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Walkmans Make A Comeback With 3 New Models
Everything old is new again, from turntables to vinyl. So why not cassettes and Walkman-type players? According to C-Net, three new models - none from originator Sony - are on the market, with Bluetooth, built-in batteries and other features. But according to this review, they also come with a number of drawbacks.
It seems despite their love of high tech, sometimes younger generations discover something their parents used to use and become intrigued. Whether this will be an ongoing seller is yet to be seen. But for those looking for something to play those old cassettes on, one that sells for $40 could be considered a bargain.
Are Cassettes Making a Comeback in 2024? Walkman-Style Players Compared
- RadioActive
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Re: Walkmans Make A Comeback With 3 New Models
Turns out, it's not just cassettes. In this article from last year, CBC traces the re-emergence of something that seemed to be long extinct: film cameras.
What's next, the Gramophone?
Like vinyl, but for photos: Why film cameras are back in focus
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Thread Starter- Chrisphen
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Re: Walkmans Make A Comeback With 3 New Models
In Toronto, Sonic Boom has been selling used (and some new) cassettes and the portable players for a few years now. It seems there is a market for cruddy sound quality. I really hope the vinyl craze is jumping the shark - the prices are hopelessly high. An 80's-era lightweight pressing of a record is not worth $50.
Some of my younger co-workers have been bitten by the analogue photography bug. Unlike tapes, quality is not as much a concern as skill is. It is heartening to see the interest though.
- Jody Thornton
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Re: Walkmans Make A Comeback With 3 New Models
More on the new ones RA posted:
Cheers,
Jody Thornton
- MJ Vancouver
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Re: Walkmans Make A Comeback With 3 New Models
RadioActive wrote:
Turns out, it's not just cassettes. In this article from last year, CBC traces the re-emergence of something that seemed to be long extinct: film cameras.
What's next, the Gramophone?
Like vinyl, but for photos: Why film cameras are back in focus
I spoke with someone at a camera shop near where I live last year; he told me they receive about 8 rolls of film per day to develop. I was rather surprised it was that high.
- darcyh
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Re: Walkmans Make A Comeback With 3 New Models
In search of a decent modern cassette player, YouTuber Techmoan often tests these new devices. Apparently there is only one cassette mechanism manufacturer in existence today and the unit is not very good in terms of wow and flutter. You can often hear excessive wow / flutter in a sustained piano note and it sounds unpleasant. Modern cassette decks all use this same mechanism or a derivative of it and suffer from the same poor performance.
Many old high end walkman's delivered very good frequency response and low wow / flutter. They used mechanical drive systems with belts, gears, clutches and pulleys. Time was not their friend; the plastic gears can become brittle, crack and lose teeth, rubber belts lose their elasticity, rubber rollers disintegrate and clutches slip too much. It is a pity as there were many great units available.