Compared to last year, not many new models of cassette recorders and portable players appeared on the market, although one notable premiere did take place. The main suppliers of new cassette players are still brands from China, and most of them are not designed for high-quality recording and playback of music – only the first type of cassette is supported, and the quality of the CVL leaves much to be desired. However, to satisfy nostalgic feelings and play old family recordings, all the models listed in the article are perfect.
8. ANENG
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – yes | Card reader – no | Bluetooth – yes | USB – yes | Remote control – no
Pros – transparent body, radio receiver, low price
Cons – no battery
Verdict – original player made of transparent plastic
The inexpensive player impresses with its completely transparent body, which allows you to see the entire internal structure, as well as a built-in radio with a telescopic antenna and a small speaker on the front panel. You shouldn’t expect high quality sound from it, but it will certainly attract the attention of others. The USB port allows you to digitize a signal from a cassette and send it to a computer, and the Bluetooth module allows you to use not only wired but also wireless headphones.
7. Panda PA6501
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – yes | Card reader – no | Bluetooth – no | USB – no | Remote control – no
Pros – recording function, good mechanics, radio
Cons – I would like a battery
Verdict – high-quality inexpensive player
Classic design and set of functions – a cassette player with the function of recording radio programs from a built-in FM/CB receiver and a small 2-Watt speaker on the front panel. In addition to the headphone jack, there is also an input for an external microphone. Reception quality is ensured by two antennas – telescopic for FM and built-in for CB. The device can operate either from an AC adapter or from two AAA batteries.
6. FIOLEES SM-216
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – no | Card reader – no | Bluetooth – yes | USB – no | Remote control – no
Pros – dual speaker on the lid, external microphone input, recording function
Cons – no built-in battery
Verdict – classic portable player with recording
The presence of a built-in microphone, an input for an external microphone and two speakers on the front panel do not elevate the model to the category of full-fledged voice recorders, but significantly expand its functionality. The presence of a Bluetooth adapter allows you to use wireless headphones with the model; a traditional 3.5 mm output is also present. The package includes an AC adapter, but there is no internal battery, so for portable use you will need two AA batteries.
5. Jazmm CR-381
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – no | Card reader – microSD | USB – yes | Bluetooth – no | Remote control – no
Pros – nice design, built-in acoustics, built-in battery
Cons – no Bluetooth
Verdict – an interesting player with an LCD display and a card reader
A real cassette player of the 21st century, which has a built-in lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1,000 mAh and a card reader that allows you to digitize cassettes and record the result on a memory card. The only thing missing is wireless functionality, but there is a large and beautiful milky-white display on the lid. The player supports cassettes of the first type (with an iron oxide coating on the tape), and the presence of a built-in microphone allows it to be used as a voice recorder. The power of the built-in speaker is 0.5 Watt, the model weighs only 222 grams.
4. WISCENT WTB-795
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – yes | Card reader – no | Bluetooth – yes | USB – yes | Remote control – no
Pros – stereophonic acoustics, radio, Bluetooth
Cons: Handheld mode requires 4 batteries
Verdict – a small cassette player with most of the necessary functions
The cute little boombox has one cassette deck and a stereo speaker system built on 3-inch full-range speakers. For digitization, a USB port is provided for flash drives; you can record both music from cassettes and programs from the radio onto them. The built-in tuner operates in the FM and AM bands; to operate in portable mode, you will need four type C batteries. The model has a 3.5 mm headphone output, and the Bluetooth module is designed for using the boombox as a wireless speaker.
3. Jazmm CD-W16
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – yes | Card reader – yes | Bluetooth – yes | USB – yes | Remote control – yes
Pros – large built-in battery, CD player, good acoustics
Cons – weight?
Verdict – an original boombox with a full set of features
In addition to a single-cassette deck, this cubic boombox also has a CD player, built-in radio, USB port, microSD card reader and radio. In combination with the Bluetooth module and FM radio, you get a complete range of signal sources for any occasion. The main advantage of the model is the presence of a capacious 5,000 mAh battery, which is enough for 8 hours of operation without access to an outlet. Built-in stereo acoustics have a power of 5 watts per channel, and the model weighs 1.36 kg.
2. POVWUATH 959
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – yes | Card reader – yes | Bluetooth – yes | USB – yes | Remote control – no
Pros – quad-band radio, dial indicators
Cons: Requires 6 batteries
Verdict – classic 80s design with a modern twist
This boombox seems to have stepped out of the pages of a 1980s catalog – a cassette deck, a radio receiver with four frequency ranges, a tone block for high and low frequencies, a compartment for six type C batteries. The fact that the model was released in the 21st century is indicated by the presence of a Bluetooth adapter, USB port and card reader for microSD memory cards. The radio operates both from batteries and from the mains; the radio receiver supports FM, AM and two short-wave sub-bands. The acoustic system is quite powerful; the required bass pressure is provided by two bass reflex units on the rear panel. The boombox weighs 3 kg.
1. FiiO CP13
Tape type – first | Built-in radio – no | Card reader – no | Bluetooth – no | USB – no | Remote control – no
Pros – good mechanics, high-quality amplifier
Cons – long wait for order
Verdict – a rare case of a quality modern cassette player
FiiO is famous for its excellent digital players, so when releasing a cassette player, it paid special attention to sound quality. The model has a good tape drive mechanism with auto-reverse and a flywheel made of pure copper, the amplification path is built on JRC5532 operational amplifiers, the body is made entirely of copper alloy and serves as an excellent platform for the CVL. A tribute to today is a capacious battery, charged via the USB-C port, the charge of which is enough for 13 hours of listening. There is no recording function, all control is carried out using four buttons on the side panel and an analog volume control. The player is available in four colors; at the moment, the delivery of FiiO CP13 will have to wait at least a month.
