This results in much higher amounts of audible tape hiss compared to reel-to-reel systems.
On reel-to-reel systems the higher dynamic range and faster tape speeds allowed the signal to be recorded at volume levels that overwhelm the hiss.
DNL addresses this issue by noting that the hiss is only audible when the signal is low.
Philips took advantage of this by having a circuit that would mute high-frequency signals only when the overall volume was low.
Philips released the circuit design royalty-free, which led to sample implementations being published in Wireless World in 1971 and Elektor in 1976 and 1984.