I guess to understand why a great tape like this exsisted, then got discontinued, you have to understand how available they actually were. Most people could only find the entry level cassettes from each major companie in most stores. The TDK D was the single most popular Normal Bias cassette of all time. This was all mainly because of the fact that most stores only carried that particular cassette (entry level) and nothing else from that bias level. The others were thought of as "too expensive" to buy as part of that store's stock, so a lot of those cassettes didn't make too many shelves. You were extremely lucky to find a TDK AR-X in a high-end music and/or stereo equipment stores. In my many years of going into music/stereo stores, I never found AR-X's. Higher end tapes were not too much of a demand with those stores and it usually the entry level of Normal, mid-range of High, and entry of Metal that would appear in stores most often.

  Back in the mid-80's it wasn't so hard to find other levels of cassette in the same bias. TDK had the largest array of cassettes of any line on the market in the 1980's. In 1988 when they downsized their line, it was still pretty extensive. Four, count them, four Normal Bias cassettes made up their entire line: D, AD, AR, AR-X. Sony had only 2: HF, HF-S, Maxell had 3: UR, UDI, XLI. Still, it was the largest array when adding their other tapes to the list. TDK pushed those "not-so widely-sold" cassettes out there and started to make better sales because ot it.

  But now to the point of this page, the TDK AD.

  In the late 70's-early 80's, cassettes were used for a wide range of uses. Jam sessions, school concerts, baby's first words, shows from the radio or copying one or 2 of your fav albums were just the majority of things done at that time. TDK, Maxell, and others were starting to create different cassettes for different needs. At around the turn of the decade, TDK created the perfect affordable live recording cassette: The AD. It was perfect for those radio shows and jam sessions that needed to be captured clearly. TDK even made a more professional level of AD in 1981: The AD-X. See below for more info about introductions and such in the gallery.

  In the mid to late 80's, the tape was thinner, but at that time, there was a good emphesis on cassettes and manufacturing them, and a better binder was created in the process keeping the formula on the material better. So TDK (as well as others) could make thinner tapes. That's one reason why 100 minute and more minute tapes were seen more often. I do agree though that the older tapes are of a more durable quality because of thickness. I recorded a Trance album on a 1984 TDK AD and it sounds supurb!

  The AD was even tested (by me) to see if an LP would sound good, and in fact it did. When Dolby (B and C) was used to get rid of the noise, it almost sounded new with the clarity that was expected of the tape. Toward the late 80's, CD's were breaking into the scene more, and tapes at that time had to meet with those expectations and sound just as good with no drop-outs or recording issues. The AD didn't have any problems at all (neither did the Type I counterparts D, AR and AR-X) and was able to capture all the detail even when recorded in Dolby B (all based on well researched experience). It sounded great. CD quality for your ears on a cassette that was only Normal Bias. Yeah, High Bias was obviously the better formulation of sound quality for CD, but if you could spend less and have great quality, AD (I also say AR too) was right on track.

  I'm willing to guess that the more dedicated audiophilles say that usually the highest level of any bias level is ALWAYS the best. That may be true, but if you compare TDK's AR-X with SA (which is more available at the time, and less $$$), the quality was the same. Not only with me, but other people I have asked. AD was more available than AR-X, and had excellent sound quality and clarity, comparable to AR-X. As claimed, it was used for portable type stereos (heck yeah, in a car with a good sound system, it is the shiznit). AD can be used in anything, and still sound great.

  But all good things come to an end, and in about 1992/93, TDK came out with DS-X, which replaced AD, AR, AR-X, and was pushed to be more available than the others ever were. In its first year, it outsold the other three cassettes from the last 2 1/2 years combined. It also in it's first couple of months, even outsold D! But, AD will always be, in my mind, one of the best, most versitille cassettes I ever came across.

The Gallery

   Here are some of the photos I have collected after so many years (OK, months and mostly from eBay). Not only do I have some of the most extensively detailed photos, not only to show detail, but to let you know a little bit about them with a discription. Click on the photo or year for more photos in relation.

Pic coming soon	1981   The AD was one of the new tapes in the new D series, but it would only be one of 3 with the introduction of the AD-X.
Pic coming soon	1984   AD was holding its own at the time, and really sold well. AD-X was not as available, but still was pushed by TDK. They wanted ALL of their line to sell very much like D and SA.
Pic coming soon	1987   Blue was becoming the more "official" color of the tape, and was the more attractive of the pacakges, until the following year.
	1988   The "Drastic Change of 1988" saw D, AD, AR and SD (High Bias) receive the same packaging, which would not be "traditional" of what TDK usually put out. AR-X would look like the High Bias counterparts along with SA, SA-X, MA and MA-X.
	1991   Again, one final change to the packaging, which was on a slant rather than horizontal or vertical lines, and a little more change to the formulation to make a slightly thinner tape. Most of the tapes in their line at this time were thinner.
pic coming soon	1993   DS-X was the tape to essentually replace the other 3 normal bias cassettes and sold better because TDK pushed it out there. DS-X was available in 60, 90 and 100 minutes.
pic coming soon	Looking ahead: 2003   Nowadays, AD's are resurfacing on eBay more often, as well as other vintage stereo stuff, and the audiophilles are converging there. I even bought quite a few AD's off of there. AD's still are being sold, and eBay is the place.

A True Classic:
  TDK AD cassettes were great for radio, live recording (small studio), and most any music, from Bass and Trance to Rock and Rap. Excellent quality if used in boomboxes, car stereos and lower-end stereos. I have found I get great recordings when used in my Pioneer CT-9R.

  Also, please keep in mind that the information is as accurate as my experience allows me. Do you have any questions? Please E-mail me.

Pictures on this page are either borrowed directly from the official US TDK site or from some other source, like eBay auctions. The images are the sole right of TDK, and in no way are these pictures intended to be abused or utilized for profit. All information within this section is for research and informational use only. Illegal use is strictly prohibited. Specs for each tape can be found at TDK's US website.
Email me at chris@btgallery.com for questions, comments, contributions, or even your own Top 5 list.