I figured that I share my recent video about ReShow cassettes. I decided not to start a separate thread, but to make one for various reviews. The look of the cassettes is sort of old-fashioned and lazy, borderline ugly. But it is what’s inside that is more important. I did several test recordings. First, I used a Sony CFM-130 cassette-corder similar to the one that the Grandpa left behind (watch their commercial, it is hilarious). It is a mono boombox, with automatic recording level system. I recorded several commercial breaks off the radio. Then I recorded some music from YouTube music library using my Technics RS-TR333 component cassette deck, which has a bias adjustment knob and Dolby HX Pro. I borrowed the particular test frequencies from a Sony user manual. The result is predictably "meh". I'd say, the dynamic range is about 45 dB give or take a couple of dB, judging by distortion on a 50 dB recording, but without proper equipment and methodology I cannot confirm that. How serious these ReShow guys are, and who are they, anyway? If you search their name, the first result is their store on Amazon that has generic-looking cassette players that everyone can order on AliExpress. To me, they are a typical virtual company, without R&D department, without a factory and without reputation. To boost their image, they put together a short history of… not of their company, but of compact cassette. It does not always makes sense, feel free to check it out on Amazon. Some gems follow below. “In 1935, AEG released the first reel-to-reel tape recorder” — the picture shows a 1960s Wollensak portable model, because the Wikipedia article about compact cassette does not have an AEG machine, but it does have the Wollensak. “1960s, introduction of theCompactCassette” (sic!) — another image from Wikipedia. It is not explained how a single-hole cartridge was instrumental in creating a rather traditional two-spool cassette. I can tell you: it was not. There is no relation. There was a second team working in Austria for Philips that created a single-hole cassette similar to 4-track, but it did not get traction. The only part of this project that made it is the hinged plastic box. “1971, high fidelity cassettes and players” — by this point the copywriter is high up on cloud wine, the sentences agglutinate. "Decline" - Clearly, Reshow wants to remain truthful to its customers, to old Grandpa, who probably got killed when driving his car with a custom steering wheel and no airbag. But there is a glimmer of hope (upward trend icon). All in all, a funny product page.
