Cassettes possess a unique and warm sound quality—once you develop a liking for a slight hiss, you may find cleaner formats lacking in comparison. The inherent challenge of skipping tracks grants the album format an unmatched relevance; you might end up appreciating songs you would have otherwise skipped. (While composing this review, I came to realize that Liz Phair’s “Crater Lake” is an absolute gem.)
For avid collectors, cassettes remain reasonably priced in a market where a vinyl edition of Billy Joel’s rather unremarkable 1980 album Glass Houses sells for $25. Plus, they have a vintage appeal and feel satisfying to hold. In essence, starting a cassette collection is logical since they are widely available, while only a small percentage of fans can realistically collect MiniDiscs.
Be Kind, Rewind
The Rewind boasts a robust aluminum case and features a built-in battery that recharges via USB-C. It weighs 14 ounces, which is only a tad lighter than two iPhone 15 Pro Max devices. Besides having a headphone audio output, it includes a 3.5mm audio input for recording your own tapes—you might enjoy the fun of crafting a homemade mixtape for someone special.
Photograph: Martin Cizmar
Having owned several cassette players since diving into this hobby—triggered by purchasing an older Subaru with a malfunctioning CD player that devoured my copy of Desire—I can confidently say the Rewind is the best one I’ve encountered. I appreciate it so much that I still use it for listening to my tapes while driving, even though I’ve sold that Subaru and now have a stereo equipped with CarPlay.
Anyone who has dealt with the frustration of untangling a hundred feet of twisted tape understands the importance of reliable playback equipment. The Rewind has never devoured a tape, unlike many of my previous players. While vintage options exist, unless they are thoroughly cleaned and restored, there’s a risk that one failing component could lead to broader issues. A top-tier refurbished model will cost at least as much as the Rewind, without providing the additional modern features.
The Rewind delivers sound quality that matches any portable player I’ve tested, meaning it faithfully reproduces the cassette’s audio, complete with its pops and hisses. This holds true even when using the Bluetooth function to send sound to wireless headphones. Personally, I don’t quite grasp the appeal of streaming a physical medium; if I wanted a digital sound, I’d simply use Apple Music—but it is nice to have the option. I found it easy to sync the Rewind with a pair of JBL Tune headphones, but it didn’t connect to my car stereo; I ended up using a 3.5mm cable. The Bluetooth audio is softer than when using wired headphones.
A Touch of Hiss
The only downside is the absence of an auto-stop feature that halts playback when the cassette runs out during rewinding or fast-forwarding. The little motor keeps churning with an unappealing squeal, which could also lead to tape stress. The player doesn’t come with headphones. I paired it with an affordable set of transparent Koss headphones, but I was also provided with Rewind’s Bluetooth headphones, which I found quite underwhelming—the vintage design is appealing, but they feel fragile and the sound quality is lackluster for $50.
Nonetheless, these issues are relatively minor, especially when considering all the advantages the Rewind offers over its competitors. This French cassette player is poised to be the top choice in 2025, and depending on future collecting trends, it may well become the ultimate cassette player available.
