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From: briand@tekig1.UUCP (Brian Diehm)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: DAK Industries has been around a while
Message-ID: <1739@tekig1.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Aug-84 14:24:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekig1.1739
Posted: Tue Aug 14 14:24:54 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Aug-84 02:52:12 EDT
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 37

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     The statement that DAK produces only standard FeCr (normal bias) cassettes
is not true;  they now produce CrO2 tapes as well.

     All their tapes have the advantage of CHEAP - they sell only in lots of 10
and they go for about $24 for FeO and $26 for CrO2.  They save money by making
you insert the box labels, etc.  The shells are cheap, but they are at least
screw assembled so that you can get to the works if necessary.  They are very
good for automobiles - they are the quality you don't mind getting dirty or
munged up.  They withstand heat better than Memorex - a TRULY garbage product
in my opinion.

     I have not noticed ANY dropouts or any other funny characteristics with
DAK cassettes of either variety.  DAK claims frequency response equal to TDK,
but I've never checked that particular claim.  The shells do not do any wierd
trips for me;  no rewind screech or anything, except for the following.

     They have one wierd problem.  I have a deck which uses the shell holes in
the back to determine not only write protect, but to sense CrO2 and Metal Oxide
tapes as well.  To save costs, DAK provides only one type of shell, which has
removable knockouts (like the write protect ones) for CrO2 tapes - and yes, YOU
are the one who gets to remove all 20 knockouts on your new batch of CrO2 tapes
(cost is cost).  HOWEVER, the knockout is positioned just wrong for my deck (it
is still too deep an impression), so that often a FeO tape (one that I'm making
for my car) is sensed by my deck as CrO2.  If they spent the money to have a
separate type of shell for the FeO tapes, I wouldn't have this problem.  To me
it's not severe - I only use FeO tapes for the car, so I record them once and
it no longer matters.  I just tape over the spot for that recording session.

     I would say that with DAK the rule still holds:  You get only what you pay
for.  But at least you get as much as you pay for;  they're not ripping you off.
I am satisfied, and considering the cost, I think it's a bargain.  Just be 
aware that you're not buying top dollar quality.

-Brian Diehm
Tektronix, Inc.