Maxell Cassette Tapes

Maxell Blank Cassette Tapes

Maxell - a contraction of "Maximum Capacity Dry Cell" - was formed in 1960 as a division of Nitto Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., with Maxell Electric Industrial Company incorporated as an independent entity in 1961. Though founded on battery manufacturing, Maxell's global recognition came from a single product category: magnetic recording tape. Introducing their first high-fidelity audio cassettes to the Japanese market in the early 1970s, Maxell built a reputation for exceptional consistency, low-noise formulations, and relentless refinement of cobalt-particle technology across every tape type.

In 1974, Maxell launched the UD (Ultra Dynamic) series, which became a standard for high-fidelity home recording. Through the 1980s, Maxell became one of the most recognized brands in consumer audio - and achieved genuine pop-culture iconic status with the "Blown Away Guy" advertisement, showing a man in a leather chair being pinned back by audio from a speaker, with the Maxell logo. It remains one of the most reproduced images in advertising history.

Key Maxell models in our collection: UR (the evergreen budget Type I, still in production in some markets); XLII (Maxell's mid-range Type II, beloved for consistent quality across decades of production); XLII-S (the premium super chrome flagship, widely regarded among collectors as one of the finest Type II cassettes ever made - matching or exceeding entry-level metal tape performance on a good deck); MX (standard Type IV metal); MX-S (flagship metal with ultra-fine particles and outstanding noise performance); and Metal Capsule / Metal XS (Japan-market premium Type IV with the highest measured output levels in the Maxell lineup).

All tapes are new sealed NOS. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Maxell blank cassette tapes?

Maxell XLII-S is widely regarded as one of the finest Type II tapes ever made - competing directly with entry-level metal tape performance. For Type IV, MX-S offers outstanding noise performance. Metal Capsule and Metal XS are Japan-market flagships. For everyday use, XLII is the dependable workhorse.

What is the 'Blown Away Guy' Maxell advertisement?

The iconic Maxell advertisement - showing a man in a leather chair being pinned back by speaker output with the Maxell logo - was photographed by Steve Steigman and became one of the most reproduced images in advertising history. Launched in the 1980s, it embedded the Maxell name in consumer consciousness and symbolized the brand's fidelity claims.

What does Maxell stand for?

Maxell is a contraction of 'Maximum Capacity Dry Cell' - reflecting the company's battery manufacturing origins. Maxell Electric Industrial Company was created in 1961 out of the dry battery and magnetic tape divisions of Nitto Electric Industrial Company.

Is Maxell the same as Hitachi?

Maxell's full corporate name during its peak years was Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. - Hitachi was the parent company. Hitachi-branded and Lo-D-branded cassettes are Maxell tapes in Hitachi packaging. Maxell has since become independent, listed separately on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Are Maxell XLII cassette tapes still available?

New production of Maxell XLII ended in the early 2000s. All XLII tapes available today are sealed NOS from original inventory. The XLII-S in particular is a finite collector's item - once the existing stock is gone, there will be no more.