually cleans recorder heads in a single pass without causing wear. The special timing marks, spaced exactly one second apart, allow precise cueing.
As the TDK story continues, you I be reading about the other achievements we've packed into every TDK cassette. TDK's synergistic philosophy is unique. Our engineers demand continuous, uncompromising improvement at every step. Every part is just as important as the whole. The result is finer sound. And far better music. With a TDK cassette, everything is made with that purpose in mind. Music is the sum of its parts.
TDK----The Amazing Music Machine.
(Adapted from Audio magazine, Aug. 1980 )
Also see:
TDK Electronics -- blank audio cassette tape (Nov. 1978)
TDK's Working Guide to Better Recording (ad, Jan. 1985)
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