It seems this model does not have a recording feature. There's an alternative model from Aiwa with Bluetooth and cassette recording support, but I'm not sure if it's available globally, could not find much information about it online.
Apparently, all of the audio cassette players being produced now use the same mechanism (perhaps from multiple factories). Some upscale brands like Fiio use basically the same mechanism but use some more premium parts in places, swapping out plastic bits for metal ones. If you need low wow and flutter, it makes sense to seek out vintage players that were built like a tank.
A great youtube channel on both modern cassette players and legacy audio formats is Techmoan. I never knew I was interested in this topic before watching those videos.
Buttons, controls, and overall design (basically) match. Aliexpress/Alibaba's visual search is a funny way to discover and find everyone's drop shippers these days...
How to record the tapes, though? I wonder if there is a way to have 2x 60mins casettes (on each side) in modern age - a lot of electronic music sets/podcasts aim for the 60mins runtime.
EDIT: Seems 120min tapes are available on amazon and walmart, but boy, they cost a premium.
It seems this model does not have a recording feature. There's an alternative model from Aiwa with Bluetooth and cassette recording support, but I'm not sure if it's available globally, could not find much information about it online.
https://www.syl-via.com/products/aiwa-t7-retro-bluetooth-cas...
It's surprising to see these kinds of retro cassette players still being updated in 2026.
That looks huge!
Amazon leads me to believe this may be a rebadged version of this no-brand-name player (with a translucent case for full late-90s throwback!)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC5MD6WP/
Apparently, all of the audio cassette players being produced now use the same mechanism (perhaps from multiple factories). Some upscale brands like Fiio use basically the same mechanism but use some more premium parts in places, swapping out plastic bits for metal ones. If you need low wow and flutter, it makes sense to seek out vintage players that were built like a tank.
A great youtube channel on both modern cassette players and legacy audio formats is Techmoan. I never knew I was interested in this topic before watching those videos.
Here's the OEM: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Wholesale-Portable-St...
Buttons, controls, and overall design (basically) match. Aliexpress/Alibaba's visual search is a funny way to discover and find everyone's drop shippers these days...
Don't they need to sell blank tapes too?
They do: https://maxell-usa.com/product-category/cassette-tapes/
There are also others:
https://www.thomannmusic.com/compact_cassettes.html
https://revox.com/en/revox-news/now-available-revox-empty-ca...
That's pretty cool I wonder if it's newly manufactured.
How to record the tapes, though? I wonder if there is a way to have 2x 60mins casettes (on each side) in modern age - a lot of electronic music sets/podcasts aim for the 60mins runtime.
EDIT: Seems 120min tapes are available on amazon and walmart, but boy, they cost a premium.
These likely would be destroyed by that cheap mechanism everyone uses these days.
My brain (which still remembers cassette players from the 80s/90s) has trouble accepting this.
What next, wax cylinder players with Bluetooth?
I would never buy this. But I love that it exists.
Yeah. Give me a prosumer-priced backup tape solution instead.
Hipsters, take note!