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HD3 v level at 315 Hz for 62 different cassette tapes



Measurement Setup:

Nakamichi BX-300E cassette deck
PC with RME Digi 96/8 PAD sound card
HP 3478 RMS multimeter
AudioTester Software.

Level 250mV on the graphs is equivalent to 250 nWb/m (set by BASF reference tape).
Frequency is 315 Hz, measured 3rd harmonic only


The bias level for all cassettes was set for a flat frequency response.


Here is an approximate scale reference in mV v dB for this setup:

700 mV = +13 dB VU
600 mV = +11.5 dB VU
500 mV = +10 dB VU
400 mV = +8 dB VU
300 mV = +5.5 dB VU
250 mV = +4 dB VU = 250 nWb/m , DIN Reference Level
215 mV = +2.7 dB VU = "Dolby Level"
160 mV = 0VU
80 mV = -6 dB VU
40 mV = -12 dB VU
20 mV = -18 dB VU

NOTES:
on the X-axis shown the relative measured RMS output level from the tape in mV
on the Y-axis shown the 3rd harmonic in dB



Here is an approximate scale reference of HD3 level in dB v HD3 level in %:

-20 dB = 10 %
-30 dB = 3% , at this distortion level the Maximum Output Level (MOL) is usually measured
-40 dB = 1%
-50 dB = 0.3%
-60 dB = 0.1%
-70 dB = 0.03%


BASF_Chromdioxid_Maxima_II
BASF_Chromdioxid_Maxima_II
BASF_CMII
BASF_CMII
BASF_CMII_old_1
BASF_CMII_old_1
BASF_CMII_old_2
BASF_CMII_old_2
BASF_CMII_old_3
BASF_CMII_old_3
BASF_CMII_old_4
BASF_CMII_old_4
BASF_CSII
BASF_CSII
BASF_FEI
BASF_FEI
BASF_FMI
BASF_FMI
BASF_IEC_II_Primary_Reference
BASF_IEC_II_Primary_Reference
BASF_IEC_I_Primary_Reference
BASF_IEC_I_Primary_Reference
BASF_Reference_II_Master_C10
BASF_Reference_II_Master_C10
BASF_TPII_C60
BASF_TPII_C60
BASF_TPIV
BASF_TPIV
DarkLab_Chrome
DarkLab_Chrome
Fuji_DR
Fuji_DR
Fuji_DRII
Fuji_DRII
Fuji_ZII_C60
Fuji_ZII_C60
Maxell_Metal_CD_C110
Maxell_Metal_CD_C110
Maxell_MX
Maxell_MX
Maxell_UDII_CD_C60
Maxell_UDII_CD_C60
Maxell_UD_XLII
Maxell_UD_XLII
Maxell_UR
Maxell_UR
Maxell_XLIIS_C46
Maxell_XLIIS_C46
Maxell_XLIIS_C90
Maxell_XLIIS_C90
Maxell_XLII_chair
Maxell_XLII_chair
Maxell_XLII_oval
Maxell_XLII_oval
Maxell_XLI_S_C60
Maxell_XLI_S_C60
Memorex_CRXIIS
Memorex_CRXIIS
Mr_Audio_SF
Mr_Audio_SF
MTV_Super_Ferric_PRC
MTV_Super_Ferric_PRC
NoName_Japan_C30
NoName_Japan_C30
Philips_CD_Extra_Chrom
Philips_CD_Extra_Chrom
Philips_CD_one
Philips_CD_one
Philips_Ferro_FS
Philips_Ferro_FS
Sony_CDit_I
Sony_CDit_I
Sony_CDit_II_C60
Sony_CDit_II_C60
Sony_FXI
Sony_FXI
Sony_FXII
Sony_FXII
Sony_Metal_ES
Sony_Metal_ES
Sony_Metal_SR_C110
Sony_Metal_SR_C110
Sony_Metal_XR
Sony_Metal_XR
Sony_UXPro
Sony_UXPro
Sony_UXturbo
Sony_UXturbo
Sony_UX_C60
Sony_UX_C60
Sony_UX_S_C60
Sony_UX_S_C60
STRAND_GOLD_SF
STRAND_GOLD_SF
TDK_CDingII
TDK_CDingII
TDK_D_new
TDK_D_new
TDK_D_old
TDK_D_old
TDK_FE
TDK_FE
TDK_MAex
TDK_MAex
TDK_MA_new
TDK_MA_new
TDK_MA_old
TDK_MA_old
TDK_MA_R
TDK_MA_R
TDK_MA_XG
TDK_MA_XG
TDK_SA_1988
TDK_SA_1988
TDK_SA_new
TDK_SA_new
TDK_SA_X_new
TDK_SA_X_new
TDK_SA_X_old
TDK_SA_X_old
TDK_SM_X_C10
TDK_SM_X_C10
Thats_MR_X_Pro
Thats_MR_X_Pro

JAlbum 7.1