Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site tekig1.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!tektronix!tekig1!briand 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 {} 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.