Maxell and Disk Union revive legendary UD-60U audio cassettes

Maxell and Disk Union have announced a new special series of UD-60U audio cassettes, reviving a legendary format from the analog era. The UD-60U belongs to the Type I category, utilizing an iron-oxide base that served as an accessible standard compared to more expensive Type II and Type IV tapes.

The Maxell UD (Ultra Dynamic) series originally debuted in 1970 and became a major competitor to models from TDK and Sony. Beyond music, these tapes were historically significant for storing programs and games on 8-bit computer systems such as the Commodore VIC-20, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, and BBC Micro.

This revival follows previous efforts by Maxell to reintroduce the UD series through retro packaging in 2016. The new series is priced at 990 yen (approximately 5.3 euros) per unit, with a three-pack available for 2,900 yen (approximately 15.6 euros).