While the music world has largely abandoned cassettes for decades, Chinese electronics company Fiio is determined not to let them fall into complete oblivion.
At CES 2024, it introduced the new transparent edition of the Fiio CP13 cassette player which is inspired by the iconic Walkman.
This transparent edition joins the existing CP13 colors (red/silver, blue/silver and white/black).
The CP13 doesn’t have Bluetooth for wireless headphones and doesn’t have digital storage. Just insert a cassette, connect a wired headset or earbuds via the 3.5mm jack and press play.
It has a few advantages over Walkmans and portable cassette players of the 90s. The CP13 has a built-in rechargeable battery, meaning you don’t have to replace dead AA batteries in the middle of your favorite retro hit.
The CP13 features a 1800mAh lithium-cobalt oxide battery rated for 13 hours of playback time and 268 days of standby time.
It can be charged via a USB-C port (the USB-C port was only introduced a decade ago and wasn’t available during the heyday of portable cassette players).
Additionally, the latest player features an improved amplifier and motor. The CP13’s motor is powered by a 4.2V high-voltage supply, higher than the typical 1.8V or 3V found in most current cassette players.
The CP13 is equipped with the JRC5532, commonly known as the “king of op-amps”, and is housed in an all-analog audio circuit. Fiio claims that the entire audio circuit of the CP13 uses analog devices, from the tape head to the signal amplification.
Fiio said it worked with its suppliers to control the CP13’s manufacturing to ensure minimal output differences between the left and right channels. Fiio says the magnetic head also uses a thickened head cover, which better protects the head from external interference, while reducing wear on the magnetic head during playback, allowing it to last longer.
Coloured versions of the Fiio CP13 are already available in Australia via Addicted To Audio for $189, although the latest transparent option has yet to go live on its website.