Key Takeaways
- The Fiio CP13 is exceptionally constructed with premium parts, coming in at $100.
- Not solely does the casette participant characteristic superior sound high quality, but in addition a shocking retro-aesthetic enchantment.
- The casette’s non-recording characteristic and lack of belt clip could also be drawbacks for some patrons.
When you concentrate on transportable cassette gamers, you in all probability would not affiliate phrases like “premium” or “fashionable” with them. As a substitute, you’ll in all probability take into consideration extra retro cassette players, ones that you’d use within the Eighties that now really feel low-tech, possibly even a bit fragile or rickety. However what if I advised you that cassette gamers are nonetheless made to today, and are making a comeback? And in a sea of low-cost cassette gamers in the marketplace, the Fiio CP13 seeks to face out with its fashionable design utilized to retro sensibilities.
This transportable cassette participant is not like the opposite ones. It has a sturdy, and dare I say, luxurious construct. The gadget boasts larger high quality inner parts than different mass-produced transportable cassette gamers, and it is garnered the eye of cassette nerds on the web. So does the Fiio CP13 reside as much as the hype? I received my fingers on one, put in my favourite tapes, plugged in my favourite headphones, and set to work to seek out out.
Beneficial
FiiO CP13
$82 $100 Save $18
The Fiio CP13 is a transportable cassette participant that blends fashionable options like a smooth design, a lithium ion battery, and wonderful internals with the retro enchantment of taking part in cassettes. It sounds fantastic, appears to be like lovely, and has a premium really feel to it.
- Nicely-built and durable
- Nice inner parts
- Aesthetically lovely
- Sounds nice
- Would not file
- No belt clip
Value, specs, and availability
This gadget is hefty, easy, and exquisite
The Fiio CP13 is obtainable on Amazon and AliExpress, in addition to different platforms via third occasion sellers. It retails for $100 USD, although costs can fluctuate, and it may be discovered on sale as effectively. It is reasonably hefty, weighing 310 grams, and its dimensions are 1.2 x 8.8 x 3.2 cm. The housing of the gadget is aluminum, and it is available in a wide range of colours, with the blue and pink gamers having a silver backing, and the white participant having black accents.
This cassette participant has a 3.5mm jack for headphones, and would not have any Bluetooth, so you will want to make use of wired headphones to hearken to cassettes on it. It has a 1800mAh battery with a 13-hour battery life, so you will get fairly a little bit of listening day trip of it with out having to fret about charging. It expenses utilizing USB-C, so it additionally expenses up fairly rapidly.
What I preferred in regards to the Fiio CP13
I do not suppose I’ve ever seen a cassette participant fairly as aesthetically pleasing as this one
The very very first thing I believed after I unboxed the Fiio CP13 was simply how lovely it’s. The cassette participant has an aluminum housing, and the gadget has some weight to it, making it really feel like a premium audio product, versus a few of the cheaper plastic cassette gamers you’ll find on-line. The buttons are pleasantly clean to press down, the quantity knob feels fantastic, and the luster of the housing is nearly mesmerizing. The entire expertise of simply holding and searching on the cassette participant is unimaginable. It appears like holding a chunk of artwork in my fingers.
Not solely is it fantastically constructed, the internals of the cassette participant are spectacular too. The Fiio CP13 has a pleasant, thick copper flywheel that ensures tapes play easily with as little frequency wobble as doable, and a high-voltage motor to make sure tapes are performed at a constant, steady pace.
The very very first thing I believed after I unboxed the Fiio CP13 was simply how lovely it’s.
And positive sufficient, whereas utilizing the cassette participant, I did discover much less frequency wobble, generally known as “flutter” and “wow.” I performed just a few of the identical cassettes within the Fiio CP13 together with two different cassette gamers I’ve, the ByronStatics cassette player and the Gracioso cassette player, and each cassette sounded a lot better within the Fiio CP13 than the opposite two. This is sufficient to show to me that the CP13 stands out as a top quality transportable cassette participant with a give attention to good internals and good design.
Lastly, I actually like that the CP13 has a chargeable battery. It has an extended 13-hour battery life, and I believe this helps bridge the hole between retro and fashionable tech. You get the genuine feeling of utilizing a retro product that simply performs cassettes and would not have something frivolous like Bluetooth, however you do not have to rummage via your drawers for AA batteries to make use of it, and might simply use the USB-C chargers you have already got in your own home when that you must energy it up.
What I did not like in regards to the Fiio CP13
If I might file with it, and if it simply had a belt clip, it will be that a lot better
One factor I want is that Fiio CP13 had recording capabilities. I’ve used different transportable cassette gamers which are in a position to file in addition to play cassettes, and it will’ve been good for this one to have the ability to too. Once I was youthful and used cassettes extra, I might typically use them for recording, like recording my singing classes, recording voice memos, or recording mixtapes. With the ability to do these issues would make this cassette participant really feel a bit extra authentically retro to me, however once more, this is not a significant qualm.
I additionally want the CP13 had some type of clip to connect it to myself, so I can clip it to my belt and use it whereas I stroll round. It is transportable in that it is sufficiently small to carry in my hand and transfer round, or that I can put it in my tote bag, but it surely’s not transportable sufficient to stroll round and hearken to music with it exterior and even round my home. It appears like extra of a stationary gadget on this manner, and if I might connect it to myself indirectly, it will be considerably extra helpful.
Understandably, this cassette participant is fairly expensive, coming in at $100. The worth, for my part, is justified by how well-built it’s, however at that value, I might’ve preferred to see extra options with this cassette participant. I might nonetheless purchase and revel in this cassette participant for that value, but it surely actually shouldn’t be a steal, and extra of a splurge.
Do you have to purchase a Fiio CP13?
I might advocate the Fiio CP13 to any cassette lovers who need a top quality, lovely, and easy cassette participant. Individuals who need a cassette participant with a pleasantly vibrant sound profile and top quality inner parts will take pleasure in utilizing this cassette participant.
I might advocate the Fiio CP13 to any cassette lovers who need a top quality, lovely, and easy cassette participant.
Its excessive value generally is a little bit of a barrier to entry, so this is not for anybody on the lookout for an inexpensive cassette participant that simply will get the job accomplished. There are actually cheaper transportable cassette gamers on the market, and if you need one thing that can do extra than simply play cassettes, like having the ability to file and having a radio, you will not discover that right here.
FiiO CP13
$82 $100 Save $18
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