This gives it a claimed 25 hour playing time from two AA batteries, which combined with good sound quality makes it a popular choice. One of the last Walkmans to be built, the WMEX194S is a fairly basic player but it incorporates technology that provides extremely smooth tape speed and low power consumption. Online reports are mixed but none suggest great sound quality and consistent tape speed seems not to be a given, but at the price (and apparent build quality) this is hardly a surprise. Its alloy case gives a quality feel which probably reflects sound quality.ĭesigned to convert tapes to digital files with a USB output alongside the headphone connection, the Tape2Go accommodates chrome tapes and comes with software for Windows or Mac PCs. Don’t expect amazing great sound.įeaturing Aiwa’s DSL long term hearing protection technology, this auto reverse player works with chrome and metal tapes and has a music search facility to help find individual tracks. It doesn’t accommodate more than basic ferric tape and build is very plasticky, but its newness should confer reliability, although buyer reviews don’t always back this up. One of the few contemporary personals that doesn’t have USB out, the Groov-e is a recorder and player with AM/FM radio and built in speaker and microphone. If you have high end ‘phones however bear in mind that not all portable tape players will have the power to drive them properly. ![]() All but the most exotic have standard 3.5mm headphone jacks so auditioning can be done with any earphones. Tape decks are prone to mechanical problems and it’s a good idea to test things like playback speed (by listening), fast forward and backward before buying. It’s also worth trying Gumtree.įor those prepared to get up early on Sunday morning, the local boot fair is where the prices are always going to be most competitive albeit you can’t always tell if they are working properly. Walkmans command the highest asking money with the metal cased examples going for surprisingly high figures. Prices on eBay tend to be on the high side compared to alternative sites like eBid which also has a good selection, but most of the good quality models can be found there. The new tape players on the market are nearly all built for transferring cassette to mp3 via a USB connection, which is handy if you want to digitise your tapes but the build quality on offer doesn’t really inspire good sound. ![]() Aiwa was the second biggest player and was strong in tape technology so their machines represent good value. While Sony was the leader in the field, a number of other Japanese companies made good quality players and brands including Aiwa, JVC, Panasonic and Sharp are worth considering. ![]() But if you want a trusty source of portable sounds I recommend going for one that’s in the best condition you can afford. Thankfully a lot of personal tape players were made in Japan to a very high standard which is why so many are still working today up to 30 years later. Sony players dominate the second hand market, which is a testament to the build quality of the machines that it started making in 1979 and continued to produce up until 2003 when Apple’s devices changed the way we listen on the move.Īs with any vintage electro-mechanical device a portable tape player needs to be in good condition if it’s going to give reliable service. ![]() In much the same way that Apple dominated the mp3 market in the Noughties, Sony was the brand to beat in personal cassette players back in the Eighties. With prices of new and previously loved examples coming in below £20, these devices are great value and the better examples produce sound quality that is very appealing. There can’t be a more affordable way to get into analogue audio than a portable tape player or Walkman as they were known back in the day. Having rounded up the best home tape decks, audiophile guru Jason Kennedy turns his attention to the market for portable cassette players.
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