The return of the cassette: new life for an old school audio format
Maxell, the Japanese company renowned for its recording media such as audio cassettes, VHS, CDs, and DVDs, is celebrating its legacy with the launch of the Maxell MXCP-P100 portable cassette player. This device fuses retro design with contemporary features.
Amidst the resurgence of analogue media, the new cassette player offers both Bluetooth for wireless headphones and a traditional 3.5mm jack for those who prefer a wired connection. The device is charged via USB-C and boasts up to seven hours of battery life with wireless headphones and nine hours with wired ones.
While the MXCP-P100 boasts modern features, its design is a nostalgic nod to the 1980s, complete with large buttons for play, pause, fast forward, and rewind, as well as a brass volume control wheel. Weighing in at just 210 grams, it’s perfect for on-the-go use. It’s worth noting that Maxell introduced the first audio cassette in Japan back in 1966.
The MXCP-P100 is user-friendly, lacking complex features like noise reduction, yet it retains the distinctive “hiss” sound characteristic of cassette tapes. The device supports stereo playback only and does not offer audio recording or re-recording capabilities.
The Maxell MXCP-P100 is available in either black or white in Japan, retailing at approximately 13,000 yen ($90 US). Currently, it’s only available in the Japanese market, but interested buyers can find it—albeit at a slightly marked-up price—on sites like eBay.
