Cassette Tape Players: Tried, True, & Affordable
Cassette tape players and recorders are popular, budget-friendly choices for teachers or parents who want to enjoy an existing collection of tapes without the expense of upgrading to CDs or other media.
In my last post, I highlighted the benefits of using a portable stereo system for playback of existing (and future) media formats.
What are the advantages of using a cassette tape player and recorder to play back legacy collections of cassette tapes?
Rugged Solutions for Spoken Audio
Cassette tape players and recorders are a durable way to play audio for small groups of listeners when affordability and durability is more important than sound fidelity.
While your old Led Zeppelin tapes will (arguably) not sound so hot on a mono cassette player, spoken audio — such as books on tape or language lessons — will sound just fine.
If you want to play back music, a portable stereo boombox that plays cassettes may be a better choice for you.
When choosing a cassette player to play back spoken audio, be sure to pick one that’s loud enough for everyone to hear.
Cassette tape players generally feature single speakers powered by built-in amplifiers of one to two watts, which is fine for limited groups of listeners in rooms without booming acoustics.
For larger spaces or bigger audiences, consider getting a higher wattage. If you’re unsure how much power you need, it’s better to opt for too much power rather than too little.
Other Features of Value
One crucial feature of cassette tape players & recorders is, fittingly, the ability to record audio with remote or built-in microphones.
This feature allows users to document spoken responses or presentations for future review, and makes them ideal for educational applications.
For private small group listening, you may want to consider a tape player and recorder with headphone stations. Multiple headphone jacks allowing expansion into a full listening center is a key feature of many cassette tape players and recorders.
Here are some other useful features often found in cassette tape players and recorders:
— Variable-speed playback for interactive language studies
— Output jacks for companion speakers or PA connection to cover larger areas
— Battery operation for use away from electrical outlets
One final note: If you’re recording audio with your cassette tape recorder, be sure to have plenty of cassettes. Most audio manufacturers recommend recording with blank cassette tapes no longer than 60 minutes to prevent excess stretching and damage of the media.
Affordable AV Teaching Aids
Whether you’re learning a language or recording your kids’ impromptu standup routines, there is a wide variety of cassette tape players and recorders that will fill the bill.
If you still have questions about cassette tape players and recorders, call 407-757-3326 or email AudioLinks’ trained staff of experts for more sound advice!
