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Why would anyone want an old-fashioned cassette recorder these days when we all have CDs, DVDs and tiny MP3 players?
Me for one! I still have a lot of content on tape - music cassettes, talking books, language courses, marketing tapes and various educational and motivational content. When I changed cars a little while ago, the new vehicle didn't have a cassette player - just a CD. As I still wanted to listen to tapes, I had a look around to see if I could find a cheap player.
I was surprised to find that Sony still makes an old-style tabletop cassette player/recorder - as it was a Sony, I knew the quality would be good - even better, as a Sony reseller I blagged a freebie as a sample with our last Sony order!
The plan was to transfer some of my tape content onto CDs or MP3s at some point when I have the time - using an audio cable to connection from the cassette players headphone socket to the 'line-in' connector on the computer's sound card.
However, I was amazed to find that for lots of stuff, the traditional cassette recorder just works better than other formats.
I listen to a lot of marketing and business audio content. Most of this used to come on cassette tapes but nowadays is more likely to be a CD or MP3 download. The problem I have when listening to the spoken word on my MP3 player is trying to get back to where you were when interrupted. With a tradition tape cassette, you just hit the 'pause' or 'stop' button when you have to answer the 'phone or take a break for whatever reason. When you want to come back to the tape you just hit play and you are back to where you left off. Simple.
...But with my MP3 player, I will be part way through an unknown 'track' on a playlist with hundreds of files. I have to take a call on my mobile, so I hit the tiny pause button. The 'phone call goes on for a while, then I have to check some emails on the computer and make another call. Once that is all done, I want to get back to listening to Michael Gerber, Brian Tracey or Tony Robbins.... The problem is that my MP3 player has gone into 'sleep' mode as it only stays on pause for so long. When I wake it up, it doesn't remember where I was when I hit the pause button. Now I have to browse through playlists to find the correct 'album' then skip through track after track until I get back to roughly where I was before I was interrupted.
This process is such a hassle that I have virtually given up listening to voice content on my MP3 player. I have even recorded some MP3 voice content back onto tape so that I can use my 'old-fashioned' cassette recorder!
This may be old technology, but it just works - brilliantly!
NO LCD displays
NO scrolling menus
NO fiddly buttons
NO dancing lights
NO cool colours
NO ripping or burning
NO hangs
NO resets
NO shuffle
NO playlists
NO street cred...
You can't take it jogging or use it down the gym...
...It just plays and records tapes!
Here are some more reasons why I just love my Sony cassette recorder:-
I like listening to talking books in bed - and I can't stand having earphones or a headset on. The cassette recorder solves the problem and it has an auto shut off so it powers off by itself when the tape is finished
Talking books on cassette are sooo cheap - have a look on eBay or take a trip to your local car boot.
Tapes for recording are still widely available - and dirt cheap, so stock up now!
It runs off mains and batteries - so you don't waste battery power when using it around the house - and it doesn't eat batteries like my MP3 player!
Like most newer cars, mine doesn't have a cassette player - just a CD... When I'm on a long journey I just take the Sony cassette player with me to listen to a talking book.
My memory is getting worse... I keep a blank tape in the office and record reminders and ideas on it - it is much simpler to use than messing around with a microphone on the computer and voice recording software that rarely seems to work without some fiddling around. The built-in microphone is plenty good enough for quick memory joggers - and it is always there when you want it!
Sometimes I have trouble sleeping - that's when I put on my Paul McKenna sleep hypnosis tape... it always sends me off to the land of nod and the auto shut-off feature means the Sony cassette player shuts down when the tape has finished.
If you have an elderly friend or relative who likes talking books, these players are simple and easy to use - nice big buttons with functions we are all familiar with. I gave one of these to an uncle who loved reading but his eyesight was deteriorating badly. With a regular selection of cheap talking books, the Sony cassette player has been a godsend.
I've found so many reasons to love my old-fashioned tape player I have decided to offer them on eBay.
Free shipping to mainland UK addresses on this listing only!
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