The music cassette, which was actually thought to be dead, has been causing feelings of nostalgia again for several years. The warm clacking sound when inserted, the rotating coils and the appeal of the imperfect lo-fi sound arouse the curiosity of artists and music lovers. From Taylor Swift to indie artists on Bandcamp, more and more artists are releasing their albums on cassette. Individual releases develop into sought-after collector’s items on auction platforms. In times of music streaming and constant availability, young listeners in particular are longing for more conscious music consumption.
But anyone who falls for the charm of Taylor Swift or indie labels on Bandcamp today will quickly fall into an expensive nostalgia trap. Tape hiss, mechanics that are prone to repairs, a limited frequency spectrum and “tape clutter” have already regularly caused frustration. There are a few things to consider when buying a cassette deck or portable device. Does it even make sense to buy a new device that, according to contemporary witnesses, sounds much worse than models from the heyday in the late 80s? Or is a new machine the better choice because it will last for many years without repairs?
- The compact cassette is experiencing a surprising comeback – driven by nostalgia, passion for collecting and the desire for more conscious listening to music away from streaming.
- But anyone who wants to buy a cassette player today is faced with a difficult decision between new devices with limitations and classics that sound great but are often in need of repair.
- This buying guide shows what really matters – from technology and sound to maintenance, digitalization and current market options.
We tested how the modern “Teac W-890 R MK II” tape deck compares to the old Yamaha KX-690 and the new mobile devices Fiio CP 13 and Klim K10. One of the devices turned out to be a total failure: it is only suitable for winding cassette tapes or generating trembling scary voices. In our article we explain the best way to play or digitize audio cassettes with old and new models. We also explain how to properly care for and adjust the devices, how to avoid a muffled sound and which empty cassettes are still available.
That was the excerpt from our heise Plus article “Cassette player buying advice: The right device for the tape comeback”. With a heise Plus subscription you can read the entire article.
