What’s higher than participating within the time-honored custom of listening to a cassette tape whereas on the go? I’d argue it’s with the ability to see tape itself — in all its glory — as you bask in your favourite combine, or a prerecorded album. That’s what you get with the brand new clear version of the Fiio CP13, a contemporary interpretation of the basic Walkman that precipitated a minor stir when it debuted at CES 2024.
The clear version joins the CP13’s present colours (purple/silver, blue/silver, and white/black) on the official worth of $129, nevertheless, we see that Amazon is already promoting it for much less at simply $99.
The CP13 actually is an homage to the glory days of analog audio. The system has no Bluetooth for wireless headphones, and no digital storage or playback of any variety. You merely pop a cassette in, join a set of wired headphones or earbuds through the three.5mm jack, and press down on the basic, outsized play button.
Nonetheless, it’s not and not using a few enhancements. The primary and arguably most vital is the built-in rechargeable battery. Chances are you’ll miss the heyday of the blended tape, however I’ll guess you don’t miss having to swap out a set of useless AA batteries mid-album. The CP13 is rated for 13 hours of playback, after which you’ll be able to recharge it through the USB-C port.
Then there’s amplifier and motor. Each have been upgraded from the elements that used to drive these tape gamers. So whereas analog cassettes are nonetheless the identical outdated, variable medium they’ve at all times been, there’s an opportunity they could sound higher than you bear in mind on the CP13.
