Cassettes are making a slight comeback

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

I felt the need to resurrect this thread as cassettes are on the menu once again for me. I recently picked up a new commuter vehicle (1998 MB E300 turbodiesel) which a cassette deck and a CD changer in the trunk. This is my second MB from this era, and in both of them the CD changer is wonky. I spend 4 hours a day commuting, so I want my tunes, but I prefer not to hack up my pristine, one owner Benzs with aftermarket stuff when the factory original stuff sounds pretty darn good. I dug up a few old cassettes and have been rediscovering music that I either never got on CD, and/or hadn't digitized. One thing I like about the cassette format (and also vinyl LP) is that skipping tracks is not convenient. In the CD and now MP3/digital age, its far too easy to have a short attention span and skip songs. Ease of changing tracks makes Shuffle play on the iPod a personal "greatest hits" album. As great as that can be, there's something special about the older formats (LP and cassette) in that they force you to take the album (or one side at least) as a whole. I went to the local vintage record store and bought a few cassettes from the 80's, only $1 each. Really appreciate the format right now, despite the shortcomings.

I believe, there are companies that make a "dummy" cassette, with an audio jack to plug your MP3 player into. Stick in the dummy, and it imitates the reading of the cassette tape from the audio jack input.

[aschen]

you didn't grow up in the 90s if you didnt have one of these

https://www.amazon.com/INSTEN-Universal-Cassette-Adapter-Smartphones/dp/B00CRBA9D8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1482255718&sr=8-4&keywords=cd+cassette+car+adapter

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I believe, there are companies that make a "dummy" cassette, with an audio jack to plug your MP3 player into. Stick in the dummy, and it imitates the reading of the cassette tape from the audio jack input.

^well aware of these items, have used them, as well as devices that broadcast your MP3/iPod on FM frequency. Misses my point entirely regarding what I like about the cassette format.

[rusnak]

Time to install my Concord HPL 550 head unit into the Cayman "S".

[Scott Douglas]

Hey Scott, which Sony TCK are you getting rid of?
I've got a TC-K75 but it needs belts.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Time to install my Concord HPL 550 head unit into the Cayman "S".

The radio in my first car in 1982 was this:



Into which I first played this:



I seriously can't remember what I had for dinner 2 nights ago, but I can remember that!

[rusnak]

^ Where did you find THAT? I think my 550 has bi-amp inputs and a bit more EQ (I think). I'd have to go find it.

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by McLovin

^nice. I've got Duran Duran, a couple Billy Joel's, and Hall & Oats Big Bam Boom album. $1 each. Living and loving the 80's in my late 90's old man sedan.

[john70t]

Until until the 2004+ish Honda CRV:2004 Honda CRV All Wheel Drive
Honda factory radio included an OEM cassette player on each and every dashboard.
Never lose a good customer base.

My mid-90's Subaru rust-bucket is still running strong.
And so is the OEM tape cassette media player.

Today:
New plastic jewel cases for DVD/CD are hard and designed to break the purchased media unless delicately manipulated.
Designed to break...

[rusnak]

Come to think of it, my parents '97 Benz has a cassette tape player. It's just hidden under the faceplate. I never realized it because of the multiple cd changer. I don't think anyone's ever used it even once.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Hey Scott, which Sony TCK are you getting rid of?
I've got a TC-K75 but it needs belts.

Pretty sure it is a TCK-K sixty something... let me check when I get home and I will get back to you.

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I believe, there are companies that make a "dummy" cassette, with an audio jack to plug your MP3 player into. Stick in the dummy, and it imitates the reading of the cassette tape from the audio jack input.

I had one of those, but I plugged it into my portable CD player

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

^well aware of these items, have used them, as well as devices that broadcast your MP3/iPod on FM frequency. Misses my point entirely regarding what I like about the cassette format.

For me, personally, if I'm hitting the skip button on a track, I need to find another CD to put in that spot. I like albums designed to flow in either thought or sound, from one song to another.

I currently do have an exception loaded into my car though, there were two songs written after the album production was in process, I skip those two to get the album as it should of been released.

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

For me, personally, if I'm hitting the skip button on a track, I need to find another CD to put in that spot. I like albums designed to flow in either thought or sound, from one song to another.

I currently do have an exception loaded into my car though, there were two songs written after the album production was in process, I skip those two to get the album as it should of been released.

^sounds as if your A.D.D. is not so severe as mine. But I expect we all have our favorite songs, and the digital formats make instant gratification too easy.

Aside from the fact that as a listener you are "forced" into hearing a complete set of tracks, I also think the length of the LP format is ideal for that. Of course commercially manufactured cassettes and early Compact Discs followed that formula, so lend themselves to consumption of an entire album. Once CDs took hold, record companies started filling the extra space the format allows with bonus tracks and they became too long for my wandering attention I suppose. Now in fully digital land, the concept of an album is going away. People often just buy individual songs.

[72doug2,2S]

I'm back buying vinyl. Sounds better and it's more fun to play.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Come to think of it, my parents '97 Benz has a cassette tape player. It's just hidden under the faceplate. I never realized it because of the multiple cd changer. I don't think anyone's ever used it even once.

My 1999 996 has one from the factory.

[cashman]

I just bought a 95 M3 with a cassette player. Still have all of my 80's cassettes. Was going out to dinner with my wife and remembered I still had them. Ran into the house and picked the first one I saw. Popped in a B52's cassette. It was awesome.

[dlockhart]

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

I'm back buying vinyl. Sounds better and it's more fun to play.

That does look like fun!

[Pazuzu]

I'll tell you why this thread was started, what caused the resurgence of cassette love...



End of story.

[rusnak]

wait a cotton pickin minute. I saw that movie, and it lies. You can not get that kind of sound out of a cassette tape!