Earlier this year, FiiO launched the CP13 cassette player: an analogue music product for a digital world, launched almost 45 years after the original Sony Walkman changed portable audio. And our audio editor Becky Scarrott was crazy about it, not least because tape is a much cheaper way to capture those analogue sensations than the ever-increasing cost of vinyl. And now – to channel another ‘80s hit, the irreverent music magazine Smash hits – the CP13 is back! Back! BACK!
The engineers at FiiO clearly felt that the existing CP13 cassette player wasn’t tape-like enough, so this time around they’ve made it transparent so you can clearly see the cassette. I much prefer the look of this version, and we all know that the coolest tech is see-through (see: Nothing Ear (a) , LG’s transparent OLED TV , Lenovo’s transparent laptop , those outrageous clear speaker horns) – but while the clear-faced CP13 is cute, it’s not just a silly gadget for Instagrammers who should know better. There’s substance to match the style, too.
FiiO CP13 transparent: main features
The FiiO CP13 delivers better battery life than I’ve ever had from my many Sanyos and Aiwas (my budget could never stretch to a Sony): there’s 13 hours of playback and USB-C charging, and the power supply is 4.2V rather than the more common 1.8V or 3V. It’s designed to work in conjunction with a motor stabilizer to deliver more reliable speeds, and the audio circuitry – all analog – promises a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio and low distortion.
By using a lithium battery instead of a pair of AA batteries, the weight is kept low. In addition, FiiO was able to make the player as thin as possible, despite the limitations of fitting a cartridge and a motor inside the player. The player weighs 310 grams and its dimensions are 120 x 88.3 x 31.8 mm.
I really like the look of this, not only because I’m very old – the last two bands I saw this year were Pet Shop Boys and Girls Aloud – but also because, like many other obsessive music fans, I’ve always loved cassettes: provided the cassette itself is of good quality and you don’t mind a bit of hiss in the quieter sections, there’s a lovely warmth to music on cassette that you just don’t get from even the best MP3 players.
And there’s a very non-retro reason to love tapes, too: In an age where streaming music pays artists a tip if they get paid at all, buying tapes from bands from places like Bandcamp is a great way to support artists directly while also getting something tangible. Staring at a playlist will never be as fun as staring at your library of physical media, especially if you make your own mixtapes or buy from indie artists who also make their own inlays.
The new FiiO CP13 (2024) is officially available now for $129/£99, but we’re also seeing versions of the model for as little as $99.
