Customer Reviews

Maxell Normal Bias UR 90-Minute (15-Pack)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I use these tapes for all my recording. They are great all around tapes. The sound quality is very good, and they are not too expensive!

The Maxell UR-90 is a normal bias cassette (a popular comparable model would be the TDK D-90). Given the limited dynamic range and frequency range of these cassettes, they are not a good choice for hi-fi recording. For high-quality recordings, go with the Maxell XL-II or TDK SA series cassettes, or, if even greater performance is required, step up to the XL-IIS or SA-X. The Maxell UR-90 is well-suited to "workhorse" applications such as recordings made for use in a standard car deck, walkman, or cheap home stereo deck. Not only do these devices have limited capabilities in terms of both dynamic range and frequency range, but they are also much more prone to "eating" tapes, which is a risk that is best undertaken by a duplicate copy recorded on an affordable UR cassette. I had several treasured master recordings ruined by my car deck before I learned that using the high-bias tapes were simply not worth it for such applications. The UR-90 is perfect for everyday duties, and is also good for voice transcriptions since the speaking voice resides squarely in the midrange of the audible frequency spectrum and will not benefit substantially from the use of high-bias cassettes. I am a college student and the UR-90 is great for recording professor's lectures (especially since I cannot afford a micro-cassette recorder). The 90-minute length is also beneficial, since longer cassettes put more strain on tape motors and also break more easily due to the fact that they have thinner ribbon on the reel to yield the extra length. Thus, in conclusion, I'd give the Maxell UR-90 five stars for value, and an overall rating of 3 stars, since it is not suited to high-quality recording but performs its intended purpose well.

Well, I wouldn't record "EXODUS'S" 'Tempo of the Damned' on the Maxell UR. But UR is a good choice for recording music that is not so over the top. For the reasonable price of UR, it is really versatile. As well as not too intense music, it is a good tape for recording from the radio, as well as general voice recordings. A previous reviewer was quite right by pointing out that for high intensity recordings, you are better off with Maxell XL II.

Maxell manufactures excellent 90 minute cassette tapes for all purpose general recording. As long as you have the right kind of equipment, these tapes record the sounds of record albums, radio shows, CD-Rs, people talking and more. These tapes have 90 minutes worth of blank recording tapes on them so there are 45 blank minutes for recording on each side. The features of this tape, as one reviewer correctly notes, make it good for recording lectures and music using standard, less expensive home stereo equipment. The tape playback will work well in any basic tape deck including the one in your car.

If you pay the Amazon price of $6.75 for the fifteen-pack you spend roughly 45 cents per tape and that's very inexpensive. The tapes allow you hours upon hours of listening enjoyment because you can record over them many times; and they take up very little room so they're easy to carry around with you.

Unfortunately, these tapes cannot produce the same quality recording reproduction as a digitalized copy would give you. This means that if, hypothetically, you were to copy a CD-R onto another CD-R instead of a Maxell cassette tape, the quality of the sound on the CD-R copy would be sharper and clearer with less background noise than a Maxell cassette tape or any other brand of cassette tape could give you. Maxell also manufactures higher quality cassette tapes including the Maxell XL-II; but it's still not the same as a digitized CD-R recording. Moreover, cassette tapes can break if not handled with care. They can also break if used a few too many times, too. Therefore, I recommend that any important recorded material should be copied onto another blank tape and then keep that second tape in a safe place to use as a backup. These shortcomings frustrate me and therefore I will have to take off one star to make this a four star review.

The tapes have small pieces of plastic on the narrow top of each cassette which you can punch out easily so that accidental recording over an existing recording is impossible. If you do wish to record over an original recording then you can merely place a small amount of regular tape over the hole. The cassette tape is now ready to record a fresh recording.

Overall, Maxell makes a great choice when you want reliable cassette tapes to record music, the radio, people talking or anything you wish to record. I have used this brand for decades and I cannot think of any major complaints. I highly recommend Maxell normal bias 90 minute cassette tapes for you to use when you need to record something onto a tape.

I'm so happy to be able to order these audio tapes through Amazon. The product is excellent and the price is low. The only problem is the cost of shipping. The shipping cost for my order equaled the cost of the product. Why should it cost twenty dollars to ship a small box of audio tapes? There must be some way to bring shipping costs down.

I know nobody uses cassette tapes any more, so I was greatful to find these. I know its a little backwards, but I make tapes off of the CDs our church sends out to people who request them. I copy the sermon onto tapes for some men in prison here in Arizona and was relieved to find I could still purchase them at a decent price.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" as well as an avid music collector, and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write about and or discuss various recording tapes.


Maxell's stellar reputation for cassettes and VHS tapes has been a staple of the industry for decades.

The Maxell UR is not meant for music. You can record your favorite songs but the optimum way to hear the playback is on a cassette that is referred to as Chrome or Position 2. The UR is a normal bias (Position 1). These are used to record voice. It may be advantageous for interviewing somebody, for notes to be transcribed, recording a sporting event and or a talk show from the radio.

For music recordings use Maxell's excellent XL2 or XL2S. They offer tremendous quality and longevity.

Please make sure the tape deck has clean heads or the great recording tape will not make a difference and you will get results that sound muddy.

Please stick with 60, 90, or 100-minute blank tapes. Anything higher the tape is thin and more susceptible to breakage.


Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

I needed cassettes for a show we are putting on in my community - to copy music our piano player & maestro put together for us. these came promptly! thanks!!

Even with shipping, these cassettes are about a dollar a piece, just an outstanding value, and I never left the comfort of my house, thanks to Amazon and their fine group of business's, I'm totally satisfied. In this day of higher fuel costs I enjoy the option of shopping online and trust Amazon to do the work for me while I save a few dollars on gas, just seems like a good economic decision. Jeffco

I immediately passed this link to friends still using Magnetic Cassette tapes. They are getting harder to locate and this brand, length and packaging are excellent. Arrived on time and in perfect condition. I might add that the box looked like it had a hard shipping experience. No damage to tapes, or their plastic cases.