Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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So it started a controversy at tapeheads.net (tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=81544). I'm talking about Tony's video on the TM TDK D found here:
youtube.com/watch?v=TzUUU3MwABo

I did 2 videos earlier before Tony's where I did a quick look inside here:
youtube.com/watch?v=7SD0AUUg1Q0

Then I did a performance test video here:
youtube.com/watch?v=kJ-JZpPH7kU

However, it has come to light it may be counterfeit. So I decided to take a deeper look. I'm more about the physical parts, so I compared the two 1979 TDK D True Mechanism tapes I have (a C90 and a C60) to my only 1979 non-TM TDK D (C120).

All of these are used tapes. However, all are in excellent condition.

Counterfeit products usually don't look anything like the real deal on the inside, so I take a deeper look. I even mixed and matched the shells to see if the parts fit together.

And the conclusion? Welp...