Just a warning in case someone is tempted: it’s crap. All cassette players of today use the same crappy cheap mechanism, as it’s the only one available.
Are you sure about that? It’s listed as being NOT autoreverse, which seems odd if it was using the most common mechanism, as autoreveres is pretty much universal. Even the ones listed as “auto-stop” seem to have a rewind function, which means motors on both spindles which (usually) means it’s autoreverse capable, only needs a double read head*. The head is the most expensive part of the mechanism.
at one time i owned a boombox which had a single-sided read/write head but which was on a small turret — it physically flipped around. Superbaroque
There are variants to the mechanism, you can get one with auto reverse or without, record or playback-only, different quality motors, different heads etc. But the basis is the same, and so the quality ceiling is very low.
Also keep in mind this is a hipster device, so taking out something like auto reverse can be meant to invoke even more “retro” feeling or something.
Same thing like with modern film cameras or vinyl players, they’re just a novelty only functional to the bare minimum level on par with the cheapest, crappiest machine from the past.
And you can sell a device with $5 worth of parts for a couple hundreds as a hipster novelty piece.
It’s true. We Are Rewind do not make their own mechanisms (nor could they). The market simply isn’t there for tape, and they dont have that kind of capital.
If you want to get into tape, pick from the many well-designed older players on the used market. Don’t settle for a modern company trying to be the first to capitalize on what could be a new trend (remains to be seen).
no, of course they are very unlikely to be making the entire mechanism. However, some folks are assuming that all mechanisms currently available are crappy, and that these folks are using the only crappy mechanism available.
That may very well be the case, but — is your opinion or the first commenter’s opinion based on any actual, specifc knowledge? If so, what is the source of that knowledge?
I don’t think there is a one-stop-shop for that knowledge.
I can offer this as some evidence that We Are Rewind is not something to choose over a truly retro unit in good condition (or even fixable condition, like needing a belt, most of which are readily available), or at least not up to the cost that its hype might suggest:
the market is still there, just not in the west, to whom they aim their products. and even here there is a small revival of the format with labels like neoncity records releasing VERY great looking tapes with some quality music on them. i know, it's a niche, but the vinyl revival started in a similar way. i'm glad i restored my father in laws high end aiwa cassette deck a few years ago.
Perhaps. But that doesn’t change the fact that the only mass-produced mechanism for cassettes is pretty crap at the moment. Older units are better, which is my only point.
Still mostly true for vinyl too, except for some boutique turntables.
i don't know about who builds what part used in players atm, i guess if the demand is going up there will be some "audiophile" company delivering better quality products again, just like it happened with turntables. until then, i'll continue to use my 30+yo gear ;)
An audiophile cassette deck is a bit of a misnomer today. Cassettes certainly have some cool feel to them, but they definitely sit in the retro novelty/nostalgia territory.
Vinyls have a high quality ceiling, as do reel to reel tapes; cassettes not so much, especially the type I that’s the only kind available now. They can be good enough for most people, but there’s no reason to invest into making them top notch again, when a FLAC file and $100 DAC can blow any cassette out of the water.
Brands like Teac still make cassette decks even for racks - they also have to use the same shitty mech, but try to package it with good electronics and possibly hand pick the best samples? I don’t think it makes sense, but if someone really wants a new deck, that’s an option.
But for cassette to make a proper return, you’d still need more than that. Chrome and metal tapes aren’t made anymore, heck not even good type I tapes, and old stock is running out, so that’s one hurdle. Then those new mechanisms don’t have the capability to record on them anyway, and Dolby doesn’t licence their tape NR anymore.
To bring cassettes back, one would need to recreate the whole ecosystem. It seems more difficult than with vinyls.
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